Chris Robinson speaks.
Last weekend, Whiskey Myers and The Black Crowes played a show in Tampa, Florida at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre during a stop on their co-headlining Southern Hospitality tour. However, once that rowdy Florida crowd broke out into a “USA, USA” chant, as patriotic people tend to do at large gatherings, the Black Crowes frontman was immediately triggered.
Right before The Black Crowes started playing the fan-favorite “She Talks to Angels,” a visual came on a screen that showed the band’s Black Crowe character dressed as Uncle Sam, and the audience started to chant “U.S.A.”
Uncle Sam Crowe sez
GO VOTE!
1 week away
Go to https://t.co/cn3FTkhtWY for info on how to vote in your state 🇺🇸✌️ pic.twitter.com/rkBMqjFzSm— The Black Crowes (@theblackcrowes) October 27, 2020
But frontman Chris Robinson was not having it, and after the crowd kept going with it, he went off on the audience:
“I don’t know what you have to be so proud of right now. Some of us have real faith. And, for those of you f****** booing us, some of us are not afraid. And we most assuredly are not f****** ignorant. So thank you.”
Many in the Florida crowd did not appreciate that, and they started booing him and some even left the concert altogether:
Chris Robinson’s Response
This week, Chris Robinson addressed the backlash to UCR, essentially calling it overblown. He added that he would never disrespect the troops, but also appreciates his American right to be critical of the country:
“I think the whole thing was, of course, blown out of context so people can get clicks and people can stir up the animosity and philosophies or how you feel about life. But be most assured, you know, whatever. It doesn’t matter. In a week, something else will come up that [will stir up] the hornets’ nest.”
“Stirring up animosity and philosophies about how you feel about life” sounds an AWFUL lot like what you were doing from the stage there, Chris. The people booing you certainly weren’t doing so to get clicks.
He continues:
“No matter what I ever would say or do or feel about things, there’s no way I would disrespect our veterans. I’m a person that I wish we had moved along as a species not to have violence be the way that we resolve conflicts. But for the people who’ve put their lives on the line and made that sacrifice and dedication, I wouldn’t do that. I can see that for exactly what it is.
Other than that, you know, I have to speak my mind. But I don’t have an agenda or anything, you know what I mean? I’m just trying to make a soulful connection with people and we’ll continue to endeavor to persevere, as they say in the, ‘The Outlaw Josey Wales’.”
Of course, the band hasn’t been shy about their political leanings over the years, and that’s their prerogative to do so as he said, but it’s a little different to tear into the crowd who bought tickets to see you over something as harmless as chanting “USA.”
So Chris Robison hates President Trump like half the country does, big deal. But since when is chanting “USA, USA” an endorsement of the President and his policies? People chanted it at concerts when Biden was President, when Obama was President, when Bush was President. If anything it’s generally regarded as a way to show support to the troops.
But their buffoonery doesn’t only affect them. It affects Whiskey Myers, their coheadliners, too. Whiskey Myers is a Texas-based band, they’re one of the best in the business. As far as true southern rock bands go, they’re as good as it gets. Sadly I saw a number of comments in their social media from fans asking them to address the actions of their co-headliner, or bail from the tour altogether… so not only is it a poor reflection on the Black Crowes, it needlessly creates headaches for Whiskey Myers… which they don’t deserve.
I’m not saying “shut up and sing,” but maybe read the room, guys…
Southern Hospitality Tour North American Dates
May 31 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre^
June 2 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre*~
June 4 – Augusta, GA – Bell Auditorium*~
June 6 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater^
June 7 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park^
June 9 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center^
June 10 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center^
June 12 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion^
June 13 – New York, NY – Forest Hills Stadium^
June 16 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion^
June 17 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheatre^
June 19 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center^
June 20 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center^~
July 17 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center^
July 18 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theater^
July 21 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre^
July 22 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater^
July 24 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre^
July 25 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater^
July 28 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater^
July 30 – Kansas City, MO – MORTON Amphitheater^
August 1 – Colorado Springs, CO – Ford Amphitheater^~
August 2 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre^~
August 4 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater*~
August 8 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion^
August 9 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion*
August 12 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater^
August 13 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre^
August 15 – Phoenix, AZ – Mortgage Matchup Center^
August 17– Hollywood, CA – Hollywood Bowl-
August 19 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre^
August 20 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre^
^ With The Black Crowes, Whiskey Myers & Southall
* With The Black Crowes & Southall only
– Co-headlining show with The Black Crowes, Tedeschi Trucks & Whiskey Myers