It’s been a busy year for guitarist Rich Robinson. First, he released his fourth solo album titled “Flux” on Eagle Rock Entertainment. Just about a month before that, he filled in for Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs on the band’s summer run with Joe Walsh. Just this past Friday, the Rich Robinson Band graced the stage at the intimate Bears Den inside the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, New York.
Unfortunately, being a beautiful Friday night outside and with so many community events held in the Western New York each weekend, the show was only about half full. I’m not sure if this dampened the spirit of the band, who in my opinion played a non-inspiring one hour and 20 minute set.Robinson is best known for his guitar work in the band The Black Crowes(currently broken up for the third time). Robinson handles all the vocals and lead guitar work for the RRB. This show was very heavy on the new record, incorporating five songs in the setlist. A highlight of those songs would be “Everything’s Alright.” This song requires a more tempered approach which the band delivered.
The Black Crowes fan wishing to hear tracks from that catalog would have been surely disappointed. This set was geared toward the solo career of Robinson (understandably). The B-side track “Evil Eyes,” however, made an appearance. Maybe a more well known song could have been inserted to add some juice to the otherwise mundane performance.
Robinson is as solid as a guitar player you will find. He is the sound of The Black Crowes. This was the first time taking him in as a solo artist and I must admit, his set was quite boring. His tone and demeanor stayed the same throughout. He didn’t crack a smile the entire night and even made a comment when someone whistled in approval after a song, “It’s like you didn’t expect it to be good?” A guitarist Rich Robinson is, a front man I must say, he is not.
Setlist:
Shipwreck
Stand Up
Down the Road (The Ceaseless Sight)
Everything’s Alright
Astral
Ides of Nowhere
Evil Eye (Black Crowes cover)
Light of the Sunset Moon
Bye Bye Baby
Station Man
Music That Will Lift Me
Yesterday
Encore:
War Drums (War cover)
What Goes On (Velvet Underground cover)
We would like to thank Carol Kaye from Kayos Productions for the credentials to review the show.
