A review for the masses. Counting Crows have become my favourite band nowadaysÖI remember the first time listening to them with Randy at some party where he was really into the music. I couldn’t understand why at the time but later on, I bought Recovering The Satellites which changed the way I looked at music.
I went with Joe to Waterloo to check out the Crows who were on a mini-tour through Canada to test out their new album material. I promised myself that I would hunt the Crows down to wherever they might play inside Ontario and I’m wondering if it was a coincidence that it was in Kitchener of all places, where my girlfriend lives.
Joe, Erica, Kevin, Larisa and I went to Lulu’s Roadhouse which is supposedly one of the largest bars in North America to see the Crows. When I entered this place, I was blown away by the size. It was massive! It had a restaurant feel to it, a country bar I suppose. At this point I realized I forgot my camera in the car and I couldn’t go back to get it. I kicked myself and then bought a beer to make me feel better. Ha ha! At first I was disappointed because I saw everyone sitting down and I thought you had to get a table to see the concert! Bummer deal! But then as I got closer I saw the tables around the standing room area. Sweet!
The Gigolo Aunts were already playing when we got in. We went down to the floor where we got a WICKED spot about ten feet from the stage. Gigolo Aunts were a GREAT band and I can see why the Crows brought them along on the tour. I was debating whether or not to buy their album but then I saw that I had to fork out 30 bucks for a shirt! The shirt is kind of neat though. On the front is pictures of planes which as the title This Desert Life which is the name of the new album due out in Mid-October. On the back has ìCounting Crows-Millennium Tourî. Nice.
I get back to the floor where Adam Duritz and some of the other boys coming out on stage to join the Gigolo Aunts!!! The rip into a song which starts ìSo you wanna be a rock and roll starî which I took as Mr. Jones since the Crows open that song in concert. I later found out it was a song by the Byrds. I will have to check it out since it was WILD! They then left the stage where I was left in awe to think that I was actually there.
Magical Mystery Tour song comes over the PA system. I knew this would happen since Iíve read reviews of the previous concerts throughout Canada. At the end, the moment I waited for for 2 yearsÖ.the band comes on stage.
Mr. Jones-The band starts out slow with the accordion and the lights coming upon them. ëSo you wanna be a rock and roll starí is sung again and I go wild! Then they rip into the regular electric version of the song which is awesome. Everyone was digging it. Great song. Kevin looked pretty happy as he only knew two songs by Counting Crows and this was one of them. I laughed when he told me that.
Have You Seen Me Lately?- I LOVE this song. Randy and I used to play it all the time. They played the accoustic version which is found on the live album. I like this one better since itís easier to sing to. By the way, Adam has shaved his goatee if I didnít mention it. It was kind of weird to see him like this as itís been awhile (from pictures and such). Adam does a lot of hand motions in this song when heís singing ëgive me the blue sky, give me the black cloudsí. He is greatly into this and the audience.
Daylight Fading-Wow! This is the first Crows song I learned on guitar. I like it even though it has a country music feel to it. Great stuff! I am absorbed by the music at this point. Thereís this guy behind me who keeps screaming ëOmahaí in between songs. I find him funny but later on Iím sure heís going to get on my nerves.
St. Robinson and His Cadillac Dream-Adam says that theyíll start playing some new songs for us. The new album will be out in October sometime and this is a song from it. I LOVED this song. It had a catchy chorus which for some reason I canít remember now. It was true Crows and will be a great song on the new album.
Mercury-Adam starts talking about how women in the past have twisted him inside out and how they rip your heart out which is greeted by the cheer of the men in the audience. He goes to say that this song is about those women because theyíre just like mercury. They brought out this wicked guitar which they played slide on. I think itís actually a steel guitar that they play. I love this song as he puts so much into it. He was sitting on a speaker for this one for the most part. Reaching out to the crowd too.
Omaha- Right before this song starts the guy behind me is still screaming Omaha as heís been doing ALL night long. Funniest thing was that when this song started up, he was so surprised he couldnít say anything. I was surprised they played this song as it is fairly old and not that popular but I was pretty happy when they did so.
Another HorseDreamerís Blues-The Crows introduce one of their friends from New Orleans who came up to play trumpet on the tour. He also plays the trumpet on their song Chelsea and Good Times (the latter which has never been released yet! As if!) I believe his name was Arthur Clark. He did a little trumpet solo to intro the song which was great. He put this bluesy feel to the song and the lighting was great. I wish I had a tape recorder for it. Iím in love with this song now after hearing it live. It used to be one of my least fave songs.
Round Here!!!- Wicked! Unbelievable! I love this song! This song was exactly like the live album version but then he threw some great lyrics in the middle of it. If youíve heard the live album, you know what I mean. He began rambling onÖîSo if you want to claim your fame, just go and play the gameÖgo to the agency man and make an album which will go farÖbecause you are a rock and roll starî Stuff like that all over the place. I loved it! It goes along with his whole feeling on how rock and roll stardom isnít all itís cut out to be since you lose a lot out of it along the way. Then he rips into the song again and leaves everyone freaking out! At the end he sings some more ëSo you wanna be a rock and roll starí. After the song is done, he says we should now know that this is the theme of the night if we didnít already know. Great song which lasted at least 10 minutes. I donít think many people were expecting him to go this long but I knew he throws a little into this song.
Recovering The Satellites- The lights go green and makes the band hard to see and they start playing Recovering. A smile comes over my face as this song sums up a lot of feelings about the Crows. I love it when he sings the line ëshe sees shooting starsí and ëbababab ba ba baí.
Hangin Around-Ok, hereís the thing. Iím finishing this review months after this concert so I will keep these comments short since I canít remember too much about it. Iím writing this after I have ëThis Desert Lifeí so I know all the songs they play. They brought the Gigolo Aunts to clap and sing along with them on this song. Great song! Very catchy.
Speedway-First time ever that they play this song live. Very impressed by it, it set a great mellow mood.
Rain King-Always a great one
Mrs. Potterís Lullaby-This is the first time I ever heard the song and months later the tune was still in my head. I love this song. One of my favourites in the world. ëHey Mrs. PotteríÖsomething that you canít forget about.
Sullivan Street-Surprised they played this but still good.
A Murder of One-Funny part of this was when he forgot where he was playing when he sang the ìIíve been to Paris, been to Romeî part.
Long December-Adam mentions that the first song he ever learnt in school was Beth by Kiss and this is it but he starts out with Long December.
Anna Begins-Wild song with the New Orleans trumpeteer. Best version of the song Iíve heard.
Walkaways-Always a cool ender for the night.