Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes: Live At The Greek
Monday Live Album
It's the year 1999, and the world was busy preparing for the impending Y2K, often referred to as the millennium bug. This technological concern fueled widespread fears of total mayhem and collapse, leaving many apprehensive as the countdown ticked away. In music, Britney told us to hit her one more time and TLC had zero tolerance for scrubs. Santana released the album Supernatural, which featured the lead single "Smooth." This infectious track, featuring Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20, quickly took over the airwaves. Eminem introduced us to his alter ego, Slim Shady, and the world collectively stood up. Blur wanted coffee and TV with their heartbreak album 13, while Basement Jaxx had the much-needed remedy for the dance floor and the Roots released their critically acclaimed album, Things Fall Apart. “Umi Says," featuring a very cool beat, was undoubtedly a standout track on Mos Def's remarkable debut album, Black on Both Sides. Meanwhile, Rage Against the Machine continued their passionate fight for social justice through their powerful album, Battle of Los Angeles.
And now can you guess where we find ourselves at this very moment? That's right, we are at the iconic and historic Greek Theater, which is located in the beautiful Griffith Park in Los Angeles. This remarkable site, originally a quarry, was chosen specifically for its outstanding acoustic qualities. With a capacity of 6,000, the outdoor theatre has been the venue for some truly historical performances and recordings, including Neil Diamond’s legendary Hot August Night and America’s America Live. It’s mid-October, and we are about to be spoiled with two nights of classic rock with The Black Crowes and guitarist and founder of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page. It promises to be an incredibly loud and memorable few nights.
We are not entirely sure how this particular project came into fruition, however, it is stated that it was the brainchild of the talented producer Kevin Shirley, who had previously worked with The Black Crowes. Originally hailing from South Africa, he later moved to Australia, where he produced music for a number of great Australian artists such as Baby Animals, Cold Chisel, and Hoodoo Gurus. He also played a significant role in producing Silverchair's debut album, Frogstomp. Other notable acts Shirley has worked with include Iron Maiden, Rush and Aerosmith. Live at the Greek was recorded over two nights, and I definitely would have loved to be at one of them.
This gig starts off with “Celebration Day”, and yes, it truly is a celebration! We dive into the classic blues rock that showcases the powerful influence of Jimmy Page on music over the years and the enduring legacy of Led Zeppelin. However, this rich history does not overshadow the remarkable contributions of The Black Crowes, particularly in the early 90s. Their iconic album, Shake Your Money Maker, was a massive success during that time, and I still vividly remember my brother enthusiastically saying, “Have a listen to this” as he handed me the album—if I recall correctly, it was a cassette tape.
The 2 LP album is a great mix of Led Zeppelin’s and The Black Crowes' extensive back catalogue. I must admit, Chris Robinson does a fairly decent job of singing Robert Plant’s iconic lyrics, and there are times where one is almost fooled into thinking that it is indeed Plant himself performing. The band and Plant perform some truly great versions of their own songs as well as of blues classics such as BB King's “Woke Up This Morning.” Their rendition of Otis Redding's “Hard to Handle” is particularly noteworthy, and I believe every cover band performed The Black Crowes' version back in the day, and maybe still do. There’s a cracking version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well”, and make sure to check out the great soundcheck versions of “The Lemon Song” and “Ten Years Gone” as well as the last track “Jam”—it’s all very cool.
Live At The Greek (expanded edition) with previously unreleased Black Crowes tracks is out now and available from your local record store.
Listen to the album here.