The Black Crowes rolled into the Washington DC area outdoor venue on a gorgeous summer evening, the latest stop on their Shake Your Money Maker 30th Anniversary tour that began last year after being delayed by Covid-19. The big news of this tour was the reunion of the constantly arguing Robinson brothers.
The Black Crowes – Shake Your Money Maker 30th Anniversary tour
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts – Vienna, VA – 23 June 2022
Words and Photography: Mick Sprouse
Their 1990 five-time platinum debut release, featuring the hits Hard To Handle, She Talks to Angels, and Jealous Again was played in its entirety along with a selection of hits from the Crowes’ later albums, including songs Remedy, Thorn In My Pride and the up tempo rocker Kicking My Heart Around.
Crowes’ lead singer, the charismatic Chris Robinson, was dancing and spinning across a stage made up to look like an old-time juke joint and had the surprisingly all-ages crowd in the palm of his hand from the start.
Rich Robinson, Chris’ guitarist brother, brought out his bluesy licks and wicked slide playing throughout the sixteen-song set.
On the opposite side of the stage, Guitarist Isaiah Mitchell, formally of the bands Earthless and Golden Void, is no slouch with a slide himself, and he led the twin guitar attack.
Long-time bassist Sven Pipien provided backing vocals, along with new keyboardist Joel Robinow and a lovely pair of gospel backup singers, McKenzie Adams and Leslie Grant, who sang from the front porch of the juke joint. Drummer Brian Griffin propelled the group with his steady, backbeat rhythms.
The band also played their newest single, a cover of Papa Was A Rolling Stone from their latest release, the six-song 1972 EP, which consists of covers of famous tracks released in 1972.
The night finally ended with a single song encore, a cover of David Bowie’s Moonage Daydream.
This was a great night and a wonderful way to celebrate their landmark quintuple platinum debut album.
Black Crowes, Vienna, VA
Twice as Hard
Jealous Again
Sister Luck
Could I’ve Been So Blind
Seeing Things
Hard to Handle
Thick N’ Thin
She Talks to Angels
Struttin’ Blues
Stare It Cold
Kickin’ My Heart Around
By Your Side
Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone
Wiser Time
Thorn in My Pride
Remedy
Encore:
Moonage Daydream
