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Black Crowes Launch Southern Hospitality Tour in Austin With Guest-Filled Set

May 18, 2026 | Entertainment

Photo by DickClarkMises (talk) via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

John Doe of X and local guitar legend Charlie Sexton joined the Robinson brothers for a 16-song set at Austin’s Moody Center.

The Black Crowes launched their Southern Hospitality Tour on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, delivering a 16-song set that ranged from the new album’s lead single to deep catalog cuts, with guest appearances from John Doe of X and former Bob Dylan guitarist Charlie Sexton rounding out a night that doubled as a statement of purpose for one of rock’s most enduring acts.

A Strong Opening Statement From New and Old Material

The Crowes came out swinging with ‘Profane Prophecy,’ the lead single off their latest album, A Pound of Feathers, before pivoting to ‘Sting Me,’ the swaggering classic from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. Frontman Chris Robinson set the tone early, snarling to the crowd before a rendition of ‘Thick N’ Thin,’ the boogie-woogie rocker off the band’s 1990 debut, Shake Your Money Maker: ‘You know what you do at a rock ‘n’ roll show? You play rock ‘n’ roll songs!’

Texas country-rockers Whiskey Myers opened the evening with a set described as full of guitar heroics before the headliners took the stage.

Ballads and Deep Cuts Provided the Evening’s Emotional Core

Robinson sang with what was described as Southern Baptist zeal on ‘My Morning Song,’ noting that the song ‘has a bit more meaning to us in these dark times.’ Brother Rich delivered a mesmerizing slide guitar solo on the languid, folky Feathers cut ‘Pharmacy Chronicles,’ while ‘Wiser Time,’ the country-tinged lament from Amorica, built into a smoldering jam that highlighted the dual-guitar interplay between Robinson and Nico Bereciartua.

The extended guitar jam slotted at position ten in the set underscored the band’s willingness to let the music breathe, a quality that has defined their live reputation since their early-’90s peak.

Guest Appearances Added Gravitas to the Night

John Doe, lead singer and bassist of influential punk band X, joined the Crowes for a rendition of X’s own ‘The New World.’ When Doe’s guitar failed to work, he ditched the instrument without missing a beat and shared a microphone with both Robinson brothers. The moment was one of the night’s most talked-about.

Local legend Charlie Sexton, known widely as a former guitarist for Bob Dylan, closed the show during the encore with a loose-limbed performance of Traffic’s ‘Feelin’ Alright,’ giving the Austin crowd a hometown hero moment to send them home on.

Full Set List: Black Crowes at Moody Center, Austin, May 17, 2026

The complete 16-song set:

Profane Prophecy
Sting Me
Thick N’ Thin
My Morning Song
Pharmacy Chronicles
Wiser Time
Sometimes Salvation
Hard to Handle
Cursed Diamond
Extended guitar jam
Thorn in My Pride
Twice as Hard
The New World (X cover with John Doe)
She Talks to Angels
Jealous Again
Feelin’ Alright (Traffic cover with Charlie Sexton)

What we know

The Black Crowes kicked off their Southern Hospitality Tour on May 17, 2026, at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
The opening act was Texas country-rockers Whiskey Myers.
The set opened with ‘Profane Prophecy,’ described as the lead single off the band’s latest album, A Pound of Feathers.
John Doe, lead singer and bassist of X, joined the band for a performance of X’s ‘The New World.’ His guitar malfunctioned and he shared a microphone with both Robinson brothers instead.
Charlie Sexton, described as a local legend and former Bob Dylan guitarist, joined the band for an encore performance of Traffic’s ‘Feelin’ Alright.’
The dual-guitar work during ‘Wiser Time’ featured both Chris Robinson and Nico Bereciartua.

The take

The Black Crowes have always been a live band first, and the Southern Hospitality Tour opener in Austin reinforces why that reputation has held for more than three decades. What’s notable about this set is the balance: new material from A Pound of Feathers sits alongside catalog staples without the evening feeling like a nostalgia exercise. That’s a harder trick to pull off than it looks, and most legacy rock acts never quite manage it. The guest cameos are also worth contextualizing. Bringing in John Doe connects the Crowes to the broader American rock underground they’ve always orbited, while Charlie Sexton’s presence nods to Austin’s deep guitar culture and the band’s own roots-rock DNA. The Traffic cover is a telling choice, too; Steve Winwood’s ‘Feelin’ Alright’ has been a live staple for blues-rock acts going back to Joe Cocker’s Woodstock performance, and it fits the Crowes’ wheelhouse naturally. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub mentioned in coverage is a recurring conversation around this band, and it’s not an unreasonable one. Few acts from their era have maintained this level of live credibility while also releasing genuinely new music. The Southern Hospitality Tour appears designed, at least in part, to make that case loudly.

Why it matters

For Classic Rock fans, the Black Crowes’ continued vitality matters because the pool of arena-level rock acts that can still deliver at this level is genuinely shrinking. The Southern Hospitality Tour opener suggests the band is not coasting on catalog alone; new material from A Pound of Feathers is earning real estate in the set alongside proven crowd-pleasers. That kind of creative confidence, backed by a tight live unit and a willingness to bring in guests who add substance rather than spectacle, is increasingly rare on the arena circuit.

What’s next

The Southern Hospitality Tour is now underway following the May 17 Austin kickoff. No additional dates or venues were specified in available reporting, but the tour name and opening night structure suggest a run of arena and amphitheater dates through the summer season. Whiskey Myers is confirmed as the opening act for at least the Austin date.

Frequently asked questions

Where did the Black Crowes kick off the Southern Hospitality Tour?

The tour launched on May 17, 2026, at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

Who opened for the Black Crowes in Austin?

Texas country-rockers Whiskey Myers opened the show with a set described as full of guitar heroics.

Who were the guest performers at the Black Crowes’ Austin show?

John Doe of X joined the band for a performance of ‘The New World,’ and Charlie Sexton joined for an encore cover of Traffic’s ‘Feelin’ Alright.’

What album is ‘Profane Prophecy’ from?

‘Profane Prophecy’ is the lead single from the Black Crowes’ latest album, A Pound of Feathers.

What classic albums did the Black Crowes draw from in Austin?

The set included songs from Shake Your Money Maker (1990), The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, and Amorica, alongside material from A Pound of Feathers.