The Crowes were back in Paris on this spring day to celebrate the release of their excellent latest opus entitled Happiness Bastards. Their tour, which began at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on April 2, welcomed guests including Ron Wood and Steven Tyler on a few dates, to the great pleasure of the audience. Consequently, they were eagerly awaited in this room that they particularly like, having come barely two years ago to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Shake Your Money Maker, a tour which also subsequently gave rise to an excellent live Shake Your Money Maker Live.

In their suitcases, they took care to take the Jim Jones All Stars as hors d'oeuvre. More than an appetizer, a very tasty dish, I would say, because the very voluble and sometimes disjointed frontman, Jim Jones, treats us to a corrosive and refreshing rock'n'roll. He will even lend himself to a crowd bath, thus delighting the front rows of an Olympia that was so won over from the first titles. In their garb of light, the musicians who accompany him twirl on either side of the stage, notably the two elegant saxophonists who vigorously manipulate their instruments while the keyboardist literally sways behind his "Roland". The result is a dynamic and sparkling performance from Jim Jones and his acolytes (I only knew by this name the guru of the People's Temple sect who had incited his community to commit suicide in November 1978). To be reviewed later.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/jim-jones-all-stars/2024/afas-live-amsterdam-netherlands-3356a8c5.html

Suffice it to say that after that, Chris Robinson and his companions were going to have to pull out all the stops to make the Jim All Stars Band forget.

After the intro "It's A Long way To The Top" by who you know, the Black Crowes led by Chris Robinson dressed in a white jacket with black polka dots, arrive on a stage with a dummy wall of amps in the foreground with the most beautiful effect. As for the combo, let's take for example the case of the young drummer who is perched on a platform in Kiss Alive II mode, a platform flanked by a large mirror in front of which Chris swoons like a Narcissus on two tracks of Happiness Bastards titled "Bedside Manners" and "Rats and Clowns" respectively. We might as well admit it, we don't hear "Chrisou" from the outset, covered as he is by the wall of decibels produced by the rest of the group. A change of microphone is therefore necessary. This in no way affects the energy of the Crows ready to fly to a "Twice As Hard" delivered in an incandescent version.

One piece = one guitar, such will be the precept adopted by the brilliant and proud guitarist, Rich Robinson, brother of Chris. Indeed, we will successively have the chance to admire, among others, a Gretsch, a Strat’, a Telecaster, a Firebird and many others. Budding guitarists must have been amazed. Very calm, displaying no palpable emotion, the six-string player remains focused on the incisive solos which he distributes with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker. Then there's "(Only) Halfway To Everywhere" from Three Snakes And One Charm, an album released in 1996. Personally, I ignored this album when it came out, not having found it as convincing as the three previous ones. No doubt wrongly. On the other hand, for what follows, namely "My Morning Song" taken from the superb album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, the group offers a magnificent version. The backing singers, who are indeed very pretty, are unfortunately barely audible in their interventions. The same goes for the second guitarist and the keyboardist. Very unfortunate.

The latest album that I recommend to everyone contains its share of gems, it goes without saying. Consequently, logic dictates that the Crowes will tackle the interpretation of two of its flagship titles, namely “Cross Your Fingers” and “Wilted Rose”. We will have five in total. The "Jb" (a friend, editor's note) who is right next to me, is happy as a crow in his nest while the other friends including Philty are stationed at the barrier, waiting for the supreme moment when they will be able to catch a Rich Robinson pick on the fly. Which will be done a few moments later. Two good compositions which, undeniably, cross the live threshold perfectly. Chris Robinson, throughout the show, never stops wiggling and performing elegant little dances like a Mick Jagger or a Steven Tyler in a trance. From time to time he likes to come and tease the front rows. Very nice guy.
We quickly move on to "Carol", always performed with such passion, the group reminding us to what extent this album The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion is a small compositional masterpiece via the superb "Thorn In My Pride". Otis Reding's "Hard To Handle", standard among the standards of the prince of soul, capsizes an Olympia which looks much more like a sauna than anything else.

After a little detour through Happiness Bastards via a very successful “Flesh Wound”, the group hits us with a slew of classics. This is how “She Talks To Angels”, “Sting Me”, “Jealous Again” and the stirring “Remedy” are reinterpreted. “White Light, White Heat” by the Velvet Underground completes this sparkling concert interspersed with a birthday (that of the very reserved Rich Robinson), celebrated with great fanfare by French Cancan dancers. A very nice concert which made me want to go back and see them the next time they come.

Phil Lizzy
Translation : Y. Philippot-Degand

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-black-crowes/2024/lolympia-bruno-coquatrix-paris-france-7ba87614.html