Having known for the past few months that The Black Crowes would be visiting Des Moines, I couldn't help but constantly find myself looking at the calendar waiting for August 17th. To add to my anticipation was the fact that the show was scheduled to be held at the Simon Estes Amphitheater downtown on the banks of the river. Now if you've been anywhere around Iowa the past few months you know just how much water there has been. As it turns out, August 17th, 2010 would be no different, imposing itself on what would have shaped up to be a great night of music with the Des Moines skyline as it's background. I must say that I was just as excited for the evening after learning that the show was going to be held at the Val Air Ballroom, a venue that has been played by numerous music legends during its time as an open air ballroom.
So with the venue sufficiently doing its part, it was up to The Black Crowes to bring the goods as they always do, and they did not disappoint. Currently on their "Say Goodnight To The Bad Guys" tour, The Black Crowes will take an indefinite hiatus in order to take a break from the road they've been consistently on since returning from a hiatus over 5 years ago. As the Crowes took the stage they burst into the raucous "Sting Me" to start the night off right. Throughout their set they played a song or two before taking a few minutes to demonstrate their tight musicianship as a group in the form of improvisational jams. To stand there and watch Rich Robinson and Luther Dickinson trade off solo's, and know what each other was going to come up with next was an absolute delight to my ears. The band's set consisted of a lot of their hits, including "Wiser Time", Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle", and "She Talks to Angels".
Having seen The Black Crowes on their first tour reunited in Asheville, NC, it is truly amazing to see how good this band is, and how good they have been after being on the map for 20+ years now. They have stood the test of time, cranking out album after album of southern tinged rock 'n' roll and I would venture to say that even after the end of their current tour we will still have not heard the last note from The Black Crowes.
Setlist:
Sting Me
Gone
Black Moon Creeping
Ballad In Urgency -->
Wiser Time
Polly (Dillard & Clark Cover)
Downtown Money Waster --> Jam
Thorns Progress Jam --> Thorn In My Pride
She Gave Good Sunflower
By Your Side
She Talks To Angels
Hard To Handle
-encore-
Willin' (Little Feat Cover)