"Cabin Fever" in review

          I picked this up the other day. Let me tell you I'm a huge fan to start with, and I have played "Before the Frost...Until the Freeze" their 2009 release repetitively since I purchased it. The concept behind the album was to write the songs, rehearse songs, and then play songs live in front of a crowd while recording them. I like this idea, and the DVD is a video of that process. I like that too. The whole thing was recorded over five nights in front of an intimate studio audience at Levon Helm Studios .
         The show kicks off with Chris setting the stage for what's to come. They start off with "Aimless peacock", then into a classic crowes sounding  "Good morning captain", which is gunning for my favorite cut. Up next an intimate version of "Shady grove" with the just Chris and Rich playing together acoustically by themselves. Some old Velvet Underground pops up in the form of "Oh Sweet Nuthin'" with Rich Robinson taking the vocal duties. A very cool change of pace with Rich singing. Now we're in for some more porch music with "Garden Gate" and "Roll Old Jeremiah". Another standout song "Appaloosa" blows in like a warm summer breeze, followed by a DVD exclusive "Little Lizzie Mae". They run through "What is home?", and turn the corner into the rocker "Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)" another favorite of mine. Luther tears it up on that one. They wrap it up with "Shine along" , which has great "my rider done left me" lyrics and vibe. It has two bonus cuts of  "Shady Grove" and "Dolphins", both of which are great.
          The Crowes current line up features Chris and Rich Robinson singing and guitar playing. Steve Gorman pounding the skins with Sven Pipien holding the low end down. They got Adam MacDougall twinkling the keys, and who could forget Luther Dickinson holding down lead guitar chores, very well I might add. Joe Magistro added additional percussion, and the amazing Larry Cambell plays banjo, fiddle, pedal steel, etc...