Counting Crows – WVU Coliseum – Morgantown, WV – 4.26.03
Posted by Mitch Michaels on 04.29.2003
Good Crows, Poor Sixpence, Hurt Feet, Dumb Face
Counting Crows released their debut album August & Everything After in 1994 on DGC Records. The T-Bone Burnett produced CD was a huge success (RIAA certified 7 times platinum), with the smash hit “Mr. Jones” helping to bring the Crows’ masterful instrumentation and Adam Duritz’ poetic and moody lyrics to America’s attention. Since their debut, the band has released three more platinum albums and scored several hit singles on the Modern Rock charts. The band has achieved and maintained a large, devoted fan base by making themselves very accessible through their web page and constant touring.
Counting Crows is currently finishing up their spring tour of colleges and other smaller venues. The tour is in support of their 2002 DGC release Hard Candy, which boasts the current hit single “Big Yellow Taxi” (#47 Billboard), a Joni Mitchell cover featuring Vanessa Carlton. This summer, the Crows will head out again to co-headline with John Mayer. Ugh. You know, I bought Mayer’s Room For Squares CD without ever hearing any of it, mainly because I read a short interview in Entertainment Weekly where Mayer talked about how much he was influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was only $8.99 at Target so I picked it up, hoping to hear some good bluesy material, perhaps in a more acoustic vein. And what did I get? Another Dave Matthews rip-off! Every time I hear “Your Body Is A Wonderland” I seriously wish someone would pull out John Mayer’s candy lips and his bubblegum tongue. That shit makes me want to puke. “Why Georgia” is ok, though. Oh yeah, Counting Crows. The band had a stop at West Virginia University last Saturday night, and I made the four-hour trip to join my brother for the show.
I have been a huge Counting Crows fan since my freshman year of college (1997), but this was my first time seeing the band live. I’ve been to all kinds of different concerts, from Misfits to B.B. King, and I know that each band brings something different to the table. After hearing and seeing several taped live performances (including 99’s Across A Wire: Live In New York), I was expecting a fun night of laid back and energetic rock. What did I get? Read on.
The Venue
Ah, nothing like a concert in a gym. Seriously though, the acoustics in the WVU Coliseum weren’t too bad, yet the place is very rarely used for concerts. Maybe twice a year. About one-third of the Coliseum’s seats were roped off, so no seats were sold behind the stage. I had General Admission floor tickets, which turned out to be a blessing and a curse in that, while I was very close to the band, by the time Counting Crows took the stage, my feet were aching so bad from standing for so long that my enjoyment took a major hit.
Though the band didn’t sell-out the Coliseum, the crowd was pretty big and pretty hot for the Crows, who took well to the more intimate setting and delivered in spades! Speaking of the crowd, I didn’t realize until now that the majority of the Crows’ fan base is ugly girls. I guess that makes sense, but man, they were more than represented tonight. At least they aren’t a very annoying bunch (unlike teeny-boppers).
And speaking of annoying, there was some annoying fuck there who pushed his way to the front with his two stupid friends (one dumbass, one whore) after the opening band’s set. I really, REALLY hate when people push their way to the front after you got there early to stake out a good spot. Anyway, this guy had to be seen to believe. He had, without a doubt, the dumbest fucking face I’ve ever seen. And he was totally, embarrassingly into the concert. Dancing and singing and constantly talking on his cell phone. What? Yeah, talking on his cell phone. The guy was in ecstasy, standing dead front center, dancing, singing and talking on his cell phone. What the hell is that about, anyway? So, I apologize to my brother in this public forum for defending him. That guy was a dumb fuck. And I hope he’s reading! I was the fat guy in the orange and blue shirts and blue hat, standing like his feet hurt. And YES, I was looking at you all those times because you have the dumbest FUCKING FACE I HAVE EVER SEEN! Ahem.
The Price
Ah, where to begin? Every year, WVU has two big free outdoor concerts for their students. One is at the beginning of the school year, dubbed Fall Fest, and the other is at the end of the school year, named Spring Fest. You can tell some creative minds head up the event committee, eh? Anyway, the school always got some decent bands for the event, usually one-hit wonders whose hit was beginning to fade from the radio. During my time there, the U hosted Sugar Ray, Busta Rhymes and Blues Traveler, among others. In 2000, WVU announced that there would be no Spring Fest due to budget reasons, which caused a large backlash from students. Due to popular demand, Spring Fest returned in 2002, headlined by former Grateful Dead member Phil Lesh.
Why have I told you this? Well, note that the concert has always hosted decent to good bands and has been free to WVU students and their guests. Well, not this year. This year, the greedy U decided that, since Counting Crows is a high name value band, no doubt, that they would be charging for the tickets and the event would be moved indoors. WVU students wound up getting a $10 discount on tickets, while non-students had to pay $27.50 (plus the damn Ticketmaster service fee!) So, WVU screws its students. What else is new? I have a major problem with the way business is being conducted in our nation’s universities these days. They seem to hold a diploma in front of your nose with one hand while keeping the other in your back pocket. And there’s nothing you can do. Why do I have to pay $200 to park my car in a dimly lit gravel lot on the other side of town? Why can I only eat twice on weekends? Why aren’t other people asking these questions? I just find it scary that people pay tens of thousands of dollars just to enroll somewhere to be miserable, broke and disrespected, just to be taught by “competent” (re: tenured (re: has occupied space for the most years)) professors and earn a degree that may help them find a decent job. Yes, I realize that the system feeds itself with every ignorant Johnny Drinksalot paying Mom and Dad’s cash to fail out after a few years (remember when colleges were for scholars and not Girls Gone Wild cameras?), but it’s still the principle of the whole thing.
