Much has changed for the Black Crowes since I last reviewed them for Glide during the first and last shows of their reunion run at Hammerstein Ballroom two years ago. After reassembling their classic mid-90s lineup (by adding drummer Steve Gorman) during their subsequent homecoming stand in Atlanta, drugs and egos seemingly reared their ugly heads again.
Summers and Copeland claim publicly that they've struck that delicate balance between the acceptance of Sting as the undisputed creative force and providing him the freedom to utilize it, warts and all. That fragile equilibrium was in full display on the very same stage where they officially said goodbye. The results were electrifying enough to remind everyone in attendance why they were so big in the first place.
Having witnessed every spring Beacon stand since 1994 (countless guests, breakout tunes and mammoth jams included) I naively thought I had seen all the Allman Brothers Band could do inside the walls of this Manhattan landmark.
After a week
Keyboard player and musical arranger for The Jerry Garcia Band, Melvin Seals evoked a sound from Garcia that rivaled his work in the Grateful Dead. Now he creates that emotion on his own, releasing his first official solo album, Melting Pot.
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