By Brian Wise.
The Black Crowes – The Forum, Melbourne, April 2, 20026
Despite the cancellation of Bluesfest 2026 just a few weeks prior to their arrival, the Black Crowes, one of the festival headliners, were thankfully able to continue their five-concert tour here. Lead singer Chris Robinson voiced the band’s displeasure with the Bluesfest situation in no uncertain terms when early on he referred to the festival director in extremely uncomplimentary terms. Nevertheless, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees have such a loyal following here that it sustained the tour despite the obvious financial hit and returned after being here less than four years ago.
This night was the band’s first gig for the year, and it was certainly great to experience a straight ahead, gutsy, rock ‘n’ roll band in the classic mould of such bands from the 70s. Think the Stones and The Faces. The very line-up produced some immediate and happy comparisons: twin lead guitars, including Chris’s younger brother Rich Robinson; bass (newcomer Mark ‘Muddy’ Dutton); drums, keyboards; and two excellent female backing vocalists. But not only did the band capture that classic sound they also looked the part. If you ran into them in the street, and there was a fair chance of that because they spent three or four days in the city, wouldn’t mistake any of them for accountants!
After an avalanche of so-called Americana over the past few months it was refreshing (for me, at least) to hear a band with a charismatic lead singer rip into a set of rock songs with energy and abandon. If you wanted subtlety and shoegaze then this wouldn’t have been for you at all. It was a pity that the sound in the first part of the show didn’t do justice to some of the songs, and it must have been difficult to balance so many players at such a high volume playing full on for the first 30 minutes or so but that’s why they have soundchecks, isn’t it? Anyway, it did sort itself out a little later, which is just as well because this is where the ’hits’ were at a premium.
The 100-minute power power-packed 17 song set list set featured a lot of favourites, some songs from the new album A Pound of Feathers and a deep dive into some rarities and a brilliant surprise encore. You might have thought that the release of a new album would be something highlighted throughout the night, but they chose to do only two songs – opening with ‘Profane Prophecy’ and including ‘Pharmacy Chronicles’ – probably realising that their fans would buy the new album anyway. Regardless, the set was pretty much geared to what fans might want to hear.
Most of the songs came from the band’s first two albums. From Shake Your Money Maker (1990): ‘Thick n’ Thin’, ‘Twice As Hard’, ‘She Talks To Angels’, and sensational versions of ‘Jealous Again’ and ‘Hard To Handle’ (which elicited a healthy singalong). From The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992): ‘Remedy’, ‘Sting Me’, ‘Thorn In My Pride’ and a terrific reading of ‘Sometimes Salvation.’
While Rich Robinson’s guitar anchored the band his brother Chris was the ultimate frontman, sometimes reminiscent of others like Mick Jagger or Peter Wolf, but with an amazingly flexible vice that can still hit the high notes as he nears the age of 60 (yes, that’s correct!).
I recalled that a few weeks earlier I had mentioned the inevitable comparisons in an interview with Rich Robinson. “Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood and Ronnie Lane, I mean, Jesus, those three together, I mean, what a phenomenal group of songwriters and singers and players,” he responded, “and Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones. I mean, what a stellar band.”
Then, as if to reinforce this, the Black Crowes encored with a wonderful version of The Faces ‘Three Button Hand Me Down’ (From First Step in 1970). This prompted an enthusiastic response from the audience and singalong in the chorus. (Apparently, they did the Stones’ ‘Torn & Frayed the following night). It was a timely reminder that the Black Crowes follow in a long and distinguished line and can sit proudly in that company.
Black Crowes Set List, The Forum, April 2, 2026
- Profane Prophecy (A Pound of Feathers)
- Sting Me (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion)
- Thick n’ Thin (Shake Your Moneymaker)
- Twice as Hard (Shake Your Moneymaker)
- Movin’ On Down the Line (Warpaint)
- Pharmacy Chronicles (A Pound of Feathers)
- My Morning Song (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion)
- Soul Singing (Lions)
- She Talks to Angels (Shake Your Moneymaker)
- Bedside Manners (Happiness Bastards)
- Wiser Time (Amorica)
- Hard to Handle (Shake Your Moneymaker)
- Sometimes Salvation (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion)
- Thorn in My Pride (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion)
- Jealous Again (Shake Your Moneymaker)
- Remedy (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion)
- Three Button Hand Me Down (Faces cover)