11.04.2010 - we’re in NYC to see The Black Crowes at what was then called the Best Buy Theatre. It was the so called “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” tour, where they would open with an acoustic set and then play an electric set. It was the middle night of a 5 night stand and what will always be known as the “cousins show” - mainly because we went with a couple of our cousins - which meant it was an eclectic mix of diehard Amoricans like Mitch (and I think our lost but not forgotten Don) and more casual fans. I myself had been a long time Crowes fan who got off the bus after By Your Side (still one of the all time worst album covers - oh that hat).
To make a long story even longer, I proceeded to watch my little brother practically lose his shit when mid-way through the acoustic set they bust out the Burrito Suite. It was all Mitch could talk about at the bar after the aftershow. For what it’s worth - the whole first set was filled with a lot of the aforementioned countrified chicken finger licking songs that Chris seemed to favor (obviously another fan of the Burritos and Gram).
In the end, it was a memorable show, made all the more memorable by being able to head backstage after to hang with Steve Gorman - with whom Mitch’s bromance was in full swing. While Mitch and Gorman were busy talking about The Wire (which both were binge watching at the time), the rest of us go to kick back backstage, drink Steve’s Stella Artois (which is why I will always be on #teamgorman) and watch the various band members depart with friends and associates. It was a pretty mellow scene, not the debauchery one expects back stage at a rock and roll show. Then again, this was a band with members were then in their 40’s who were just trying to finish the tour without killing one another.
I didn’t know from the Burritos, or Hot Burrito #1 and #2, but Mitch immediately knew that catching the suite was special - which it was - so much so that the Crowes included the versions recorded that evening on their 2013 Wiser for the Time live album. I’ve since dabbled in listening to the Gram Parsons and the Flying Burritos, but that magic cousins night in NYC was my on ramp into so called Cosmic American Music
p.s. While I’d seen the Crowes a number of times since, I have no desire to see whatever the current incarnation is. Thanks to Mitch and Stella Artois, #teamgorman4ever.
p.p.s. I also subsequently watched The Wire, which still stands as one of the great all time tv series. If you don’t agree fight me.
Don was definitely at that show because a few months later I got a text with a photo of Don and our cousin Eric in the beer line at a Giants game. They randomly ran into each other at the game and recognized each other from the show!
Does anyone else find the left/right channel split of the 2 vocals impossible to listen to? Maybe they thought it would stop them sounding so much like the Everly Brothers. A highlight is the moment David Crosby joins in (vocals firmly in the middle).
I think if I was a FBB at some point I would have shouted in exasperation across the studio "would you just put that geetar down for one minute PLEASE sneaky"
A nice listen but nothing spectacular
And yes we have one of those types of stores CJ, you keep thinking it must be good if its that expensive....
At this point it's more of a Stockholm Syndrome situation with Roche Bros., Wyn. When my wife and I have a big shopping list we do manage to make it to the Stop & Shop a couple of towns over (where we literally save hundreds of dollars). But for everyday stuff, the brothers Roche have me locked down. I can't quit them.
By the way, great call-out on the Everly Brothers comp. I had that in my notes, but never managed to work it into my response. I can totally hear it, though.
This has become a key album for my 18 year old son. He appreciates Gram's solo records and likes Sweetheart of the Rodeo but this album, for him, is the masterpiece and centerpiece for his idea of 'cosmic' country. I've buried him in Gene Clark records only to find this on the turntable day after day. I came to this album through reading about the Stones, Altamont, etc when I was his age. I'm not sure what he is hearing but he sure does like it. Great post, thanks!
This whole country rock precursor label being unilaterally adhered to FBB is a bit cliché at this particular point in history when so many other bands were aiming their smith & Wessons in that direction with a scant few succeeding in turning the whole thing into a movement…I mean the Eagles were called the same thing. The Byrds almost were. For myself I think I like the ‘idea’ of this band better than the band itself. It’s a case where the whole really doesn’t add up to the sum of it’s parts, and that’s not to say they didn’t release some great music because they did. Parsons cannot be denied his genius and neither can Hillman for that matter but personally I enjoy their more ruckus hardscrabble tunes more. They probably sounded amazing and edgy in a legitimate honky tonk. I mean c’mon they had a fuzz pedal steel…
11.04.2010 - we’re in NYC to see The Black Crowes at what was then called the Best Buy Theatre. It was the so called “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” tour, where they would open with an acoustic set and then play an electric set. It was the middle night of a 5 night stand and what will always be known as the “cousins show” - mainly because we went with a couple of our cousins - which meant it was an eclectic mix of diehard Amoricans like Mitch (and I think our lost but not forgotten Don) and more casual fans. I myself had been a long time Crowes fan who got off the bus after By Your Side (still one of the all time worst album covers - oh that hat).
