The Black Crowes

Out of Atlanta, Georgia, the Robinson brothers — vocalist Chris and guitarist Rich Robinson — built The Black Crowes from the ground up in the late 1980s, originally playing under the name Mr. Crowe's Garden before settling into their now-iconic identity. Rounding out their classic lineup with guitarist Marc Ford, keyboardist Eddie Harsch, and a rotating cast of rhythm section players, the band hit the ground running with a sound that felt like a love letter to classic rock's golden era. Drawing deep from the wells of the Rolling Stones, Free, and southern rock forebears like the Faces, they were refreshingly out of step with the glossy pop-metal dominating radio at the time. Their 1990 debut Shake Your Money Maker was a genuine phenomenon, going multi-platinum and launching the soulful, strutting single Hard to Handle. Albums like The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion and Amorica cemented their reputation as one of the most authentically blues-drenched rock bands of their generation. Despite lineup changes, extended hiatuses, and the well-documented creative friction between the brothers, The Black Crowes always managed to sound vital and uncompromising. Their reunion in 2019 and subsequent touring reminded a whole new audience why they matter — raw, loose, and gloriously un-polished in all the right ways.