Anyway, I am kind of glad that the concert wasn’t free, because they usually attract the most drunken, terrible crowds. I’m just sorry the students got screwed, because I’ve been there. Of course, I guess the U is just preparing young people for the royal screwing Uncle Sam has ready for them. But I digress.
Even Adam Duritz commented on the situation during the concert, noting that they weren’t the dicks that made us pay for the concert, but someone in the Coliseum sure was. Hoorah.
The Opening Act: Sixpence None The Richer
Poor Sixpence None The Richer. To be honest, I doubt there were many students who paid the $17 to see them, and really, who ever pays to see the opening act? To make matters worse, Sixpence had just left an afternoon gig at Indiana Univeristy of Pennsylvania (WTF? Go to a real school!), where Sixpence vocalist Leigh Nash remarks “We played for 37 people (their entire student body, no doubt) and they hated us.” But the band soldiered on, and despite fatigue and a little heckling at the beginning, really seemed to win over the crowd. I found the band to be absolutely charming. I didn’t know much about them to begin with (except “Kiss Me”, of course), but I may just give them a chance. Sixpence is currently touring in support of their 2002 Reprise release Divine Discontent, the long-awaited follow-up to their 1997 self-titled breakthrough album. Their current single, a cover of Crowded House’s (Not Simply Red, Mr. Walker!) “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, is currently #12 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and is also featured on the Smallville soundtrack.
The Band
Adam Duritz: vocals, piano
Charlie Gillingham: piano, accordion, bass
David Immergluck: guitar, mandolin, bass
Dan Vickrey: guitar, bass
David Bryson: guitar, vocals
Jim Bolgois: drums
Justin Cary: bass
Counting Crows have always had a lush, remarkable sound. I was a little worried that that sound wouldn’t translate well live, but I was completely wrong. The band showed the same unity and prowess they display on their studio albums and really made some great music in the WVU Coliseum. Jim Bolgois is touring on drums with the Crows to replace band member Ben Mize, who has decided to give up touring. Jim fit right in with the rest of the band though, playing inspired and spare skins all evening. Bassist Matt Malley was also MIA, as he is off tour right now to be with his ailing father. This left a revolving bass door that was filled by various band members throughout the night, and even Sixpence bassist Justin Cary, who wins MVP for the evening for playing almost 3 entire sets in one day.
Adam Duritz (whose shirt was a little too short, which sort of bothered me) was very personable on the mic, taking time to talk to the audience, which really enhanced the intimate setting and the concert. The light show was also perfect, with different backdrops and visuals creating the mood for each individual song. The Counting Crows’ music and sound was absolutely flawless, and the new Hard Candy songs blended perfectly with earlier Crows material, some that has been transformed over time. As the band has matured and gelled as artists, the fans have really been benefited in the live shows. In essence, Counting Crows really look, sound and feel like rock stars, and that always makes for a good show.
The Songs(not necessarily in the right order)
Have You Seen Me Lately?
Richard Manuel Is Dead –or- If I Could Give All My Love
Mr. Jones
Four White Stallions
Omaha
Daylight Fading
Good Time
Big Yellow Taxi
American Girls
Goodnight L.A.
A Long December
Miami
Hard Candy
Anna Begins
Round Here/My Sweet Thing Encore
Rain King/Raining In Baltimore
“Skynyrd Shenanigans”
Hanginaround
Admittedly, I wasn’t a huge fan of Hard Candy at first. A lot of the songs just didn’t do it for me, and I preferred the rockier edge of Recovering The Satellites-era Counting Crows. After this concert, however, I think I may change my views. Of the seventeen songs on the set list, seven were from the Crows’ latest album and all seven were well picked. The two singles, “Taxi” and “American Girls” translated to nice bouncy live songs, but the meat of the show were in the inspired readings of songs like “Miami” and “Goodnight L.A.”, the latter of which was performed solo on piano by Duritz, before the Crows launched into fan favorite “A Long December” (complete with a beautiful star-lit background). All of the band’s radio favorites were represented, including the party tunes “Mr. Jones” and “Hanginaround”. The band is also showing off some new material on this tour, like the unreleased country rocker “Four White Stallions”, a must hear for any fan. (Available, among others, for download at countingcrows.com/candydish).
The set ended with a brilliant 15-minute version of “Round Here,” that featured all the emotion and then some of the studio version. Duritz also inserted the Van Morrison hit “My Sweet Thing” into the song and the result was a big hand raiser to end the set. I loved it.
The band returned to the stage for a great two-song encore. When “Rain King” finished, an audience member screamed “Play “Free Bird”!” (Gotta love those West Virginians), to which Adam Duritz responded, “We’re not the band from your prom. I don’t think anyone on this stage even knows “Free Bird””. Of course, the other Crows were happy to prove Adam wrong, and the band went on to tease their own versions of “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama”. This sort of fan interaction only put a nice asterick on the enjoyment of the evening and the fans went home happy. I read several fan reports of the Crows hanging around after the show to talk and sign autographs, which makes me sad my feet hurt, but also make me happy to know that there are still decent accessible rock stars in the world today.
The 411: Counting Crows will be touring with John Mayer and Graham Colton this summer, and if you have never seen the band live, they are worth checking out for sure. If you have, chances are you don’t need convincing. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Hard Candy and enjoy a band that knows how to treat its music and its fans.
