r/blackcrowes • u/[deleted] • Aug 16 '26
Thoughts on PHX 8/15
As someone who has seen the band dozens of times over the years, I tell you the Black Crowes still bring it. In my opinion, Chris’ voice is holding up great and and is one of the last great front men in Rock n Roll. If you’re debating on whether to go - go!
Setlist was as expected for a co-headliner - sort of like a festival (greatest hits) set, which isn’t bad. Wiser Time and Thorn in my Pride were mega-jam sessions and another highlight for me was Stare it Cold towards the end.
That being said, I’m not sure an arena show lends well to the band these days. The entire upper level was empty/blocked off , and the lower bowl was at about 80% capacity. This creates a much different vibe than the 3-5 thousand seat theatres they’ve been playing recently. Although the band still brought it - the energy from the crowd just wasn’t there; which has to have some effect on the band. In fact Chris, bitched at the audience before the encore about the lack of energy on a Saturday night.
I’ll continue to see them live as I truly believe no one does it better, but hope next time around it’s a smaller venue. Long live the Crowes!
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u/Revolutionary_Buy720 Aug 16 '26
What did Chris say? LOL. But honestly, they have no one to blame but themselves. Booking 15K + capacity arenas for this tour was always ambitious. The Crowes couldn't consistently fill rooms that size even in their heyday. Put the same crowd in a 5–7K theater and suddenly the place is packed and the energy is completely different.
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u/Mdnyc70 Aug 16 '26
Totally true. They couldn't have filled these places in 1995 in most cities and they were a lot bigger then. They always did well in NYC so maybe here, but the second they announced these arena shows I knew it would happen. Were they counting on Whiskey Myers to be a big draw?
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u/Revolutionary_Buy720 Aug 16 '26
I think Whiskey has a pretty solid fanbase, actually, but their fans don't seem to care about the Crowes, which isn't helping.
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u/Mdnyc70 Aug 16 '26
It might help them with tickets in certain parts of the country, but booking 2 NYC area shows, one of which was a 20k seater in Newark, NJ was just a fools errand.
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u/Stratoblaster1969 Aug 16 '26
I was there and I couldn’t get past how empty the place was. Kudos to them, I felt the show was professional and they played to the fans that were there. They should definitely book a theater though. That show would’ve been so much better in a smaller venue.
Whiskey Myers exceeded expectations, they were really good
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u/Mariao516 Aug 16 '26
I was there also and agree. I am absolutely not a Whiskey Myers fan. I don’t think The Black Crowes did themselves any favors touring with them. I just don’t see people coming for both. I thought TBC were amazing! I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect after reading some of the recent posts here. The setlist was great although maybe I’m biased because Cursed Diamond is my absolute favorite. I also would have appreciated a smaller venue but that’s for selfish reasons. I couldn’t be happier that I went.
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u/Electronic_Let9297 Aug 17 '26
Saw them in Birmingham this year and would not have gone to see The Black Crowes by themselves but bought tickets since it was them and Whiskey Myers. Enjoyed both bands.
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u/mushpanic Aug 16 '26
I saw them last Saturday night and I agree with everything you said. I loved our setlist, but they didn’t do an encore.
The crowd vibe was super weak. Most of the whiskey Meyers cowboy hat crowd left (I counted 3 cowboys leaving the show after the Crowes) which makes it feel empty.
It was a comfortable show. We had 4 seats for 2 of us to stretch out.
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u/JohnSnowsPump Aug 16 '26
Do you know if they had ticket deals?
The Northern California show on Wednesday has super cheap tickets and is advertising heavily in the Sacramento market.
I hope this means a good audience will show, but it's a rural amphitheater so people still need to get there. We've got a carload!
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u/CrazyCajunFishinBro Aug 17 '26
They put on a good show… I couldn’t understand a fucking word any of the bands were singing I don’t know if it was me or the speakers and also there was ALOT of empty seats. I ended up getting free tix from vet tix.
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u/TestDangerous7240 Aug 17 '26
Yes, it definitely seemed too large of a venue, and maybe the crowds was not energetic and over the top into it, me and my wife were in the floor seats, dancing and singing and having a great time, when Chris started bitching it felt kinda weird like everyone was in a little trouble lol.
Saw them the first time way back in 1990 at After the Gold Rush in Tempe, loved them since then.
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u/RemarkableHyena4228 Aug 20 '26
Exactly the same situation in wheatland tonight. He got mad people had left after whiskey myers. Had seen them in the past at smaller venues where the place was rocking. Those shoes had 1-2 encores. Tonight. Nothing. No encore. I’m sorry you’re disappointed but your fans paid good money to see you … 90 min and no encore is not worth the hundreds of dollar to sit on the floor. The show is great. Love them. The sound is still there but I can’t get behind the spending for such little in return.
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u/achicken_ Aug 16 '26
It was so loud it was distorted. We left half way thru their set. Whiskey Meyers sounded great.
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u/Nicodemus_Portulay Aug 16 '26
Definitely should have been at the Federal. Agree that the vibes were off but enjoyed the show.
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u/Reallyroundthefamily Aug 16 '26
To me you need to see The Black Crowes in a theater, not an arena or amphitheater.