The Black Crowes brought their long history of hits and booty shaking Rock n Roll to Canandaigua’s CMAC Amphitheater on a simply weather-tastic Wednesday, July 31st, along with Tedeschi Trucks Band. As the crowd made their way in from the lots and started to fill the pavilion and lawn, New York City’s London Souls provided some stupendous entrance music. The power guitar bass and drums trio formed in 2008 and has already climbed the touring ladder high enough to open for some major league acts. The band’s sound is largely based on a myriad of classic rock influences, with enough taste of jam to make a proper sandwich. Those that made it in early enough got themselves a treat and those that did not should make it a point to see these guys when they come back through. Catch them in upstate again October 22nd at Rochester’s Club at Water Street and October 26th with Umphrey’s McGee at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo.
Next up was the husband and wife duo of Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi with eight other top notch musicians to fill out the self monikered Tedeschi/Trucks Band. Trucks is well known for being a young guitar prodigy touring with The Allman Brothers as a teenager and spending years in his own band until joining forces (in more ways than one) with fellow shredder and top-notch vocalist Susan Tedeschi in 2010. They tour with a full horn section, extra vocalists, and plenty of percussion. It’s hard to call this band an opener, as it was very apparent in the crowd that many were in attendance for them as much as the headlining act. There’s nothing cooler than watching a husband and wife lovingly try and out-shred each other and the crowd ate it up and asked for seconds.
The Crowes hit the stage after about a 30 minute break and wasted no time getting into it with their classic “Jealous Again”. Chris Robinson, who seems even taller in person, was adorned appropriately in a white Buffalo Dead t-shirt and “skinny” blue jeans. Mr. Robinson, of course, is a longtime proponent and activist for marijuana regulation, so this reporter was not surprised to smell an interesting skunky scent emanating from the stage. The band ripped through hit after hit and a decent enough collection of deep cuts to please any fan. For the encore, most of the Tedeschi/Trucks Band joined them onstage for an incredible moment of jamtastic virtuosity covering Eric Clapton’s “Don’t Know Why” and Joe Tex’s “Show Me”. Twelve musicians all at the top of their game melding in unison was the cherry on the top of a sundae of an evening.
Setlist: Jealous Again, Thick N’ Thin, Blackberry, Another Roadside Tragedy, How Much for Your Wings?, Bring On, Bring On, Wiser Time, She Talks to Angels, Oh! Sweet Nuthin’ (The Velvet Underground), Soul Singing, Thorn in My Pride, Remedy
Encore: Don’t Know Why (Eric Clapton), Show Me (Joe Tex cover)
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