As the Crow Flies Kick Off Tour With Hit-Heavy Show
“I’m not out to redo the Black Crowes or outdo the Black Crowes or anything like that. I just want to sing the music.”
That’s what Chris Robinson recently told UCR ahead of the first-ever show with his new band, As the Crow Flies. We’re not sure if anything could outdo the timelessness of the Robinson brothers and the Black Crowes, but after seeing this new band in concert, it’s safe to say As the Crow Flies are making a name for themselves.
Their tour kicked off last night at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y., and featured two hours of essentially non-stop rock 'n' roll. Outside of a few “thank you”s and an introduction of his band, Robinson spent little time chatting with the audience. Instead, As the Crow Flies tore through fan favorite after fan favorite, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure (check out the set list below).
The highlight of the night came from a solo showdown between keyboardist Adam MacDougall and guitarists Audley Freed and Marcus King during “Wiser Time.” The intensity onstage culminated with a final rendition of the song's powerful chorus: "On a good day, it's not every day / We can part the sea / And on a bad day, it's not every day / Glory beyond our reach."
By the conclusion of the tune, Robinson looked as blown away as every single fan standing in the theater.
Watch As the Crow Flies Perform 'Wiser Time' in New York on 4/17/18
That appreciation for his band shone through all night long. Robinson seemed genuinely happy as he danced around the stage, smiling at his bandmates and revisiting songs he wrote decades ago. This is probably the closest we'll ever get to seeing that old Black Crowes magic onstage again.
As the Crow Flies, 4/17/18
“Remedy”
“Sting Me”
“Twice As Hard”
“By Your Side”
“I Can’t Stand the Rain” (Ann Peebles cover)
“Nonfiction”
“Good Friday” / “Almost Cut My Hair” (Crosby, Stills and Nash cover)
“Wiser Time”
“She Talks to Angels”
“Thorn In My Pride”
“My Morning Song”
“Jealous Again”
“Hard to Handle” / “Hush” (Otis Redding cover / Joe South cover)
“I’d Love to Change the World” (Ten Years After cover)