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| Chris Robinson of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Photo: Kate Haley) |
Despite the fact that we all know Chris Robinson from a previous family act with an unfortunate fallout, the
Chris Robinson Brotherhood (CRB) proved that you can, indeed, create your own family. All I could think of, was that I walked into that multi-generational home, you know the one where the lights are low but always seems to be filled with a cacophony of sound and relaxed, whole body laughter. There was a playfulness and overwhelming sense of familiarity that knit together Chris Robinson (lead vocals, guitar), Neal Casal (guitar), Adam MacDougall (keys), Jeff Hill (bass) and Tony Leone (drums) together. Wonderfully. [Ed. Note: You can find our interview last month with Neal Casal
here.]
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| Chris Robinson of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Photo: Kate Haley) |
Robinson’s truly redefined brotherhood jams came on like a warm sunny afternoon where nothing is on the television and everything is alight just outside an arbitrary threshold. From the end of the first chorus, it was clear that the whole crowd was on that walk into the sun, hand-in-hand, before turning cartwheels across the lawn.
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| Chris Robinson & Neal Casal of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Photo: Kate Haley) |
I tend to not like drawing similarities between bands, but I couldn’t stop thinking about The Allman Brothers (speaking of brotherhood) throughout. CRB’s ethereal, spacey jams galloped to such highs, always keeping the colors of the sonic rainbow close at hand. They were equally skillful when architecting additions on songs from the likes of Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones (full set lists below). They also played some of the new CRB standards that keep fans coming out, as I expect many will do for this three night run at
The Fillmore. A certain reviewer (ahem) will better plan her schedule next time around so she can be 3 for 3 too.
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| Adam MacDougall of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Photo: Kate Haley) |
These have to be some of the most reliable players out there. MacDougall gets it done with such deliberation that keeps me waiting for the next jam coming down the pipe, which are always a hell of a ride. Evidence: MacDougall and Casal's side-project
Circles Around the Sun.
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| Neal Casal of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Photo: Kate Haley) |
Casal again shows that he more than knows his way around a slide. Hill kept it steady and soulful throughout. Leone always provided the perfect stage for the trade-offs between Casal and Robinson, as well as really cutting lose when it mattered most.
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| Tony Leone of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Photo: Kate Haley) |
Interspersed are the moments when Robinson’s diction, exactly what made his previous act so impactful, has only depended. I’ll just say it: Preach, Chris, preach. I am struck with how Robinson is angling to be a new kind of blues-adjacent great with this brotherhood backing.
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| Chris Robinson & Jeff Hill of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Photo: Kate Haley) |
That’s a wrap on one of my most enjoyable eves at the Fillmore. With an active
tour ahead, all I can say is
buy that ticket and take that ride.
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