Chris Robinson Interview
By Matt Valentine
Daily Texan
July, 1998
| It's about loud guitars, loud clothes
and backup singers in slinky black dresses. It's rock 'n' roll, and the Black Crowes are its champions. Saturday night at La Zona Rosa the group known as "the most rock 'n' roll rock 'n' roll band in the world" reeducated the Austin crowd, reminding us what rock is really all about. After seeing so many other bands try and fail to capture the simple intensity of the early Led Zeppelin and the early Rolling Stones, it's refreshing to hear the Black Crowes, who understand the differences between rock, alternative and heavy metal. The Crowes establish a driving rhythm, a groove that commands the audience to start moving. And while this is powerful and raw music, it isn't the testosterone blitz of bands like Aerosmith or AC/DC -- the Crowes are more low-key, more about playing music than about being celebrities. The group has a new lineup (Sven Pipien replacing Johnny Colt on the bass) and a new vitality that is rarely seen in veteran touring bands. "We've got more energy than ever before," said Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson. "We feel like kids again." Perhaps their break from the road for a studio hiatus has recharged the Crowes. They've been away from the club scene and behind the mics working on a new album, By Your Side, scheduled for release in November. "This is the first tour we've done in a year after working in the studio," Robinson said. "It's really amazing how well it's going." With the success of their album Shake Your Money Maker, the Crowes were drawing enough publicity to warrant stadium concerts. Thankfully, they chose to continue to play smaller venues, where their fans can dance and get close to the stage. The appreciative crowd at La Zona Rosa stomped, clapped and cheered for a full 10 minutes to bring the band out for an encore. "I don't see what the mystery is about encores," Robinson said as he reclaimed the microphone. "You know we're coming back. We just go away long enough to fuck supermodels and see how much Steve sweats." Robinson's frankness was indicative of Saturday's no-bullshit production. There were no opening bands and no special effects. The Crowes came on stage at 10 p.m., played an hour-and-a-half set, then followed up with a brief encore that included their hit "Hard to Handle." Saturday's audience at La Zona Rosa was treated to a sample of the new material. The album's title track, "By Your Side," features the familiar Black Crowes song recipe: amps at 11, two guitars soloing at once, and keyboards, bass and drums holding down a tight rhythm. Critics might justifiably point out that the new songs sound more or less like all the other songs, but the Crowes would shrug it off with a smile. "It's the best job in the world," Robinson said. "We enjoy playing with each other. We've got 10 years in the music business; nobody does that." |