Rock
'n’ Roll is all about fantasy, mostly
about sexual fantasy (e.g. AC/DC's ”Whole
Lotta Rosie”), but sometimes it is just
about Rock 'n' Roll fantasy. Such as,
what if Jimmy Page found himself at a
lose end and wanted to go out on tour?
So who could he pick as a backing band?
Perhaps his long time admirers and possibly
America's tightest jamming band The Black
Crowes? And what could they pick as a
set list? A selection of Led Zeppelin's
finest and just for good measure some
of the finest standards laid down? Well,
for once it was not fantasy, but reality.
Rehearsals took place and dates were set
and this amazing combination hit the road,
playing to packed arena's the length and
breadth of America, with astounding results.
Fortunately plans were made to record
the event for all time and here are the
results. At first only released on the
Internet, but sense was seen and the whole
Shishkerbang was let loose on the eagerly
awaiting Rock Public.
For
those amongst you who may feel that it
is sacrilegious for anyone else to perform
these songs, especially for old Robert
(Percy) Plant not to be singing, hollering,
and cajoling every nuance out of these
classic's. Fear not. Chris Robinson, the
Crowes’ vocalist, does not even attempt
to imitate the great man, singing everything
in his own style giving each song a new
slant. The rest of the Crowes play with
such abandon, I have never heard them
play with such verve and panache, and
this is somebody who has been a huge fan
of the band for over ten years. The rhythm
section of Pipien and Gorman keep a lock
sold groove going whilst losing nothing
of the looseness that keeps the music
spontaneous and alive. Probably the biggest
sound difference on the Zeppelin classics
is that although John Paul Jones used
to double up on bass and keyboards (an
exemplary job he did, too) in that band
his use of piano was very sparing, whereas
Ed Harsch is not frightened to push the
piano right to the front of the sounds
cape, soloing when any opportunity arises.
But it is the three pronged guitar attack
that floors you. Combining together to
give the raunchiest guitar sound that
has ever been heard on this little planet.
(Lynard Skynard are stunning, make no
mistake, this is just one step beyond)
Obviously it's Jimmy Page that steals
the show. I doubt he has ever played better.
However, the playing of Chris's brother
Rich Robinson, and new at the time Crowes
guitarist, is of outstanding class, pushing
their guest player to the outer limits
of his ability.
The Song selection is spot on. The guitar
duel in ”You Shook Me” is nothing short
of jaw dropping, specially as it follows
a version of that old Elmore James classic
”Shake Your Money Maker”, which rattles
the roof tops and would bring a smile
to even the most stern of anorak Rock
'n' Roll connoisseurs. Chris Robinson
turns in a truly saucy version of “The
Lemon Song”, and the choice of Jimmy Page’s
contemporary guitarist/songwriter Peter
Green’s finest song written whilst in
Fleetwood Mac, “Oh Well” is a pure delight.
There has never been a better version
of ”Heartbreaker” with Jimmy Page really
stepping out on this one. So topped and
tailed with ”Celebration day” and ”Whole
Lotta Love” across two hours of music
spread over two CD's. You get Six cover
versions and fourteen classic Zeppelin
tracks (all with credit due to Willie
Dixon and C. Burnett), played by a bunch
of guys, who are having the time of their
lives. This is certainly one of the top
three Rock 'n' Roll Live albums of all
time.
As an extra - if you have a computer
you can watch theb performing snippets
of the songs live from your disc drive
plus some very good stills taken from
the Greek, where it becomes even more
apparent how well they all gelled as a
unit and what a good time they were having.
After this tour the Black Crowes went
back into the studios to record their
next album, the very heavily Zeppelin
influenced ”Lions", since when, it's
been rumored, they have disbanded, probably
feeling it would be hard to top the Jimmy
Page tour. One is also left to reflect
what a shame it was that ”Led Zeppelin”
never recorded a decent live album. “The
Song Remains The Same” is not a bad album,
but hardly a killer. “Live at the Greek”
leaves it for dead.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
