Following almost three years of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Crowes finally kicked off the European leg of their ‘Shake Your Money Maker’ tour in Dublin on Wednesday night (21st September 2022). The show marked the band’s first Irish date since not only their 2019 reformation, but since their 1999 gig at the capital’s Olympia Theatre.
Photo: Darren McLoughlin.
With the Robinson brothers finally reunited on European soil following a lengthy hiatus, there was a real sense of celebration in the air, with the older of the pair, singer Chris Robinson promising; “Wednesday night in Dublin; we’re going to make it Sunday night in Atlanta!”
Going right back to the start of their career, the Georgia rhythm and blues act kicked off the evening performing the whole of their multi-million-selling 1990 debut in full. Packed with some of their biggest singles and most beloved tracks, the stage was set for a night to remember.
With the stage’s ornate production resembling a southern shack with its own bar, the band, sans the brothers, announced their arrival by lining up for shots, while one of the backing singers inserted a coin into the on-stage Wurlitzer jukebox and selected, what else but ‘Shake Your Money Maker’ by Elmore James.
With a suitable soundtrack to get the party started, the Robinsons then announced their arrival as the intro riff to album opener ‘Twice as Hard’ brought the show to life with a bang, with Chris posing, preening and prancing while his unmistakable vocals sored.
Following with the rock and roll stomp of ‘Jealous Again’, and the Stones-ey blues of ‘Sister Luck’, the singer greeted the crowd. Said Chris; “Dublin! Nice to see everyone tonight. We haven't been here in a while. Welcome to the Black Crowes Shake Your Money Maker Show!”
A consummate front man, it was of course, his vocals that took centre stage, and it was with the gospel of ‘Seeing Things’ where the night really began to take flight. Driven by Rich Robinson’s subtle guitar licks, and with deft work from the six-piece backing band, Chris’s vocals were simply mesmerising. It was an early highlight.
Introducing breakthrough single ‘Hard to Handle’, Chris said; “We always give thanks and praise to the man who wrote this song. Back home in Georgia they call him the ‘Big O’, and the mother fucker goes like this…”, before blasting through the Otis Redding soul classic.
Delivering another show stopping moment, the band’s arguably other best-known track ‘She Talks to Angels’ proved effortlessly moving.
Going on to play the remainder of the album, ending with a rousing ‘Stare it Cold’, the first surprises of the night arrived in the ‘other hits’ section of the performance. “Alright Dublin, that was ‘Shake Your Money Maker”, said Chris, before announcing, “This is ‘No Speak, No fuckin’ Slave’.
Concentrating heavily on 1992 set ‘The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion’, the band went on to add a grooving ‘Sting Me’, and pensive ‘Thorn in My Pride’, along with ‘Remedy’, which closed out the main set.
The highlight of the evening came however with a simply stunning version of ‘Wiser Time’. Showcasing the interplay between the brothers with their incredible harmony vocals, it was a masterclass in southern rock sensibility.
Taking their bows to a cover of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Rocks Off’, the Crowes sealed their reputation of one of rock and roll’s greatest acts.
Earlier in the evening Glastonbury Britrockers Reef played a sharp, hits-heavy set. Touching all bases from the massive singles - 'Place Your Hands', 'Naked' - to emotive semi-acoustic track 'I've Got Something to Say' to their inspired cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain', the expanded five-piece went down a storm with the Dublin crowd.
Check out our gallery from the show below. All photos by Darren McLoughlin.
Going right back to the start of their career, the Georgia rhythm and blues act kicked off the evening performing the whole of their multi-million-selling 1990 debut in full. Packed with some of their biggest singles and most beloved tracks, the stage was set for a night to remember.
With the stage’s ornate production resembling a southern shack with its own bar, the band, sans the brothers, announced their arrival by lining up for shots, while one of the backing singers inserted a coin into the on-stage Wurlitzer jukebox and selected, what else but ‘Shake Your Money Maker’ by Elmore James.
With a suitable soundtrack to get the party started, the Robinsons then announced their arrival as the intro riff to album opener ‘Twice as Hard’ brought the show to life with a bang, with Chris posing, preening and prancing while his unmistakable vocals sored.
Following with the rock and roll stomp of ‘Jealous Again’, and the Stones-ey blues of ‘Sister Luck’, the singer greeted the crowd. Said Chris; “Dublin! Nice to see everyone tonight. We haven't been here in a while. Welcome to the Black Crowes Shake Your Money Maker Show!”
A consummate front man, it was of course, his vocals that took centre stage, and it was with the gospel of ‘Seeing Things’ where the night really began to take flight. Driven by Rich Robinson’s subtle guitar licks, and with deft work from the six-piece backing band, Chris’s vocals were simply mesmerising. It was an early highlight.
Introducing breakthrough single ‘Hard to Handle’, Chris said; “We always give thanks and praise to the man who wrote this song. Back home in Georgia they call him the ‘Big O’, and the mother fucker goes like this…”, before blasting through the Otis Redding soul classic.
Delivering another show stopping moment, the band’s arguably other best-known track ‘She Talks to Angels’ proved effortlessly moving.
Going on to play the remainder of the album, ending with a rousing ‘Stare it Cold’, the first surprises of the night arrived in the ‘other hits’ section of the performance. “Alright Dublin, that was ‘Shake Your Money Maker”, said Chris, before announcing, “This is ‘No Speak, No fuckin’ Slave’.
Concentrating heavily on 1992 set ‘The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion’, the band went on to add a grooving ‘Sting Me’, and pensive ‘Thorn in My Pride’, along with ‘Remedy’, which closed out the main set.
The highlight of the evening came however with a simply stunning version of ‘Wiser Time’. Showcasing the interplay between the brothers with their incredible harmony vocals, it was a masterclass in southern rock sensibility.
Taking their bows to a cover of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Rocks Off’, the Crowes sealed their reputation of one of rock and roll’s greatest acts.
Earlier in the evening Glastonbury Britrockers Reef played a sharp, hits-heavy set. Touching all bases from the massive singles - 'Place Your Hands', 'Naked' - to emotive semi-acoustic track 'I've Got Something to Say' to their inspired cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain', the expanded five-piece went down a storm with the Dublin crowd.
Check out our gallery from the show below. All photos by Darren McLoughlin.
