Hey all, So, my girlfriend and I are at the Black Crowes show in Baltimore last night and here're a few thoughts: my second Crowes show, but I've noticed (anad it's been conformed by the rabid Crowes fans) that the Crowes are veering towards more jams and jam band-esque constructions. I'm always biased because, as a rabid Phish fan, I tend to judge all jam bands by what Phish did -- which, of course, is quite unfair the jams were interesting; most were variations of three or four chord jamming with lots of energy. But there were a few that transitioned into really interesting jams like Phish, the Crowes occasionally muddled around on stage before hitting onto a groove it would seem to be much harder to jam with six band members, including two guitarists, than it would be with four members. However, the biggest thing I noticed was the crowd's reaction. Some of the crowd really got into the jams, but many seemed confused and withdrew into conversation as the jams slowed down or segued. I think how the Crowes are changing is awesome and not exactly easy to do. More important, it makes me realize yet again that what Phish did, and how well they did it, was something that many of us took for granted. As a drummer, I know how hard it is to keep a jam interesting (and the more I listen to Fishman play, the more I realize how integral his playing was to molding the jam) and have it evolve and progress into something that both musicians and crowd draw tremendous energy off of. It's tremendously difficult, and I'm happy to have seen a band like Phish (and the Dead, too, though it was different with them) do it at the improv level they did. It's something that few bands playing today can do as well, if they even can. I'm glad to have been part of it.
