Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Brooklyn Bowl (Nov 20, 2015) Photo: Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

This is a tale of two shows.


One Friday, and the other Saturday by The Chris Robinson Brotherhood at the best music venue in NYC… Brooklyn Bowl, which fits 600 people and has (like its bigger sister The Capitol Theatre 20 miles north in Port Chester) a superior sound system and stage lighting.


Thank you Peter Shapiro for creating such a damn great place for people like us.

Scott Harris is a much better photographer than me. This is one from him during the closing night’s acoustic encore.

SHOW ONE: Friday Nov 20, 2015


On the heals of their impressionable performance at the Speed of Sound Festival less than two months ago (click here for that story), I corralled some friends to see the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (CRB) with the promise of a great rock and roll show.


The hour long first set (click here) that started at 9pm was mellow.  


Songs like “Badlands Here We Come” were very good and I like them, but WAY too mellow for a fiery Friday night. In the spirit of Jerry Garcia Band’s lighter shuffles and ballads, Chris Robinson clicked through the first set.  


To note, the opener “Hello L.A., By Bye Birmingham” is one of my favorite CRB covers (sung once upon a time by Nancy Sinatra of all people) and is always a treat.

After a 30 minute break, CRB turned up the intensity a notch for the second set.  


Another cover song, “Get Out My Life, Woman” was a high point for me. Although I like CRB’s “Beggar’s Moon”, it’s not what I expect from a set two closing song. 


The second set was not hitting on all cylinders though. The “Big River” encore was also weak (in my humble opinion). As always, I rambled with other fans about the performance and the sentiment was pretty consistent.

My showmates had never seen CRB and were quite pleased. I on the other hand was a bit let down, BUT the bar was really frickin high. This is testament to the upside that CRB has demonstrated before.

The funky decor at The Bowl is part of the fun!

A couple of large styrofoam cups of bourbon and coke at the Turkey’s Nest after the show, and all was right with the world again.

SHOW TWO: Saturday Nov 21, 2015


The band took the stage much earlier (30 minutes) than the night before, but this time with a fire in their belly and an amped up first set.


Tonight, my promise of a kick-ass rock and roll show was made good to my show mates this evening from Pennsylvania who made their first trip to the Bowl!

Lead guitar-man Neal Casal brought his A-game with inspired solos, and Chris Robinson was in full groove.  

Neal Casal unleased a cornucopia of guitar tricks and styles on Saturday

On this last night of the Brooklyn Bowl run… I can only imagine that Chris Robinson wanted to leave fans with the right impression.  His singing was stellar and guitar playing animated and celebratory.

Like a Dead fan looking for a “miracle” outside the Brendan Byrne arena, I got the miracle I was hoping for… 


CRB’s rendition of “West L.A. Fadeaway.” It shook the entire house (actually the Brooklyn Bowl is an old iron factory).


Here is the link to the setlist.

As always its so much fun running into old friends at NYC area music venues… Berg and Jodi especially! 


See you again soon.


Flap your wings rancheros.


(F.Y.W)