I actually woke up super early this morning, and I jumped up out of bed like a toy on a spring. I had a lot of time to kill before I left, but that is neither here nor there, really. Eventually I got around to showering and getting dressed for the day. I was considering jeans again, or jean shorts, but am glad that i went with a skirt, as the weather was MUCH hotter than forcasted.
After procuring my tickets for the Counting Crows (we already had access to the show, these tickets were just upgraded seats, out of the lawn and into a chair) I went inside, found a perfect spot for my blanket, and set up camp. The band that was playing was called Work Drugs and as I was walking in i recognized a few of their tunes from listening to XPN, so I hung out and watched the rest of their set. I really liked what these guys were throwing out there. Synth-y pop stuff, but really mellow, and it was absolutely perfect for sitting in the grass and baking in the hot summer sun.
Up next on the River stage was Carlos Diego, who I had never heard, but wasnt disappointed with, either. The band had a little bit of a salsa-y vibe to them, which I could absolutely dig. I watched a few of his numbers, and then decided that the sun was too much for me, and started walking around looking at the vendors and trying to stay beneath the shade of the trees.
There was a lot going on after his set, and most of that doesnt have to do directly with music, so ill skip it. I do want to share, though, that there is a really rather funny story about a record that fits into this time frame, and id be willing to tell you about it if you ask nicely. It involves the word "bastard" and me running. Thats all you are getting.
Back to the music.
The next act was some Cabinet of Wonder or some nonsense. It was just a bunch of different artists doing different stuff. Mostly I hated it. The one part we were on the blanket for was this dude doing a dramatic reading over some weird drum and bass. It just really wasnt my thing. at all. Mostly I just found myself wishing it was over.
Rhett Miller closed out the River stage this year, and I was a dummy for a while and forgot who he was, but remembered early in the day, and then found myself super excited to see him. I really like the Old '97s and knew this was as close to seeing them as I was getting, so I settled in on the blanket and danced around a lot for about an hour. This act was billed as "Rhett Miller and the Serial Lady Killers" so I didnt expect to hear any Old '97s stuff, but no sooner did we sit down then did the band start to play Singular Girl, and that smile I have been wearing all weekend found its way right back to my face. In fact, they played a LOT of Old '97s stuff, including one of the sweetest songs I know, Question.
So here I am, smiling like a wacko, and on my way to see one of the most important bands in my life, the Counting Crows. Whatever else had gone on that weekend was going to pale in comparison to what was about to happen when I stepped foot into the Susquehanna Bank Center (or the E-Center if you go by the sign in Wiggins Park. tee hee hee.) I should have been in a state of bliss for the rest of the night, but that was not the case.
I just was not feeling the Counting Crows' set tonight. They opened with Sullivan Street, which is a decent enough track, but everything was played a bit slowed down tonight, and for songs that are slow to begin with, well, it made for a hard time trying to stay awake during some parts of the set. As much as this band means to me, I havent spent much time with any of the newer material, which is what they played for a majority of their set. Honestly, at one point I caught myself nodding off. I tried blaming it on the fact that I had been out in the sun for the last three days but I cant deny the fact that I just wasn't into the set.
Another issue that I had was that the crowd in the seats where we were were just not into the show. At all. Barely anyone was up out of their seats, no one was singing along, and it was just kind of a boring atmosphere in our section. A large part of the reason I love live shows is the bond that you form with the others who are there and who are just as excited to be there as you are. Audience participation adds to or detracts a lot from any live show and its sad to say that in this instance, it was definitely a deterrent.
I am still happy that I got to see the Counting Crows, though. I mean, I did the math and I have been in love with that band for 18 years. That is more than half of my life. There is something about them that will stick with me forever. I can't turn my back on them for one less than desirable concert. I also think that had I not seen bands like Good Old War and the Hold Steady! earlier that weekend, I wouldn't be feeling quite as let down as I do.
Anyway, the setlist:
Sullivan Street
Untitled (Love Song)
Another Horsedreamer's Blues
Hard Candy
Hospital
Goodnight Elizabeth/Pale Blue Eyes (Sheryl Crow cover)
Start Again (Teenage Fanclub cover)
Meet On The Ledge
Four White Stallions
Mrs. Potter's Lullaby
Ghost Train
Long December
Return Of The Grevious Angel
Come Around
Rain King/Washington Square
Encore (all the guys from all of the bands on the Outlaw Roadshow tour came out for these three songs)
Hangin' Around
You Ain't Going Nowhere
This Land Is Your Land
I forgot about Mrs. Potter's Lullaby. That made me really happy. I just really could have stood for one or two of my favorites, or Mr. Jones for Pete's sake!
Even if I was a little bit disappointed in the show, I still love and always will love this crazy man. Maybe I need to pay more attention to the newer material for the next time I see them, because four is an awkward number, so I will see them again.
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