Levon Helm "Thrilled" Black Crowes Will Record New LP at His Ramble Studio

The Black Crowes will record new, original material for an upcoming album during four sold-out concerts at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, New York, in February and March. This run of performances at the recording studio built decades ago by the 2008 Grammy winner and former drummer for the Band are being billed as "Cabin Fever Winter 2009." The shows on February 21, 22, 28 and March 1 sold out in less than two days.

"We're thrilled," Helm, who's not scheduled to perform, tells Rolling Stone. "It kind of shows me that we're doing things right." Over the last few years Helm has staged "Midnight Ramble" house concerts at the studio — Saturday night performances Rolling Stone named Best Jam Session that feature special guests sitting in with the Levon Helm Band, including Elvis Costello, Phish bassist Mike Gordon and Crowes frontman Chris Robinson. Prior to singing on "Shake Your Money Maker" and "The Weight" last August, Robinson milled about in the crowd throughout the evening.

"When Chris sat in, it was just more of that good stuff," Helm says. "His contribution just added to the whole mix. The whole night was a high point." The Black Crowes have another tie to the area, too: they recorded this year's Warpaint at nearby Allaire Studios. David Fricke profiled the band for a Rolling Stone story earlier this year in which Rich Robinson admitted his relationship with brother Chris is still difficult: "Outside of music, we probably would never speak to each other."

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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