Rich Robinson

All shows are being shared in the FLAC format. Along with the DropBox link for the complete show, there is also a link to the setlist (courtesy of crowesbase.com).

Solo Performances

Following the unfortunate demise of Hookah Brown, Rich Robinson performed some very scaled down and intimate shows at Arlene’s Grocery in NYC over the course of three weeks in the late fall of 2003. The November 17th and December 8th shows feature Rich primarily on electric guitar, backed only by Bill Dobrow on drums. The December 15th show is Rich solo and acoustic. All three shows find Rich in a somewhat conversational mood, partaking in much more between song banter than he is customarily known for.

Please note that the December 15th recording only features “Answers” through “Shallow Words” from the setlist and this is the only known portion of the show to exist on tape.

The Globe Studio demos from 2004 briefly appeared on Rich’s official website around the time of the release of his first solo record, Paper. These were captured from his website before they inexplicably disappeared. The tracklist is as follows: “Shallow Words,” “On My Way,” “Forgiven Song,” “It’s Over,” “Know Me,” “Enemy,” “Hold You” and “Leave It Alone.”

The January 17th show at Harper’s Ferry is notable for being the show immediately following the show captured on the Internet-only release, Live at The Knitting Factory. That release omitted the cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Moonlight Mile,” presumably due to the expense of the rights to release it, but it is presented on this recording to give an idea of what it must have been like. Sadly, the string section is not present at this show as it was on the Knitting Factory album.

The January 22nd Viper Room show was the final show of a six-show run, the first three on the East Coast of the United States and the final three on the West Coast. Following the finish of that run, Rich stuck around on the 23rd to perform a stripped-down acoustic show. Despite the fire presented at the full band show, the acoustic performance is the clear winner of the pair.

Rich’s August 24th appearance on New York City rock station Q104.3 remains otherwise uncaptured, save for this recording archived by Eon Magnus. It features Rich taking the coveted lunch time DJ spot, spinning some of his favorite tunes and sharing some of his own insight into the music. A must-have for fans.

Perhaps the best show of the Fall/Winter tour of 2004. The band for that one was a three piece, consisting of Rich, Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar) on bass and backing vocals and Joe Travers on drums. The tour was very raw and featured quite a bit more spontaneous jams than on previous tours. Among the notable moments from the Duck Room show: The intro jam that would develop into the song “Run Run,” featured on the 2011 Llama Blues EP; The appearance of “Stand Up,” a Hookah Brown track that would eventually see a studio release on the reissue of Paper in 2016; An inspired version of the then-unknown “Walking By Myself,” which again would eventually see a studio release on the reissue of Paper in 2016; A seldom-seen cover of the George Harrison-penned Beatles tune, “It’s All Too Much.”

Circle Sound

Circle Sound was a short-lived side project of guitarists Rich Robinson and Luther Dickinson, of The Black Crowes and North Mississippi Allstars, respectively. Their run consisted of two nights in New York City, handling primarily blues covers with a few Black Crowes and Rich Robinson solo tunes thrown into the mix. These performances pre-date Dickinson’s tenure with The Black Crowes as lead guitarist (2008-2013) and were likely the catalyst for his invitation to join the band.

Joining Robinson and Dickinson on the stage were Black Crowes bassist Sven Pipien, Hookah Brown drummer Bill Dobrow and keyboardist Rob Clores (who filled the empty keyboard slot on The Black Crowes’ 2006 Fall tour and remained until Adam McDougall took over in late 2007). Guests included Patti Smith, Santo Fazio and Jackson Smith.