Chris Robinson Brotherhood Covers Kinks & Hard To Handle

It all came full circle for Chris Robinson and Chris Robinson Brotherhood Friday night at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, where a two-song encore included the band’s first version of the song that propelled The Black Crowes to fame more than 20 years ago -“Hard To Handle.”

The two-song encore began with The CRB debut of “Celluloid Heroes” by The Kinks. Ray Davies, who like Robinson fronted a legendary band featuring his brother, wrote “Celluloid Heroes” for inclusion on the 1972 Kinks album Everybody’s In Show-Biz. From there, Chris Robinson Brotherhood dived into Otis Redding’s “Hard To Handle” for the first time ever. The Black Crowes featured a cover of “Hard To Handle” on their breakthrough 1990 debut album Shake Your Money Maker, and their version of the song topped the Billboard Album Rock Tracks list.

Watch fan-shot video of “Celluloid Heroes” by Smitterous:

Take a listen to The CRB’s version of “Hard To Handle” taped by datpat:

Setlist

Set One: Try Rock & Roll, Tomorrow Blues, If Your Wheel Don’t Roll, Safe In The Arms Of Love, She Belongs To Me, Meanwhile In The Gods, Tulsa Yesterday, Got Love

Set Two: Stranger In A Strange Land, Shore Power, Beggars Moon, Clear Blue Sky & The TGD, Vibration & Light, Ride, Driving Wheel, Rosalee

Encore: Celluloid Heroes*, Hard To Handle*

* -First Time Played