BETHLEHEM, Pa. —The first savage riff of the song “Rats and Clowns" hit fast.
The Black Crowes, headlining Musikfest's main Steel Stage weren't there to perform for a weeknight crowd; they were there to reclaim their spot in rock 'n' roll.
Crowes frontman Chris Robinson and his brother Rich didn’t miss a beat, easing the crowd into a high-energy performance.
Never mind that the band, still celebrating last year's release of "Happiness Bastards," its first album in 14 years, formed 40 years ago in the suburbs of Atlanta.
"Alright, Monday rock' n' roll show,” Chris Robinson exclaimed in the beginning part of the band's 90-minute set.
Macon rock history
It was a set that served as a reminder of the group's Southern roots — a mix of blues, rock 'n' roll and R&B.
Case in point: The band's live rendition of "Hard to Handle," a 1990 Billboard hit for the Crowes and first recorded by Otis Redding in 1968.
"Don't f—k around in Atlanta, just keep going," Chris Robinson said before talking up Southern legends such as Redding, the Allman Brothers and Little Richard.
"About 90 miles is the little town called Macon, Georgia. Macon is a famous place. Used to have Mama Louise's soul food (the restaurant is still there, as Chris Robinson pointed out).
“Little Richard is from there. You think anyone would be here tonight without Little Richard? The king of rock ’n’ roll — and the queen of rock ’n’ roll, too."
The crowd had to wait until the end of the set to hear the Crowes' radio hits such as "Jealous Again" and "She Talks to Angels."
They didn't seem to mind.
'Make Monday feel like Saturday'
Chris Robinson, who wore red sunglasses and a rocker-approved shiny black dress shirt, provided the fuel needed.
Throughout the show, the 58-year-old frontman turned the mic stand into a prop, danced with energy, leapt across the stage, and unleashed a voice that echoed the soulful sound heard in the Crowes' best-known albums: 1990's "Shake Your Money Maker" and 1992's "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion."
By the time they closed with an explosive "Remedy," there was little doubt — and much less hoopla about their sibling rivalry (the group got back together in 2019 after a rumored rift between the Robinson brothers).
Instead, the fans seemed more convinced of the musical ability of the now-six-member group.
Chris Robinson offered a final reminder, perhaps a signal to keep the party going, '90s be damned.
"We're going to make Monday feel like a Saturday night," he said.
