The Black Crowes

In the mood for some music listening last Saturday night - listening as opposed to just having music on in the background mind - I pulled out The Black Crowes' The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. I haven't listened to this album for quite a long time though it has a life-time place among my favourite records ever. Playing it again reminded me just why I fell in love with this collection of songs in the first place and why I will always come back to them again and again and leave each time feeling that, even if all is not well with the world, there are those things that are just beautiful and brilliant. The record also pulls up memories of the time around when I first heard it, when I was really into rock music first - I remember when I heard they were coming to Dublin to promote the album I scurried down to the Sound Cellar to put my deposit down on a ticket (I have no idea if that place is still open but it plays a big part in my memories of the early nineties and all the shows I saved for and went to). Anyway, although the show was pure dynamite and they rocked my socks off I was absolutely gutted that they didn't play 'My Morning Song' which is a piece of pure rock music genius, my favourite song off the album, and...they played every single other song! On the next tour they played the Olympia Theatre on Dame Street which is, in my humble opinion, the absolute best venue in Dublin. I don't know if they had recognised the glaring omission in their playlist from the last gig but they bloody well played 'My Morning Song' first! Chris Robinson like a possessed scarecrow on the stage, singing with a voice that seemed far bigger than the body that it came out of. Happy days!