Contributed by Josh Fryfogle
Great Alaska Music Festival
May 26-27, 2018
Alaska State Fair
2075 Glenn Hwy. Palmer
Cost: $50-$243
When I found out that Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes was performing at The Great Alaska Music Festival, well, my inner 90’s kid felt a little nostalgic. Of course, I found my first gray hair a few days ago, and Chris Robinson, the lead singer, is now fronting a completely different band.
Things change. People get older, wiser. But some things don’t change.
I sit here listening to those old Black Crowes songs, and I’ve mixed in a few of the new tunes from Robinson’s current venture - The Chris Robinson Brotherhood - and man, his voice is still probably one of the most distinct voices of rock n’ roll. Even now, it’s unmistakable.
“She never mentions the word ‘addiction’,
In certain company...”
Those words hit harder with time, especially considering how our state has been struggling with heroin - and struggling to face that reality, too. That’s the thing about timeless music. It’s timeless for a reason. It deals with topics and emotions that are always relevant.
As a young musician, back in the 90’s, I was a fan of my father’s music more than anything else. That classic rock sound of Zeppelin, Skynyrd, Doobie Brothers, that sound was carved into my psyche, long before I had musical tastes of my own.
Then, as I got older, and started listening to guitar rock of the ‘80’s, I started playing guitar myself. My love for music was solidified.
Then grunge rock hit the airwaves, and all those great musicians of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s seemed to be old news. That noisy, grungy sound was everywhere, and all my musical tastes seemed... passé. I learned to like the new sound, but I missed something of the musicianship of the previous waves of style.
Black Crowes released their cover of the blues classic ‘Hard To Handle’, and I remember thinking that my father must have failed to introduce me to this incredible, classic rock band! And it was so good, that voice, that style, I thought surely this group must have been touring with the greats! A timeless sound!
I was so glad to hear, after all the hoopla of the grunge rock sound, that a sound like that would re-emerge on the radio. Instantly, it was a hit! This new band was doing things that were so refreshing, so fresh, singing from the gut! Guitars, bass, drums - and I got to introduce my dad to this band - it felt full circle. It felt good, too, to know that this wasn’t my dad’s music, it wasn’t my music - it was music that was undeniably moving, no matter who you were.
The Chris Robinson Brotherhood is another manifestation of that timeless sound. It’s not the Black Crowes, but it definitely pulls from that real music vein, that solid gold sound that always makes it’s way back around.
And they’ll be performing alongside an all-star lineup of other great bands, at the Alaska State Fairgrounds:
Featuring Touring Acts:
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Yonder Mountain String Band
Asleep At The Wheel
Kyle Hollingsworth Band
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Hope Social Club
And Local Bands:
Super Saturated Sugar Strings
Cold Country
Lulu Small
Steve Norwood
Danny Booth & Amanda Kerr
Braided River
John Cook
Emily Anderson
Annie B. Good
Aloha Bluegrass Band
Ava Earl
Tanana Rafters
Scenario Jazzfest Performers
Parlor In The Round - Host Kevin Worrell
