Now that the Black Crowes have reunited, looking back on their bountiful past
offers a unique perspective on a group of Georgia misfits that began as a classic
rock derivative and became a surly and gyrating force sharp enough to tour with
Jimmy Page. Sealing the deal is Who Killed That Bird On Your Window
Sill, orginally released as a home video in 1992 and recently reissued,
remastered and expanded on DVD with loads of live performances, interviews,
backstage and studio footage, videos from the first two albums, and more. For
fans and newbies alike, this messy montage of a movie is an infallible history
lesson of the first order.
Examining the inner workings of the Black Crowes is not always pretty. Vocalist
Chris Robinson and his guitar playing brother Rich make no bones about the internal
strife they endured as the band began to take off. The singer, enamored by his
own wit, is particularly vocal about drugs, alcohol, and other members of the
band. The only time he holds his tongue is when a Japanese commentator rambles
on while the Robinson brothers and guitarist Marc Ford look anxiously on, sitting
idly and smiling politely. To this day, they are rarely on such good behavior.
Ultimately, however, it’s the music that does most of the talking. The
videos of “Jealous Again,” “Hard To Handle,” “She
Talks To Angels,” “Thorn In My Pride,” “Remedy,”
and “Sting Me” tie the whole sordid tale together in a prudent and
entertaining manner.
As a live unit, the Black Crowes have and continue to excel. The road footage
and live performances illustrate an affinity for the tour bus and all places
in between. The intensity switches to a new high when the group makes an appearance
at the Monsters in Moscow Festival, where security-happy Russian soldiers clashed
with a half-million overzealous fans newly tuned into the world of rock and
roll. Who Killed That Bird On Your Window Sill and the double
CD of outtakes and leftovers called The Lost Crowes both build
on the momentum presently swirling around the Black Crowes. Fans waiting for
new music will appreciate the context and spirit in which the DVD and CD sets
have been unveiled. It can only mean something even better is right around the
corner.
~ Shawn Perry
