This is long.... beware :)

Well, its been over a year since my last Counting Crows show review!! Leesa commands me not to leave out ANY details! I think Im a bit rusty, but here goes....... but ugh, I AM SO HAPPY I AM ABOUT TO WRITE A REVIEW.... I was damn near positive that I wasnt going to get in.

So I drove out to Hollywood after work and I was busy listening to Backstreet Boys and N Sync and being a cool teenager like that, and then I started crying. Okay, now Ive been really happy lately so that was not expected..... but I realized I was absolutely terrified of going to this concert and getting my hopes up... and even if I did get in, I was really scared of the new material and seeing this band after over a year. It became such a huge part of my life on the last tour and its kind of scary. I also havent been too excited about Counting Crows lately. I havent even read the folder in 10 days. Boy has tonight changed my attitude again.

But anyway, I drove up and down the street until I finally spotted the venue (it was hidden behind a semi) and in line was Jay, Tracy, her friend Roger, Ed, Marie, Karina,Ryan, Cec, and Lillian.... as usual I was hyperventhilating about the fact that I am 16 and the age limit is 21.... Ed is always so optimistic! He assured me I would get in.... but I was still so scared. My parents then showed up and got in line with me.... the security guards looked really scary. Natalie showed up and looked just as nervous as Cec and I about getting in. The guards told everyone to make sure they had their IDs ready. Ha. Anyway, while waiting in line the whole band walked out past us... it was sort of weird to see the whole band streaming past the line. I think they went to get food or something. When they started letting people in, I frantically pressed myself up against Tracy and Jay's backs and slipped through... and meanwhile Roger created a diversion by putting his ID in front of the guards face. I got past, but I heard the guard say "I didnt see that girl's ID!!" but everyone just kept showing them their IDs and moving and I managed to sucessfully get in. That moment was so cool..... when I realized that I was going to see Counting Crows tonight..... wow. Natalie got in without being carded, and I dont recall how Cec got in. I got so excited, I followed Lillian up to find the stage and Im apparently not too good with wearing high heels because I tripped and fell flat on my face. Uh, damn, so much for not calling attention to myself.

The doors opened at about 8:20, but Counting Crows werent supposed to come on until 10:00. The wait was really really painful, the minutes dragged on and on.... Brenda, Paul, Mike, Todd, and Adam not Duritz then showed up somewhere in the time we were waiting. I talked to lots of cool people like this guy Jeff and this other person who i cant remember the name of.... uh..... I think it started with a "d" but he was standing next to me and talked to me all about the CC shows he went to. There was no opening band, so it was just waiting in the Austin Powers-esque bar/venue thing for 2 hours. Matt came into the audience to talk with us... he had Tracy and I experience a sort of meditation thing (although he didnt go to it tonight and his wife did) and we asked about David Immergluck.... he said he isnt officially part of the band yet, but will be playing with them on tour.

So Counting Crows finally took the stage... no "California Dreaming," but they did start with "Recovering the Satellites." I was completely uplifted at that moment, I swear, it had been so long since I had felt the intensity of this band and holding hands with these people I share this love with..... I remember in one moment of that song closing my eyes and singing the lyrics as loud as I could, thinking about how much I had missed the sensation of being completely one with the music and my emotions.

Adam was a bit more chubby and did not have his beard anymore!! He seemed really intensely happy to be performing, and was really talkative and friendly.

They played "Have You Seen Me Lately" in a completely different fashion..... sort of accoustic, and sort of electric with the chorus more intense than the verse. It was amazing. I absolutely loved how they played it. It was so different, yet the same.... and I just cant explain it. Im sure they will do it like that again.

The new songs were wonderful... "Kid Things" was really kind of twangy and upbeat, "St Robinson in his Cadillac Dream" was definetly more polished and perfected (God that song is so awesome!), and I truthfully cant remember "Hangin Around" and "4 Days" that well. All I know is that "4 Days" wasnt my favorite because I couldnt hear it that well. The sound was kind of muddy at that point.

Adam kept jumping up on the speakers which is where I had set my bag, he kept getting so close and finally jumped on my bag so I finally put it on the ground. During Round Here he patted mine, Tracy's, and the "d" guy's heads during the line "Round here, we all look the same..." Then during the quiet and poignant part of the song where he says "Can you tell me one thing you will remember about me?" I was singing along with Adam and during that whole line Adam looked at me and smiled. For some reason that stands out for me, it was a good moment..... God "Round Here" sounded GREAT.... Ive missed these live shows so much!! Everyone was being loud so in the line "shhhh I know its only in my head" Adam instead said "shut the fuck up! its only in my head." haha that was cool.

Mr. Jones was ELECTRIC!! They started it out like the accoustic version with "so you wanna be a rock and roll star..." but then all of a sudden Dave started playing like the album version! what an awesome surprise! I dont think Ive ever heard that version in concert sound so much like the album.... the only other time I heard Mr. Jones electric was @ the Greek Theater in 1994. Everyone was jumping up and down and screaming the lyrics. It was wonderful.

A Murder of One was completely electrifying.... everyone was pogoing, and just at the climax of the song all of the instruments went out and only the drums and the crowd singing could be heard!! Everyone was laughing so hard. Once the electricity had been restored, Adam had them start the song in the middle.... my feet hurt from jumping, but that was one of my favorite moments of the concert. Everyone was so into it.

They played "Another Horse Dreamer's Blues!!" Its been so long since Ive heard that in concert, it was neat to hear it again.... instead of Adam playing the piano keyboard thing David I. played the melody on the guitar. It sounded exactly the same. Impressive!!

I wish I had a setlist here in front of me to refresh my memory about the songs, but lets see what else I can remember that was played..... Angels of the Silences, Omaha, Mercury, Anna Begins, Rain King (with the "when I think of heaven, I think of you.... why is it you dont think of me too?" line), Goodnight Elizabeth, Daylight Fading, A Long December were all played.... Im not sure if Im forgetting anything. I probably am. Im tired..... its 2 AM.

Ugh, so in conclusion..... wow. WOW. That was so awesome I cant even believe it. Yet another 21+ show I have infiltrated...... I am getting so spoiled with being front row, center in the mosh pit at these tiny shows.... I cant even think straight right now. It was magical. Everything about it. I am so happy I was able to be in there...... I am such a lucky person. I really am.

Oh, btw, I also saw Peter Stuart and all I could think of to say was "Uh, you played a show in my house...." he was like "I know, I was there" :) ha! funny!

Alright, I guess I should get some sleep.. I cant think of anything else right now but I know Im forgetting major things!!

CANT WAIT FOR THE BUFFALO SHOW.... this was the first concert I drove to by myself! Oh, the times they are a changin...

Later!

Julie (who is VERY happy right now)

http://www.luvcat.com
Julie's Counting Crows Page From Hell!