Saw the Crowes for the 7th time recently. The sound was mixed horribly, and I could barely hear Chris on some songs. Guess it was enjoyable, though I wish I'd paid for the general admission seats and saved $75 a ticket.
I wasn't going to watch them at all this go around. I've gotten used to the Crowes breaking up, Rich & Chris doing their own thing for a few years, one of 'em noticing that they're leaving a lot of cash on the table, and then getting back together for a tour or two.
This most recent tour seemed the worst of the cash grabs. Originally no past members of the band, just Chris and Rich, even though they were or had been touring separately with past members in Magpie Salute & the CRB. Sven, the bassist, got added to this current version of the Crowes at some point, breaking that rule, but my understanding is that initially both brothers backchanneled a reunion and didn't do much more than tell their current bands, "See ya!"
It's not like this egotistical tack is uncommon, as I was recently reminded by the last.fm bio for New Earth Mud, Chris' first (?) post-Crowes band that I was listening to recently (emphasis here and in all quotes mine):
Robinson parted ways with Paul Stacey and the rest of his band in early 2004, the reason for which remains unknown. In a very cryptic post on his official message board, Robinson said farewell to his original line-up and welcomed a new one, which featured ex-Crowes member Audley Freed on guitar and studio virtuoso George Reiff on bass. The band toured in support of This Magnificent Distance through the Summer of 2004, again gaining more critical and commercial attention for themselves. Another tour was planned for the fall of 2004 but was suddenly and inexplicably scrapped.
Or you know, the way Adam MacDougall got thrown out of CRB with no warning. Or how Chris wouldn't pay Steve Gorman a full band share to stay on tour:
On the eve of a new tour celebrating the anniversary of the band’s debut album, Chris Robinson demanded a larger percentage of the Crowes’ pie. Specifically, [Chris] wanted all of Gorman’s share. “Chris wanted 75 percent of all the band’s income. That was quite an upgrade from the 33 1/3 percent share he had been receiving,” writes Gorman, who said no way to becoming a salaried member of the band he co-founded. “And that was the end of the Black Crowes.”
I don't know if I'm the biggest fan of Steve Gorman the person. He's done some sports radio, and seems overly full of himself sometimes, though that's probably a requirement to fill hours with your own voice. But why not give him a full share in the band? There was nothing I heard from their current drummer that I liked better than Steve. It was too loud, not nuanced, and, worst, not in the same groove as Rich. Say whatever you want, Gorman helped create the Crowes' sound and vibe. That's more obvious than ever now.
Edit: Did a little more googling. It's worse than just Steve. Chris wanted some of Rich's share too (which makes the 75% make more sense):
When THE BLACK CROWES announced their split in 2014, Rich issued a statement saying that he loved his brother and respected his talent but that "his present demand that I must give up my equal share of the band and that our drummer for 28 years and original partner, Steve Gorman, relinquish 100 percent of his share … is not something I could agree to."
I mean, let's acknowledge that Chris splits from his brother for a while and names his project the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. Sheesh, man. You guys are in your 50s (early 40s then?). Can we put the sibling rivalry crud behind us yet?
It's a shame. The Crowes probably are my favorite band overall, and when they're rocking (Wiser Time, natch, but Horsehead, Soul Singing, Go Tell the Congregation, Blackberry, even something late like Aimless Peacock or God's Got It) well, they're just plain jamming. Even better, listen to the Crowes and Jimmy Page and tell me Chris isn't one of the best rock frontmen of all time (though that track may not be his best) or that Rich can't play (though that Page dude they let sit in for a while seems, um, pretty competent too). They can catch lightning in a bottle, and do it consistently, but the cost seems to be being as dysfunctional as heck.