Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson used to talk excitedly in interviews about creating the atmosphere he heard on live albums such as Humble Pie’s “Performance: Rockin’ the Fillmore,” a standard-bearer of sweat-drenched, cannabis-fueled rock.

Well, tony Ruth Eckerd Hall sure ain’t the Fillmore, and the strongest smell emanating through the auditorium Monday night was from the copious amount of incense the Crowes’ crew lighted before the band’s set. And despite Robinson’s beard and bell-bottoms, the Crowes stopped trying to recreate the ‘70s a while back.

But they continue to embrace the musical adventurousness of that period as well as the sense of a concert as a communal event. At a time when so many concerts have the spontaneity of a computer virus detection program, experiencing a band not only playing but playing off of each other, listening, responding and creating in the moment, is an all too rare treat.

The Crowes are an even greater treat now with ace guitarist Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi All Stars) among the ranks. His playing not only was a joy in itself, it seemed to spur guitarist Rich Robinson to new heights.

Moody lights and an extended intro set a soulful mood for opener “Movin’ on Down the Line,” followed by the bare-fist rock of “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution,” to which Dickinson added some particularly fluid slide guitar.

The Robinson brothers’ harmonies were spotlighted on “Wiser Time,” and even more so later in the set on William Bell’s “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” performed a la The Flying Burrito Brothers. 

Rich Robinson took the lead vocal on Bob Dylan’s “Quinn the Eskimo,” which followed the affecting country rocker “Locust Street.”

The superbly paced set peaked with “Let Me Share the Ride” and “High Head Blues.” The former began as a Cream-style blues-rocker, then unfolded into something looser and funkier. Adam MacDougall contributed a jazzy piano solo before the band shifted into the Creedence Clearwater Revival meets Santana riff of “High Head Blues.”

Closing with The Band’s “The Shape I’m In,” the Crowes saluted an obvious role model as well as making a statement about the powerful, organic rock they help to keep alive.