I'll be the first to admit that Chris Robinson can be pretty annoying.
But to sit there and say the Crowes are a "retro -hippie act" is pretty comical. Go listen to your flavor of the month indie rock band that offers nothing of substance and wont be remembered in 5 years. But take solace in the fact that whoever they are, you were listening to them before anybody else was...
As far as the Crowes go, they've released a couple clunkers, but "Southern Harmony & Musical Companion" and "Amorica" are two of the best rock and roll albums to come out in the last thirty years.
Deal with it.