Counting Crows, Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
July 28, 2008
By Brittney Cason and Jeff Hahne
The Deal — Another summer concert at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater — Home of the $11 beer. This one was Sara Bareilles, Maroon 5 and Counting Crows…. and Counting Crow’s lead singer Adam Duritz’s cane.
The Good — Sara Bareilles! She might have one of the best voices I have ever heard live. Maroon 5 did teasers to intro each song. Adam Levine sang Chris Issac’s “I Wanna Fall in Love,” to fade into “She Will be Loved,” and Oasis’ “Don’t Go Away,” to fade into “Sweetest Good-bye.”
Duritz didn’t let an injured foot hobble him as he still found time to leap and dance around the stage. The pairing worked out well, and it wasn’t the first time they shared the stage. Bareilles has opened for Maroon 5 on previous tours. “We have also known each other a long time because we toured together years ago and we like each others bands,” Duritz said during a recent press conference. “We haven’t seen much of each other the last few years but we like each other’s music, which is a good thing because when you’re on tour all summer it’s nice to be able to see some music you like and hear some music you like.”
The Bad — The song sets were rather disappointing; the Counting Crows didn’t play many of their old songs, and Maroon 5 didn’t sing either of my favorite songs by them: “Better that we Break” or “Nothing Lasts Forever” — those songs are like therapy for me. “We never make our set lists up, well, almost never, until the day of the show, and they change every day,” Duritz said. It’s as though Adam Levine is going through the exact same thing I am, and although he didn’t sing it at the concert, he said it: “Ladies, if not for you we’d have nothing to write about — so thanks for screwing up our lives”
The Verdict Adam Duritz really is the “Rain King” — as soon as he performed it, a thunderstorm rolled in. And even though it was a dual headlining tour and someone inevitably had to go first, I was surprised Maroon 5 went on before Counting Crows because it’s still as though they opened for them. A number of people left after Maroon 5’s set.
Counting Crows setlist
Angels
Frankie Miller
Omaha
Richard
Rain King
Speedway
Highlife
Los Angeles
1492
On Almost Any Sunday
Murder
Encore
Accidentally
Come Around
Walkaways
This article appears in Jul 23-29, 2008.
I was there, a lot of people around my group and I left early, it wasn’t because Maroon 5 went on first though! We left on song #9 of the Counting Crows. We couldn’t take it anymore. We all understood that his ankle was injured, but it was painful to watch and try to hear him on the stage. He said he didn’t want to do alot of talking, just sing…maybe because when he did speak you could barely if at all, make out what he was saying. All in all, Counting Crows were a huge disappointment. If his ankle was so bad he needed medication, maybe they should have gone on before Maroon 5!! I wish there were a way to get my money back for 2/3 of the show! Maroon 5 and Sarah Bareilles were amazing. I agree that her voice is one of the best I have ever heard. Unfortunately, the show should have stopped after Maroon 5!
I wish i went to see Maroon 5 in concert!! I am actually going to a great concert this week..its a similar artist named Eric Solomon..its going to be sooo awesome!
Counting Crows setlist (worst setlist ever.)
Angels
Frankie Miller
Omaha
Richard
Rain King
Speedway
Highlife
Los Angeles
1492
On Almost Any Sunday
Murder
Encore (worst encore ever.)
Accidentally
Come Around
Walkaways
great pics!
The crows did a fantastic job, from the depth of their setlist (covering 5 albums) to the wonderful Mr. Jones bridge in the midst of Rain King that show was brilliant for long time fans who really follow the band.
I could understand why casual radio listeners of the Crows might not have dug it, but as some one with tickets to 4 shows this summer I’m glad I got to go one night without hearing Long December.
I never heard perfection til I heard you speak and now it kills me just to hear you say the simple things. Waking up is hard to do. Sleeping’s impossible too. Everything’s reminding me of you. What can I do? I’m not fine. I’m in pain. It’s harder every day. Maybe we’re better off this way? Maybe it’s better that we don’t break.
I just saw this show in Jersey at the Susquehana Bank Center on Aug. 9. Maroon 5 and Sara were great. What was very disappointing was the 35 minute wait between each act.
I have been a huge fan of the Counting Crows for many years. I have to say that Adam butchered his songs. He went way beyond artistic license and appeared to have actually forgotten lyrics. The band sounded great, but Adam was an embarassment. If he was in pain, that may explain it, but I was seriously disappointed. I just couldn’t wait for him to get off stage.
I just saw the show Aug16th at the Verizon Pavillion and Sara and Maroon 5 were excellent and put on an awesome show. Counting crows on the other hand was a huge disappointment. The band was great but Adam looked like he was totally out of it. I hope it was just the pain medication!! I left after about 35 minutes into his set. A lot of the audience was also clearing out early.
I just saw the show on 8.19 at Darien (WNY). Our main reason for going was to see the Crows but it was bad. The set list was poor and Adam appeared as if he didn’t even want to be performing at all. No energy etc. People were clearing out in droves.
Maroon 5 made the show fun. The GNR cover song as an encore was great. I have a new appreciation for them.
I saw the show in Tinley Park (Chicago) on Friday, 22 August. I was mostly going to see Maroon 5, but was FLOORED at how amazing the Crows were! After I read everyone else’s reviews, I was dreading having to stick around for them. Alas, they ended up being the bright spot of the night!
In a time where people go to a concert to hear album-sounding songs that they can sing along with, it was refreshing to watch the Crows put on a show…not just a concert. Adam was outstanding; his voice rich and his passion unequaled. I only knew two of the songs they played (Rain King and Mr. Jones), but it didn’t matter. They brought the house to their feet and everyone left with a smile on their face.
I don’t know what happened between Pennsylvania/New York and Illinois…but I’m sure glad it did! Kudos to Live Nation for putting together one hell of a concert lineup!
Wow, from reading this I must have seen a different show than many of you folks. I thought the sound was great and the Crows rocked. Set was a little short though. We had pretty good seats for once, so I guess i was used to the garbled sound from the lawn most times I’ve been there. Maroon 5 was horrible. After about 4 or 5 songs we headed for the door. They have great energy, but the songs just aren’t my taste, I guess.
I went to the show in Tampa on October 3rd featuring Augustana. I love Augustana and was disappointed the only song they played from their first album was Boston. I was blown away however when they performed with Counting Crows. Adam Duritz told the crowd that two of their band members were welcoming babies this past week so they couldn’t be there but Augustana did a great job filling in! Maroon 5 was a drag…they played lots of songs from their first album, which I’m more familiar with than their latest, but Adam Levine had hardly any energy!! Overall I would give it a 7 out of 10…the whole was too short!