With BluesFest being cancelled at such short notice this tour almost didn’t happen. Set to be one of the headline acts of the iconic festival this initial couple of sideshows in Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane were set to be treats for the Australian fans. Intimate theatres for one of the worlds finest blues driven rock bands of the last thirty-seven years. Thankfully Live Nation stepped in and saved this run of shows.
Western Australia’s Southern River Band kicked off tonight’s show with a fierce thirty-five minute six-song set, that wasn’t nearly long enough. Always on point SRB did what they do best, grabbed an audience and wowed them. Walking to the venue tonight it was clear that the band has an ever-growing fan based as I saw more SRB shirts than Black Crowes shirts. To think that in six short years from their debut performance at The Forum with The Darkness SRB has won so many fans from their music and especially their live performance. At that Darkness show they were all I heard about for weeks and months after, but sadly that performance was pretty much the last big live show before Australia and the rest of the world came to a grinding halt. Yes, the year was 2020.
Like everyone and everything else we were forced to reset and that included live music. I often wonder how things would look for bands like SRB had the world not shut down. In this reset though SRB have come back stronger than ever, their work ethic is frantic and relentless. It has been well planned and executed. They tour hard, but not so hard you get sick of them, they always have anticipation and excitement around their shows. Knowing that these Thornlie lads always deliver you made sure got there early.
The set was a rapid fire display of amazing rock n roll. Cal’s usual charm filled banter was kept to a minimum only to say ‘were the Southern River Band and that’s us written across my tits’ referring to his shirt urging us to buy some merch. Southern River Band are a guaranteed good time every time you see them, yet somehow they seem tighter and better than ever. Tonight was no exception.
Setlist : Don’t Take It To Heart, Hurt Em, All Over Town, Chasin After Love, Stan Qualen, Cigarettes.
The Black Crowes are one of those bands that I have fallen in and out of love with. They have made some incredible records in their career, some records didn’t hit instantly, others have, but that is the beauty of music, being able to revisit it and see it through different eyes. The Black Crowes have always had something about them. This is my first time seeing them live tonight. I missed a couple of opportunities over the last decade, but with the strength of “A Pound Of Feathers” it’s a show I needed to see. Their last show in Melbourne featured the stage invader at the Palais Theatre and made global news. Tonight I’m hoping will be simply a celebration of the band, the music without the chaos.
Opening with ‘Profane Prophecy’, the first time the band has played it live was a great introduction to the new album. Chris Robinson is this larger-than-life personality on stage, captivating and engaging. His charisma is undeniable and that voice, my god is better live than on any recording. We are taken into more familiar territory with ‘Sting Me’ and ‘Thick N Thin’ from the first two records. Rich Robinson is superb live and his execution is impeccable.
It is evident that The Black Crowes in 2026 are the Robinson brothers as both Chris and Rich have their own spotlights and the rest of the band are almost hidden in the shadows. Rightfully so some may say, but without the band and backing singers they have with them, it wouldn’t sound the way it does, and the magic of their catalogue wouldn’t come to life as it has in this setting. ‘Twice As Hard’ is possibly one of my favourite Crowes tunes, there is a magic about this song and to finally hear it live is just mesmerizing. The execution is sublime, the feel and soul just hit’s you where it should as it should.
My only issue with tonight sadly is the sound. Most noticeably in the first four songs Chris’ voice seems to be buried in the mix, but the overall sound was a little too bright, at times it was harsh with the top end overload. There seemed to be no mids in the mix and when I muffled those top end frequencies it all sounded much better. It’s odd because The Forum usually sounds incredible. ‘Pharmacy Chronicles’ see’s it live debut from ‘A Pound Of Feathers’ and live it is incredible.
Aside from the brief introductions to songs the banter is kept to a minimum unless of course we come to the fact that the band are so grateful to be here in Australia, as I mentioned before the tour almost didn’t happen due to the fall down of Bluesfest. In Chris Robinsons own words In America there is a giant human bag of shit, and this giant bag of shit keeps running his mouth and leaves people full of hate and ignorance, these are the people leading the pack at home right now. But never fear as the old song says the darkest hour is just before the dawn as the band launches into ‘My Morning Song’.
What I absolutely love about this set is that it covers the whole catalogue. It encapsulates exactly what The Black Crowes are. The soul and swagger of this band is unlike anything. There were moments through the set where songs like ‘Soul Singing’ and ‘She Talks To Angels’ that have a real gospel sermon feel to them. As if we are in the church of rock and roll and this is our baptism. It’s incredible when you become so deeply connected with a show and that is how it makes you feel. The music washes over you and the emotional connection is so powerful.
Rich Robinson whether it be on acoustic guitar or any of the arsenal he has with him on this tour just know how to make it sing and reach. ‘Bedside Manners’ from “Happiness Bastards” swings and sways along and the band on fire. Chris Robinson is so engaging with his poses and microphone stand etiquette he really is the consummate frontman. ‘Wiser Times’ is this lush feel-good vibe that washes over you. So good.
‘Hard To Handle’ bringsthe house down and the band just grooves on this. In fact, they have been sublime all night. Faultless and perfect. From the intricate soul punching ballads to the dirty rock n roll they have been immaculate. The backing singers, just wow. In many ways I wish the names behind the talents of the touring member were celebrated a little more on stage.
‘Sometimes Salvation’ and ‘Thorn In my Pride’ leave you in awe and again it’s in the delivery from Chris Robinson that simply pulls you in. it’s all there, the power, the tenderness, the honesty. It’s all authentic and so connective. The one, two hit of ‘Jealous Again’ and ‘Remedy’ bring the energy back up and close out the show. Hands are in the air and voices are if full force throughout The Forum. This really has been an experience I will embrace for a long time.
There is an encore, and for me this is a real treat. I love The Faces and the bands version of ‘Three Button Hand Me Down’ is stunning. Its execution is flawless and the spirit is persevered perfectly. This is rock n roll done right, and it has been done right all night. Aside from the issues I personally had with the sound, this show was near perfect and again checked all the boxes I have for a live performance. The Black Crowes in 2026 are better than ever. If you have the chance to see this tour, do it, you will not be disappointed as I know many will be clambering for tickets to do it all again tonight in Melbourne.
Setlist : Profane Prophecy, Sting Me, Thick n Thin, Twice As Hard, Movin’ On Down The line, Pharmacy Chronicles, My Morning Song, Soul Singing, She Talks To Angels, Bedside Manners, Wiser Time, Hard To Handle, Sometimes Salvation, Thorn In My Pride, Jealous Again, Remedy.
Encore : Three Button Hand Me Down.
With thanks to Nicole Hart for Revolutions Per Minute & Live Nation for the media accreditation.
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