Just days after having their new record, Happiness Bastards be nominated for a Grammy, The Black Crowes took their “Happiness Bastards (The Reprise)” tour to The Capitol Theatre In Port Chester, New York. This is the first time since the band reunited that they returned to the legendary “Cap.” This show was the first of two back-to-back dates to close out their tour which concludes at The Capitol Theatre on Dec. 22, 2024.
Due to a minor snowstorm that morning and temperatures dropping to the 20s, fans didn’t line up around the block. But, the minute that the opening act, George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, took to the stage, the nearly 100-year-old theatre got packed. Porter Jr. is a living legend who has recorded with famous musicians like Paul McCartney, Jimmy Buffet and David Byrne. Backing Porter Jr. was three other musicians that rounded out his band, Runnin’ Pardners.
George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners set stretched only 45 minutes. But, fans could tell that the band was extremely tight and that they were serious musicians. Granted the Capitol Theatre housed legendary rock and roll icons like Jerry Garcia and his band, The Grateful Dead, Porter Jr’s tie-die shirt and funky jam rock and roll for the overall vibe of the theatre.
The crowd that showed up early for Porter Jr.’s set took to the extra space in the general admission section to dance and move to the music. During their set, the music allowed each member of the band to solo and showcase their skills. Whether it was a funky drum solo from Terrence Houston or a regular guitar solo from Chris Adkins, it’s easy to see that the musicians surrounding the legendary bassist were seasoned players.
George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners Are:
George Porter Jr. – Vocals/Bass
Michael Lemmler – Keyboards/Vocals
Chris Adkins – Guitar/Vocals
Terrence Houston – Drums/Vocals
Setlist:
1. Tito’s Dumpling Machine
2. I Get High
3. Take A Chance
4. Just Kissed My Baby
5. Cissy Got The Blues
6. Hey Pocky A-Way
7. Wanna Get Funky
8. Fire on the Bayou
The roadies took down Porter Jr.’s equipment as quickly as they put it up. After a brief 15-minute intermission, the band houselights dimmed. Fans knew that The Black Crowes were on their way to the stage when AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)” blasted at a deafening volume in the theatre. Through the shadows, the band hopped on stage and blasted into a spectacular version of “No Speak No Slave.” The perfect opening song.
From the minute The Black Crowes went on stage, they were in a groove that translated to the audience. Back in 2018, Chris Robinson and his band, As The Crowe Flies played at the Capitol. So it’s been some time since the Westchester County, New York crowd has seen any version of the Robinson Brothers. From the first note of “No Speak No Slave,” the house was jumping. The band fed off the vibrant energy of the audience and vice versa.
The Crowes mixed in a ton of classic tunes, new songs, and rarities. By song three, they unearthed a rare gem, “Then She Said My Name.” Before this tour, the song was played last in 1999. The entire band seemed to be in a great mood. The combination of being in a historic venue and the tour winding down put the band in great spirits. Between Chris Robinson strutting and grooving on stage and the unmistakable chemistry between Rich Robinson and guitarist Nico Bereciartua, spirits were high on stage.
The Grammy-nominated group’s stage was simpler than the last tours. They kept the happiness bastards banner above the stage and abandoned the beautiful mirror that went behind Chris Robinson. Despite the simple stage, it didn’t take away from any of the marvelous covers the band played throughout the night. T. Rex’s “20th Century Boy” and David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie” all made appearances throughout the night. The latter saw Rich Robinson sing lead vocals which was a great addition.
The rarities continued throughout the night as “I Ain’t Hiding” off of 2009’s Before the Frost…Until the Freeze appeared in the second half of the setlist. This kicked the audience into a dance frenzy. The funk-disco-infused rock song ignited a fire once again on stage and in the crowd. When the group played a classic song like “Twice As Hard,” “Hard To Handle,” or “She Talks to Angels,” the theatre went ballistic and sang along to every word.
Throughout the night Cully Symington worked up a sweat behind the drums. He was relentless and ferocious. His technically sound calmness while also including his feel on songs has brought another level of hungriness to the band. Incorporating newer faces into the band like Symington, Bereciartua, and keyboardist, Erik Deutsch has worked well for the Robinson brothers.
In typical Black Crowes fashion, Rich Robinson kept his head done and plowed through the music with such ferocity and power that few have. But, when he did look up, his shy smile offered a sense of warmth to the chill audience. At the beginning of “Jealous Again,” Rich Robinson’s guitar was having technical difficulties so they couldn’t start the tune property.
Chris Robinson immediately joked “Maybe we won’t play ‘Jealous Again.’ That’s his [Rich Robinson’s] favorite thing to do… talk to you guys.” This came after Rich Robinson shyly said something with a smile. When the song finally got underway, the brothers shared a nice smile. The smile wrapped a nice bow on the rest of the evening.
It’s easy to see why The Black Crowes’ newest record, Happiness Bastards is nominated for a Grammy award. Their drive on stage and their excellent musicianship make for an excellent rock and roll show. This was the perfect show to ring in the holiday season. Port Chester, New York got their money’s worth for night one of the “Happiness Bastards (The Reprise)” tour. Going into night two at The Capitol Theatre, the Black Crowes are going in red hot after their performance on Dec. 21. Don’t miss the chance to see them on their next tour. You won’t be disappointed by one of the best acts around.
The Black Crowes Are:
Chris Robinson – Vocals
Rich Robinson – Guitars/Background vocals
Sven Pipien – Bass/Background vocals
Cully Symington – Drums
Nico Bereciartua – Guitars/Background vocals
Erik Deutsch – Keyboards
Mackenzie Adams – Backing Vocals
Lesley Grant – Backing Vocals
Setlist:
1. No Speak No Slave
2. Dirty Cold Sun
3. Then She Said My Name
4. Sting Me
5. Wanting and Waiting
6. Cursed Diamond
7. Descending
8. Cross Your Fingers
9. Title Song
10. The Jean Genie (David Bowie cover)
11. I Ain’t Hiding
12. Twice As Hard
13. Hard to Handle (Otis Redding cover)
14. 20th Century Boy (T. Rex cover)
15. She Talks to Angels
16. Jealous Again
17. Remedy
18. Back Door Santa (Clarence Carter cover)
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in New York/New Jersey and go to school in Connecticut majoring in Journalism and I am always looking for the next concert to attend.
