SO.CO Team

3 weeks ago

Live: The Black Crowes @ Newcastle City Hall

Newcastle City Hall

Featured Photo

US rock legends The Black Crowes stopped off in Newcastle for the first time since 1993 as part of their Happiness Bastards tour. Thomas Jackson was on hand to check it out. 

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

Much water has gone under many bridges in the thirty-one years since The Black Crowes last played Newcastle. The fractious relationship between the fraternal frontmen, Chris and Rich Robinson, is well documented, and whilst many longtime fans still refuse to acknowledge this current iteration as a true version of the band, it’s impossible to deny the pull of a songwriting duo whose legacy will almost certainly outlive their career. 

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

When new album Happiness Bastards was announced, the news was received with some trepidation. Their first studio album in fifteen years could easily have been a car-crash, but the band’s devotees needn’t have worried. It’s a tight, superbly written southern-rock album which hits all of The Black Crowes’ touch-points, and fits perfectly alongside their almost impeccable back catalogue. 

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

The fidelity of the new material was shown tonight, with the opening brace of Bedside Manners and Dirty Cold Sun (both lifted from the new album) leading perfectly into fan-favourite Twice As Hard. The pattern continued throughout the show, with modern cuts nestling nicely alongside old classics. Of course, the biggest cheers of the night were saved for Hard To Handle (a cover of the Otis Redding classic, which the band have made their own) and She Talks To Angels, which managed to be delicate and intense at the same time. 

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

The Black Crowes’ jaunt around the UK is short and sweet, comprising just four dates, but if the fans have their way, it won’t be long before they’re back. Much will depend on whether the Robinsons can keep their differences in check, but with receptions of the like received on this tour, the lure of spending a little more time on the road together might prove difficult to resist. 

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

The Black Crowes in Newcastle

Words and Photos: Thomas Jackson