It's been 16 years and I still cringe at how awful the Black Crowes were in a concert I reviewed at Mohegan Sun. Seriously. One of the worst performances I've ever seen.

Fortunately, opening that show was Robert Randolph & the Family Band — and they musically brutalized the headliners. I suspect Head Crowe Chris Robinson, in some sort of chemically induced delirium backstage while the Family Band churned out their electric/gospel/funk behind Randolph's pedal steel guitar majesty, twitched and whimpered in a soupy awareness that he had to FOLLOW that —  tottering onstage like a sick foal to make a fool of himself in front of 10,000 people who'd just witnessed greatness.

My point? Randolph & the Family Band are still bringin' it in a big way. See them in a free show Friday — nary a Black Crowe in sight — at the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den.

Robert Randolph & the Family Band, 8 p.m. Friday, Mohegan Sun Wolf Den; free; www.mohegansun.com.