To make a long story even longer, I proceeded to watch my little brother practically lose his shit when mid-way through the acoustic set they bust out the Burrito Suite. It was all Mitch could talk about at the bar after the aftershow. For what it’s worth - the whole first set was filled with a lot of the aforementioned countrified chicken finger licking songs that Chris seemed to favor (obviously another fan of the Burritos and Gram).
In the end, it was a memorable show, made all the more memorable by being able to head backstage after to hang with Steve Gorman - with whom Mitch’s bromance was in full swing. While Mitch and Gorman were busy talking about The Wire (which both were binge watching at the time), the rest of us go to kick back backstage, drink Steve’s Stella Artois (which is why I will always be on #teamgorman) and watch the various band members depart with friends and associates. It was a pretty mellow scene, not the debauchery one expects back stage at a rock and roll show. Then again, this was a band with members were then in their 40’s who were just trying to finish the tour without killing one another.
I didn’t know from the Burritos, or Hot Burrito #1 and #2, but Mitch immediately knew that catching the suite was special - which it was - so much so that the Crowes included the versions recorded that evening on their 2013 Wiser for the Time live album. I’ve since dabbled in listening to the Gram Parsons and the Flying Burritos, but that magic cousins night in NYC was my on ramp into so called Cosmic American Music
p.s. While I’d seen the Crowes a number of times since, I have no desire to see whatever the current incarnation is. Thanks to Mitch and Stella Artois, #teamgorman4ever.
p.p.s. I also subsequently watched The Wire, which still stands as one of the great all time tv series. If you don’t agree fight me.
Don was definitely at that show because a few months later I got a text with a photo of Don and our cousin Eric in the beer line at a Giants game. They randomly ran into each other at the game and recognized each other from the show!
Does anyone else find the left/right channel split of the 2 vocals impossible to listen to? Maybe they thought it would stop them sounding so much like the Everly Brothers. A highlight is the moment David Crosby joins in (vocals firmly in the middle).
I think if I was a FBB at some point I would have shouted in exasperation across the studio "would you just put that geetar down for one minute PLEASE sneaky"
A nice listen but nothing spectacular
And yes we have one of those types of stores CJ, you keep thinking it must be good if its that expensive....
At this point it's more of a Stockholm Syndrome situation with Roche Bros., Wyn. When my wife and I have a big shopping list we do manage to make it to the Stop & Shop a couple of towns over (where we literally save hundreds of dollars). But for everyday stuff, the brothers Roche have me locked down. I can't quit them.
By the way, great call-out on the Everly Brothers comp. I had that in my notes, but never managed to work it into my response. I can totally hear it, though.
This has become a key album for my 18 year old son. He appreciates Gram's solo records and likes Sweetheart of the Rodeo but this album, for him, is the masterpiece and centerpiece for his idea of 'cosmic' country. I've buried him in Gene Clark records only to find this on the turntable day after day. I came to this album through reading about the Stones, Altamont, etc when I was his age. I'm not sure what he is hearing but he sure does like it. Great post, thanks!
This whole country rock precursor label being unilaterally adhered to FBB is a bit cliché at this particular point in history when so many other bands were aiming their smith & Wessons in that direction with a scant few succeeding in turning the whole thing into a movement…I mean the Eagles were called the same thing. The Byrds almost were. For myself I think I like the ‘idea’ of this band better than the band itself. It’s a case where the whole really doesn’t add up to the sum of it’s parts, and that’s not to say they didn’t release some great music because they did. Parsons cannot be denied his genius and neither can Hillman for that matter but personally I enjoy their more ruckus hardscrabble tunes more. They probably sounded amazing and edgy in a legitimate honky tonk. I mean c’mon they had a fuzz pedal steel…