I spent Sunday and Monday evening at the tiny Blender Theater on 23rd watching a pair of two hour plus shows by one of my favorite bands, Counting Crows. The sheer numbers of the performances are staggering - four and a half hours total, 35 different songs (including Mr. Jones twice, since they played the electric version on Sunday and the acoustic Storytellers version on Monday), the live debut of a song from the new album. Three things stood out:
1) The range of the performance. Sunday night was electric, energetic. Singer Adam Duritz bounced around so much he accidentally cut his hand on a piece of equipment. Monday night was mostly acoustic, showcasing the beauty of the arrangements and the emotive quality of Duritz's voice.
2) The quality of the performance. I've seen this band be good, and it's a fun show. But when they're great, it's a stunning experience. When Duritz has the energy, and is focused, he makes the songs come alive in a way few others could do.
3) How fucking great this new album is. They played most of Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings over the two nights, and the entire second side in sequence on the second night. It's the most vital and exciting thing they've done since Recovering the Satellites. If you ever liked this band, you need to hear it. Pre-orders currently available on Amazon, Itunes, or wherever you like to buy (or steal) your music.
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