Crowes, Oasis Form Retro Fraternity

Sibling rivalry, like tempestuous love affairs, can make for passionate rock music, but that same tension can also cause a band to implode. Bluesy Georgia groovers the Black Crowes and Brit poppers Oasis, two of rock’s reigning brother-led bands, have each come close to self-destructing due to fraternal friction, but Monday’s co-headlining show at the Greek Theatre suggested that both acts can (and have) overcome their differences.

“The Tour of Brotherly Love” (an ironic yet earnestly hopeful title, considering both bands’ pasts) also included another brother act, neo-glam outfit Spacehog, a choice that nicely rounded out the night’s retro vibe.

With messy mop tops and dark shades, the members of Oasis exemplified the aloof cool of U.K. alt-pop. All were dressed in spiffy suits except lead singer Liam Gallagher, who wore a casual denim jacket and jeans as he plowed through the group’s harmony-caressed, ‘60s-style melodies. The swirling “Gas Panic!” showed off the band’s psychedelic flair, and members attempted to conjure a similarly kaleidoscopic atmosphere on their closing number, “I Am the Walrus”--a bold choice, but it lacked the ardent dreaminess of the Beatles’ original.

The Black Crowes offered a hefty sampling of their new Don Was-produced album, “Lions,” a fiercely funky, Zeppelin-infused romp full of sumptuous rhythms and unexpected guitar textures that take their Faces-like sound to new heights.

The band also performed a version of the Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody,” with Oasis’ singer-guitarist Noel Gallagher joining in, but only three of their old tunes--”Twice as Hard,” “By Your Side” and “Remedy.” Even so, frontman Chris Robinson’s unrestrained enthusiasm and the band’s ‘70s-style swagger were such a potent blend that nobody seemed to miss the hits one bit.