WHEN the Black Crowes are in the studio working on a new album the Message Board gets a little dull. Face it, when the boys are on tour, the posts on the board are a delight because they are informative and entertaining. Nowadays the topics are often recycled and repeated questions that focus on what everyone's favorite song, album, or concert is this month. Sometimes a fan will think of a new way to ask the same question. Cursed Diamond's post "Crowes songs (or covers) that sound like your life" originated on September 18 and has had a steady following. The funny thing is, Cursed Diamond uses lyrics from the Led Zeppelin song, "Heartbreaker" as an example. Without realizing it, Cursed Diamond has created a great resource to look up Crowes lyrics as many post whole songs to share. A wide range of songs are listed, from "Thorn in My Pride" to "Title Song." This topic is a great reminder of the power these songs have over us. Cursed Diamond found a way for everyone to discuss and share the music that has effected them. It is a good example of how the board can bring fans together and why it is such a great place. Perhaps the best posts on the board lately have focused on Kate Hudson. Ever since the release of Cameron Crowe's film, "Almost Famous," she has become a media darling. Vanity Fair, Jane Magazine, McCalls, Rolling Stone, and many others have featured her on the cover or in their pages. There are two reasons why posts about Kate Hudson are successful. First, she is dating Chris Robinson, which means she is the envy of every female Crowes fan. Second, she's a movie star with a Hollywood pedigree and in America that means everything. Due to Kate's celebrity and her openness with reporters, we have been able to peek into an aspect of Chris Robinson's life that we did not have access to before. Information about his relationships has usually been limited.We only heard of his love interests when a fan spotted them out on the streets or backstage at a concert and wrote about it on the board. But it's different with Kate. Kate is a movie star. Movie stars have their pictures taken and have long, intimate articles written about them. If it weren't for Kate, we would never know that Chris' loft in NY has walls that are painted red and huge, black velvet curtains to block out the sun (see Vanity Fair article); or that they love to watch "Iron Chef" together in bed on Friday nights (see Jane). Who knows what else we will get to read about in the future. Some are worried, however, that this relationship will not last forever. All great love has to come to an end sometime, right? If that is the case, then Chris and Kate will not be the only ones that lose. Female fans finally get to live vicariously through a woman who gets to sleep in the same bed with Chris! This is momentous and I, for one, hope they stay together for a long, long time. |