An odd evening with The Black Crowes

I'm sure it was just me but normally I enjoy The Black Crowes a lot more than I did Saturday night.

The whole evening felt a bit off.
Not bad, just off.

I was late to pick up Casey, who joined Keith, The Good Cardinal Martin, and me at The Tabernacle a couple months ago to see TBC so we missed The London Souls, who are pretty good.

We saw more than enough of Tedeschi-Trucks to decide that it's not for me.
They're good musicians and performers and I feel like I SHOULD like them, I just don't.

Too "festival music" as Casey said.

They seem like they should be on tour with Phish or such bands.

Not bad, just not for me.

My seats at Verizon were awesome - 3rd row, center section.  Right up front in the middle.

And neither Casey or I were much in the mood to be in our seats.

It was kinda weird but at least we were both on the same page.

As for TBC, my favorite show remains the one I saw at The Alabama Theater in Birmingham back in '05.

That was a spectacular show and one that followed one the best meals I've ever had at a little restaurant right around the corner from the theater - I believe it was 1820 G Street (the restaurant's name).

Verizon Amphitheater, located in Alpharetta, is a nice venue.

It's laid out well, parking is convenient and relatively close.
The sound is great and the big screens hanging on either side of the stage are pretty great.
It's safe, clean, looks nice, and has plenty of food and drink booths so you won't wait too awful long for your $12 beer.

But I still don't like it.

Sorry. 

I'm just not a suburban guy and something of the flavor of the suburbs swirls around the amphitheater.

It's too clean, too safe, too "very" for me.

I prefer The Clermont Lounge, a dark, smoky, questionable bar full of dark, smoky, questionable people.

And fun.

Which is where Casey and I went after a misguided "field trip" to Tattletales.

Those that know me know that I do not like strip clubs.

They kinda give me the "skeeves".

But, some friends were going, including a friend from out of town that I haven't seen in a year or more, so with Casey's prompting, we went.

Casey was under the impression that, during a particular night of the month, Tattletales gave out free t-shirts and since she'd never been, she was game.

And then we got there and sure enough, the "skeeves" were out.

Actually, it was ok.

I mean it was too loud with the wrong music and the girls looked creepily young - not in the normal, "oh, they're too young for you,  mister yucky old man" sort of way but in the, "Your name should probably be on a list somewhere," sort of way.

Yeah, I know.

We were there about 20 minutes before Casey turned to me and said, "I feel like the suburban folks at the concert followed us here to the strip club."

EPPdF, "Yeah, I know.  Let's go to The Clermont and wash the taste of the suburbs out of our mouths."

Caey, "Do it."

And smash cut to us having a beer at 2:30 AM at The Clermont wondering what the hell happened to the AC.

It was hot as blazes in there.

Good grief.

Like I said, I'm sure it was just me but the whole night seemed a bit off - not bad, just off.

Thankfully, I was with Casey who is always fun and she was on the same page as me.

She had it right at the end of the night when saying goodbye she said, "It was fun and I'm glad we went but I kinda feel like we would've had more fun just sitting at home on the porch with a beer and the radio."

Yeah, one of those nights.

Editor's Note:  I have been assured, in no uncertain terms and no small amount of profanity, that it was in fact me and NOT The Black Crowes Saturday night.
The Black Crowes played an amazing set of some of their old school rockers, including a Hard to Handle into Hush back into Hard to Handle medley that was amazing and a fairly kick ass version of The Stones "Jumpin' Jack Flash".
I apologize in the very most insistent way and I stridently assure you that it won't happen again.

Crowes good.  EPPdF bad.

Thank you.
That is all.

The Black Crowes setlist for Saturday July 20th, 2013 at Verizon Amphitheater.

Sting Me
Twice as Hard
Cursed Diamond
Black Moon Creeping
She Talks to Angels
Magic Rooster Blues
Wiser Time
Descending
Jumpin' Jack Flash
(The Rolling Stones cover)
Hotel Illness
Jealous Again
Remedy
Hard to Handle
(Otis Redding cover)
Hush
(Billy Joe Royal cover)
Encore:
Show Me
(Joe Tex cover) (with Tedeschi Trucks Band)
Turn on Your Lovelight
(Bobby Bland cover) (with Tedeschi Trucks Band)