THE BLACK CROWES / WHISKEY MYERS – THE AMP
By Marisa Torrieri Bloom
The Black Crowes, Whiskey Myers at Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater 6/17
The Black Crowes kicked off summer music season in Bridgeport with an electrifying set that balanced the band’s Southern blues-rock legacy hits with its most scorching, post-2019 earworms. The show, part of the Atlanta band’s Southern Hospitality Tour with Whiskey Myers, brought a mixed crowd of Gen Xers and younger fans to Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater on a Wednesday night, which frontman Chris Robinson dubbed “the new Saturday night for cool people.”
Ahead of sunset, Texas country-rock band Whiskey Myers ushered in the balmy night with a big wall of sound. Theirs was a set made for an outdoor venue, with lead vocalist and guitarist Cody Cannon trading tasty riffs with guitarists John Jeffers, a mesmerizing slide-guitar guru, and guitarist Cody Tate.
As others have noted, songs from the band’s latest release Whomp Whack Thunder (2025) carried a heavier edge onstage, a nice counterbalance to more popular tracks like “Stone” that delighted the crowd.
It was the ideal segue into The Black Crowes’ 100-minute set, which struck a balance between old and new, and showcased the undeniable alchemic bond between brothers Chris and Rich Robinson (lead guitar).
Kicking off their set with “Bedside Manners” (Happiness Bastards) and “Cruel Streak” from their latest studio album, A Pound of Feathers (March 13), the fringe-coat- outfitted Chris Robinson and his band proved that age does not dull impact. At 59, the flamboyant vocalist sounds as good as he did in the early 2000s, belting out all the right notes in perfect pitch.
Soon after, the audience lit up when The Crowes played “Jealous Again,” one of their big radio hits pre- dating the turn of the century, and later, their ‘90s breakout hit “Hard to Handle” (an Otis Redding cover). That ranks high among the night’s best moments for me.
Of course, few songs got more response than “She Talks to Angels,” the band’s signature torchbearer ballad and possibly its best-known hit. As Chris donned an acoustic guitar and crooned, “She never mentions the word ‘addiction,” pretty much everyone whipped out their phones. As it was already past 10:30 on a Wednesday, it became clear that many of the working, 50-something adults had waited for that song before deciding to leave, as droves of responsible grown-ups fled the amphitheater after the final note.
But those of us who stayed for the party were rightfully rewarded.
While a lot has been said about the band swapping in new players post-2019 — including Mark “Muddy” Dutton (Bass), Cully Symington (Drums), Nico Bereciartua (Guitars), and Erik Deutsch (Keys) — the near-sold-out crowd didn’t seem to care. Most everyone on the lower levels stood for the entire set, dancing, swaying and singing, while guzzling seltzers and overpriced waters.
Proving good things come to those who wait, I’m so stoked I out-waited some of my concert buddies for “Remedy” — possibly the best Black Crowes song in existence. Kudos truly goes to backing vocalists Mackenzie Adams and Lesley Grant, whose rich, resonant vocals gave that song its special kick. As I sung and screamed along, I felt like a teenager again, recalling all of my high school car rides accompanied by The Black Crowes. Their Southern Hospitality tour truly warmed my heart and elevated my existence. Let’s hope the rest of the summer sounds this good.
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