Stellar.

Counting Crows

With special guests: Foreign Fields & Filligar

Photos by Merideth C. & Review by Jennifer Buswinka

As concert fans sat on the lawn and wondering if the show would be rained out, Counting Crows front man Adam Duritz made an appearance on stage, casually introducing the first band in the Outlaw Roadshow. He then yelled to fans in the parking lot, "Get your asses down here!"

Three bands preceded the Crows, Good Old War, Foreign Fields, and Filligar, and Duritz introduced each band with the same enthusiasm as the first. Although there were pockets of greatness during the opening acts, it was clear whom the Detroit fans were there to see.

Opening the set with their 1994 hit, "Round Here," Duritz belted out each word with undeniable emotion. His constant improvisation throughout the show kept each song fresh and alive, as if the audience was part of the initial jam sessions that produced each hit.

Fans enjoyed the band’s cover of the Grateful Dead tune, "Friend of the Devil." Familiar hits "A Long December," "Omaha," and "Rain King" were sweet reminders of the band’s early success and longevity.

"Omaha" was my favorite part of the show. The song was so amazing live that the audience couldn’t help but sing along, and loudly!

The band wrapped up the set list with "Hanginaround." The Crows rocked it as Duritz invited all members of the opening bands on stage to jam with him. This was really fun to watch; these guys were having a great time on stage.

At the end of the encore, Duritz had the audience singing "This Land is Your Land" and he urged the audience to vote, pleading: "I don’t care who you vote for, as long as you vote!"

The band made a calculated move by not playing "Mr. Jones," arguably the biggest hit from their breakout album "August and Everything After." A few upset fans grumbled profanities while walking back to their cars, disappointed that the one song they came to hear wasn’t played. But this enduring act was far from disappointing. The Counting Crows delivered on an amazing performance that left fans wanting more.

When the lights went on signifying the end of the show, the song "California Dreamin" by The Mamas & The Papas played loudly on the speakers. Duritz got up on a podium and acted as if he were conducting the song while all the fans were leaving. He can be one weird dude, but he’s cool as hell!

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Set List

Download songs from this set list by clicking the iTunes icon!

  1. Round Here Round Here - August and Everything After
  2. Unititled (Love Song) Untitled (Love Song) - Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation)
  3. I Wish I Was a Girl I Wish I Was a Girl - This Desert Life
  4. Hospital Hospital - Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation)
  5. Elizabeth (Not available on iTunes
  6. A Long December A Long December - Films About Ghosts: The Best of Counting Crows
  7. Omaha Omaha - August and Everything After
  8. Le Ballet D'or Le ballet d'or - Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings (Bonus Track Version)
  9. Friend of the Devil Friend of the Devil - Films About Ghosts: The Best of Counting Crows
  10. Sundays Sundays - Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings (Bonus Track Version)
  11. Like Teenage Gravity Like Teenage Gravity - Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation)
  12. Rain King Rain King - August and Everything After
  13. Return of the Grievous Angel Return of the Grievous Angel - Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation)
  14. Hanginaround Hanginaround - This Desert Life Encore:
  15. Up All Night (Frankie Miller Goes to Hollywood) Up All Night (Frankie Miller Goes to Hollywood) - Hard Candy
  16. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere You Ain't Goin' Nowhere - Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation)
  17. This Land is Your Land This Land Is Your Land (Acoustic Demo) - August & Everything After (Deluxe Edition)

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