The Black Crowes perform at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 7, 2021.
On Saturday, Aug. 7, the stage at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park was decorated as a cozy dive bar complete with a barkeep, jukebox and all the accoutrements required for a night of down and dirty rock and roll compliments of The Black Crowes. Following a one-year postponement due to the pandemic, the band – and fans – were more than ready to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the group’s hit-filled, debut album during the Chicago stop of the Shake Your Money Maker Tour.
Before The Black Crowes – led by Chris and Rich Robinson with longtime bassist Sven Pipien as well as a group of talented touring musicians – took the stage, L.A. rockers Dirty Honey warmed up the crowd with a set full of big guitars, soaring choruses and monster jams. Singer Marc LaBelle’s vocal prowess exists in the elite realm of Robert Plant and Axl Rose with a touch of Mick Jagger swagger that he shakes up and makes all his own. The band clearly loves all things rock, paying tribute to some classic tunes with their original songs’ titles including “Heartbreaker” – complete with a ripping guitar solo from John Notto – and “California Dreamin’,” an upbeat rocker of biblical proportions.
Dirty Honey performs at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 7, 2021.
The Black Crowes’ headlining set began with the bulk of the band members waiting at the on-stage bar, as Chris Robinson patiently positioned himself at the drum platform, sitting cross-legged with an umbrella obscuring his face. When the house lights went down and the stage lights went up, the front man sprung into action strutting across the stage to the deliciously twangy Shake Your Money Maker opener “Twice As Hard.” Naturally, “Jealous Again” followed and, a few songs down the line, the Brothers Robinson took fans to church with a soulful rendition of “Seeing Things.”
Before playing the fan favorite and ultimate sing-along song, “Hard to Handle,” Chris Robinson paid tribute to a legend he called “The Big O.”
“Give thanks and praise to the man who wrote this song, Otis Redding,” the vocalist declared.
The Black Crowes perform at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 7, 2021.
The tune is as fun as ever and the singer’s infectious dance moves further encouraged fans to do exactly what the anniversary album’s title suggests. Cheers erupted once again as Rich Robinson strummed the unmistakable opening chords to the bittersweet love song, “She Talks to Angels.” Later, the Shake Your Money Maker portion of the set concluded with one of the night’s best jams, “Stare It Cold.”
Despite having already played an incredible hour of music, The Black Crowes stepped on the gas, turned their amps up to 11 and fired up a heavy-hitting one-two punch of “No Speak No Slave” and “A Conspiracy” to kick-off another long stretch of hits from their full discography.
The Black Crowes perform at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 7, 2021.
Album anniversary tours can revel in nostalgia, but the songs of Shake Your Money Maker have been a constant presence on the airwaves for over three decades, leading to a live music experience that felt fresh and freeing. Check out photos from The Black Crowes and Dirty Honey’s Aug. 7 stop below and click here to pick-up tickets to the remaining tour dates. More information can be found at Blackcrowes.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
