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!
- Round Here
- Unititled (Love Song)
- I Wish I Was a Girl
- Hospital
- Elizabeth (Not available on iTunes
- A Long December
- Omaha
- Le Ballet D'or
- Friend of the Devil
- Sundays
- Like Teenage Gravity
- Rain King
- Return of the Grievous Angel
- Hanginaround
Encore:
- Up All Night (Frankie Miller Goes to Hollywood)
- You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
- This Land is Your Land
Find out more about Counting Crows
- countingcrows.com
- Buy merch from Counting Crows' online store
- Twitter: @countingcrows
- Counting Crows on iTunes:
