Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Augustana @ Borgata 8/28/09
Two things you should know before I get into this review.
1. I have seen Counting Crows live several times, and Michael Franti & Spearhead live twice before, and both bands have always put on excellent shows.
2. One of my favorite concerts of all time was a 1995 Arts Center show with Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks, Victoria Williams, and Matthew Sweet, where members of all the acts kept coming out to sit in with the other bands on various songs. It was a show where you could tell they were all friends and enjoying playing together.
With those two things in mind, I entered into the “Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus & Medicine Show” featuring Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Augustana, with high expectations. It was well publicized that this was not a standard three bill act, but a show with all 18 members of the 3 bands on stage for various parts of the show, and a rotating line-up of different band members sitting in with one another during the just over 3 hour show.
At 8pm Charlie Gillingham (Counting Crows piano player) came out to welcome everyone and tell the audience about their community outreach program. Described on their site (http://greybirdfoundation.org) thusly:
“In an effort to give recognition and draw attention to organizations and individuals working to help their communities, the GreyBird Foundation and Counting Crows have invited community-based organizations to each of their concerts. Get involved and learn what you can do to support your community. Counting Crows are focusing on three issues Domestic Violence, HIV / AIDS and The Environment.”
10 minutes later the curtain rose on the three ring circus with all eighteen members of the bands on stage for a rousing cover of Van Morison’s “caravan”, with each of the three lead singers taking a verse. It was a strong opening, that immediately lead into the energetic Michael Franti & Spearhead’s song, “hello bon jour”.
After that band members started dissipating off the stage as Counting Crows broke into a rousing version of “Mrs. Potter’s lullaby”. Followed by inspired versions of “colorblind” and “Omaha”, the former including the one night only “sock introduction”, as Adam Duritz (Counting Crows frontman) put socks on as the song began (he apparently had misplaced his socks just before show time and had someone run to his room to get them for him). As Adam later stated, have to save the “sock introduction” for those special occasions.
Members of Augustana came back to the stage to perform a cover of the Rolling Stones, “sweet Virginia”, which gave way to a few songs by Augustana. Interestingly they opened their segment of the show with the beginning of Counting Crows, “Mr. Jones”, played in an entirely different key and tempo…sadly that was the most interesting part of their block of songs here.
Now granted, I knew little about Augustana going in, so I didn’t know their songs like I do with the other two bands, but my real problem was that their songs seemed rather boring by comparison. They weren’t awful, but they were the least interesting of the three acts. Maybe they were intimidated by the audience who wasn’t there to see them, but they looked much more alive jamming with the other bands then they did on their own.
Everyone came back on stage as Michael Franti led a cover of the Temptations song, "(You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back" (also known from a cover Peter Tosh & Mick Jagger recorded), which included a little tease of the Grateful Dead’s “casey jones”. Michael Franti & Spearhead loved putting teases into their songs, incorporating bits of Michael Jackson’s “billie jean”, “tainted love” (popularized by Soft Cell), Kenny Roger’s “the gambler”, and Nirvana’s “smells like teen spirit”, during various songs.
This is where my notes get a little fuzzy…lesson learned, a ball point pen does not write well on a note pad, making my already bad handwriting into illegible scribble.
Michael Franti & Spearhead did rock through several of their own songs, combining rock, reggae, hip-hop, funk and folk, into pure kinetic energy and fun.
I hate to have to choose between Counting Crows and Michael Franti & Spearhead for best band of the night, but if asked, I’d have to say Spearhead edged out the Crows on this night for most fun band of the evening. Now that may be in part because Adam Duritz had a bad case of food poisoning Wednesday (forcing the postponement of the Red Bank show). While he looked in good health up there on stage and really did have a lot of energy, the next day he admitted on his Twitter page, "I usually hate playing casinos cuz they make us play shorter shows but, after being so sick, I had just enough energy last night to make it."
Following Spearhead, all eighteen musicians returned to the stage to close out act one with yet another cover, this time it was Leon Russell’s “delta lady”.
The curtain pulled shut, and a 10 minute break, including another mention of the Greybird Foundation, gave people a chance to go to the bathroom and get a drink.
It was a chance for me to think about how truly comfortable the Borgata Events Center is. I’m not saying this to suck up to Borgata, they didn’t get me into the show, and they didn’t hook me up with any free stuff. The truth is, I’ve been to a lot of these mid-size venues (their website says they fit 3,700), and most of them are hot and stuffy (see my previous reviews of any Starland Ballroom show). The Events Center was well air conditioned, and the staff were very pleasant and helpful. I would definitely return in a heartbeat to Borgata for another show, despite the 2 hours it takes to get their from my home.
I should also point out here that the sound and lighting people on this tour deserve some special thanks. They always go unappreciated by the average concert attendee. It can’t be easy keeping 18 musicians sound levels in check for an entire concert, but other than some minor feedback from wireless mics when in certain areas, the sound was clear and crisp the entire show, and the lighting effects that were used really did add great punctuation to the songs. Kudos to those unappreciated members of the crew who are as important as those on the stage (as are all the behind the scenes guitar techs, roadies, etc.)
The curtain rose on act two with Counting Crows playing solid versions of “when I dream of Michelangelo”, and “children in bloom”.
Following them were Michael Franti & Spearhead, who played among their short set “yell fire” (recently heard on an ad campaign for the FX series “Rescue Me”), and their first top 40 hit, “say hey”. Franti introduced it by saying that Spearhead formed 15 years ago, and that this was their first hit (currently at #12 on the charts). I couldn’t be happier that a great band has managed to crack the pop charts, and with a really nice song. At the end of the song, Franti had the cutest little girl come up on stage to sing the chorus along with him.
Little kids got in on the fun several times throughout the night, dancing with Michael Franti & Spearhead, and playing little guitars and drums near the end of the act.
Following Spearhead, Counting Crows & Augustana did a nice mellow rendition of Bob Dylan’s “just like a woman”, that led into several more Augustana tunes, that while more interesting then their mini-set in act one, still failed to entice me in the way a rock concert should.
When watching Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead, or everyone on stage, I felt euphoric, dancing and swaying, big grin planted upon my face, and feeling a part of a real happening. During Augustana’s part of the night I just didn’t feel that. I wish I had.
My notes get a little fuzzy here again, but I believe act two ended with Adam Duritz singing with Augustana, their song, “fire”, written by frontman Dan Layus, about his wife, followed by everyone on stage for the Counting Crows hit “hangingaround”.
The curtains closed again briefly before reopening with all eighteen musicians on stage for a rapid fire, upbeat, high energy, brilliant spectacle of a finale. If this truly were a circus, it would be like watching the motorcyclists in the globe of death breathing fire, while taming lions.
Yes, it was an awesome sonic assault.
Beginning with a playful version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecilia”, into Michael Franti & Spearhead’s “hey world”, followed by Augustana’s most lively performance of the night on the bluegrass tune “raise a ruckus” (Old Crow Medicine Show recorded it a few years back), into an electrifying version of Counting Crows’ “rain king” with everyone singing along, and a spirited (and given the nature of the show, appropriate) version of the Beatles’ “a little help from my friends” thrown into the middle of the song.
After that there was really nowhere to go, but the show wasn’t quite over yet.
Adam Duritz spoke once more about The Greybird Foundation and how important it is for everyone to take action anyway they can, starting with voting. This led into a pretty, though somewhat anti-climatic after that incredible string of songs that preceded it in the encore, cover of Woody Guthrie’s “this land is your land”.
After that Adam spent a moment introducing all of his friends (all seventeen other musicians on stage). Amazingly, knowing the show was over at that point, everyone stood there and applauded as each musicians name was said. No one I saw was moving towards the exit. That right there should tell you how good this show was.
No, it wasn’t a traditional Counting Crows show, as some mistakenly expected (despite their website explaining in great detail the concept of this tour), but most people really got what this was. It was something special to see three bands who are obviously friends, share not just the bill, but the same stage for the entire night. If you have the opportunity to catch this tour when it comes to your area, do so. It really is something unique to behold.
I go to a lot of concerts, but I think much like the Soul Asylum show I mentioned at the start of this review, that 14 years from now I’ll still remember how special a night it was when I saw the “Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus & Medicine Show”.
www.travelingcircusshow.com
Photos by Naomi
Two things you should know before I get into this review.
1. I have seen Counting Crows live several times, and Michael Franti & Spearhead live twice before, and both bands have always put on excellent shows.
2. One of my favorite concerts of all time was a 1995 Arts Center show with Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks, Victoria Williams, and Matthew Sweet, where members of all the acts kept coming out to sit in with the other bands on various songs. It was a show where you could tell they were all friends and enjoying playing together.
With those two things in mind, I entered into the “Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus & Medicine Show” featuring Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Augustana, with high expectations. It was well publicized that this was not a standard three bill act, but a show with all 18 members of the 3 bands on stage for various parts of the show, and a rotating line-up of different band members sitting in with one another during the just over 3 hour show.
At 8pm Charlie Gillingham (Counting Crows piano player) came out to welcome everyone and tell the audience about their community outreach program. Described on their site (http://greybirdfoundation.org) thusly:
“In an effort to give recognition and draw attention to organizations and individuals working to help their communities, the GreyBird Foundation and Counting Crows have invited community-based organizations to each of their concerts. Get involved and learn what you can do to support your community. Counting Crows are focusing on three issues Domestic Violence, HIV / AIDS and The Environment.”
10 minutes later the curtain rose on the three ring circus with all eighteen members of the bands on stage for a rousing cover of Van Morison’s “caravan”, with each of the three lead singers taking a verse. It was a strong opening, that immediately lead into the energetic Michael Franti & Spearhead’s song, “hello bon jour”.
After that band members started dissipating off the stage as Counting Crows broke into a rousing version of “Mrs. Potter’s lullaby”. Followed by inspired versions of “colorblind” and “Omaha”, the former including the one night only “sock introduction”, as Adam Duritz (Counting Crows frontman) put socks on as the song began (he apparently had misplaced his socks just before show time and had someone run to his room to get them for him). As Adam later stated, have to save the “sock introduction” for those special occasions.
Members of Augustana came back to the stage to perform a cover of the Rolling Stones, “sweet Virginia”, which gave way to a few songs by Augustana. Interestingly they opened their segment of the show with the beginning of Counting Crows, “Mr. Jones”, played in an entirely different key and tempo…sadly that was the most interesting part of their block of songs here.
Now granted, I knew little about Augustana going in, so I didn’t know their songs like I do with the other two bands, but my real problem was that their songs seemed rather boring by comparison. They weren’t awful, but they were the least interesting of the three acts. Maybe they were intimidated by the audience who wasn’t there to see them, but they looked much more alive jamming with the other bands then they did on their own.
Everyone came back on stage as Michael Franti led a cover of the Temptations song, "(You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back" (also known from a cover Peter Tosh & Mick Jagger recorded), which included a little tease of the Grateful Dead’s “casey jones”. Michael Franti & Spearhead loved putting teases into their songs, incorporating bits of Michael Jackson’s “billie jean”, “tainted love” (popularized by Soft Cell), Kenny Roger’s “the gambler”, and Nirvana’s “smells like teen spirit”, during various songs.
This is where my notes get a little fuzzy…lesson learned, a ball point pen does not write well on a note pad, making my already bad handwriting into illegible scribble.
Michael Franti & Spearhead did rock through several of their own songs, combining rock, reggae, hip-hop, funk and folk, into pure kinetic energy and fun.
I hate to have to choose between Counting Crows and Michael Franti & Spearhead for best band of the night, but if asked, I’d have to say Spearhead edged out the Crows on this night for most fun band of the evening. Now that may be in part because Adam Duritz had a bad case of food poisoning Wednesday (forcing the postponement of the Red Bank show). While he looked in good health up there on stage and really did have a lot of energy, the next day he admitted on his Twitter page, "I usually hate playing casinos cuz they make us play shorter shows but, after being so sick, I had just enough energy last night to make it."
Following Spearhead, all eighteen musicians returned to the stage to close out act one with yet another cover, this time it was Leon Russell’s “delta lady”.
The curtain pulled shut, and a 10 minute break, including another mention of the Greybird Foundation, gave people a chance to go to the bathroom and get a drink.
It was a chance for me to think about how truly comfortable the Borgata Events Center is. I’m not saying this to suck up to Borgata, they didn’t get me into the show, and they didn’t hook me up with any free stuff. The truth is, I’ve been to a lot of these mid-size venues (their website says they fit 3,700), and most of them are hot and stuffy (see my previous reviews of any Starland Ballroom show). The Events Center was well air conditioned, and the staff were very pleasant and helpful. I would definitely return in a heartbeat to Borgata for another show, despite the 2 hours it takes to get their from my home.
I should also point out here that the sound and lighting people on this tour deserve some special thanks. They always go unappreciated by the average concert attendee. It can’t be easy keeping 18 musicians sound levels in check for an entire concert, but other than some minor feedback from wireless mics when in certain areas, the sound was clear and crisp the entire show, and the lighting effects that were used really did add great punctuation to the songs. Kudos to those unappreciated members of the crew who are as important as those on the stage (as are all the behind the scenes guitar techs, roadies, etc.)
The curtain rose on act two with Counting Crows playing solid versions of “when I dream of Michelangelo”, and “children in bloom”.
Following them were Michael Franti & Spearhead, who played among their short set “yell fire” (recently heard on an ad campaign for the FX series “Rescue Me”), and their first top 40 hit, “say hey”. Franti introduced it by saying that Spearhead formed 15 years ago, and that this was their first hit (currently at #12 on the charts). I couldn’t be happier that a great band has managed to crack the pop charts, and with a really nice song. At the end of the song, Franti had the cutest little girl come up on stage to sing the chorus along with him.
Little kids got in on the fun several times throughout the night, dancing with Michael Franti & Spearhead, and playing little guitars and drums near the end of the act.
Following Spearhead, Counting Crows & Augustana did a nice mellow rendition of Bob Dylan’s “just like a woman”, that led into several more Augustana tunes, that while more interesting then their mini-set in act one, still failed to entice me in the way a rock concert should.
When watching Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead, or everyone on stage, I felt euphoric, dancing and swaying, big grin planted upon my face, and feeling a part of a real happening. During Augustana’s part of the night I just didn’t feel that. I wish I had.
My notes get a little fuzzy here again, but I believe act two ended with Adam Duritz singing with Augustana, their song, “fire”, written by frontman Dan Layus, about his wife, followed by everyone on stage for the Counting Crows hit “hangingaround”.
The curtains closed again briefly before reopening with all eighteen musicians on stage for a rapid fire, upbeat, high energy, brilliant spectacle of a finale. If this truly were a circus, it would be like watching the motorcyclists in the globe of death breathing fire, while taming lions.
Yes, it was an awesome sonic assault.
Beginning with a playful version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecilia”, into Michael Franti & Spearhead’s “hey world”, followed by Augustana’s most lively performance of the night on the bluegrass tune “raise a ruckus” (Old Crow Medicine Show recorded it a few years back), into an electrifying version of Counting Crows’ “rain king” with everyone singing along, and a spirited (and given the nature of the show, appropriate) version of the Beatles’ “a little help from my friends” thrown into the middle of the song.
After that there was really nowhere to go, but the show wasn’t quite over yet.
Adam Duritz spoke once more about The Greybird Foundation and how important it is for everyone to take action anyway they can, starting with voting. This led into a pretty, though somewhat anti-climatic after that incredible string of songs that preceded it in the encore, cover of Woody Guthrie’s “this land is your land”.
After that Adam spent a moment introducing all of his friends (all seventeen other musicians on stage). Amazingly, knowing the show was over at that point, everyone stood there and applauded as each musicians name was said. No one I saw was moving towards the exit. That right there should tell you how good this show was.
No, it wasn’t a traditional Counting Crows show, as some mistakenly expected (despite their website explaining in great detail the concept of this tour), but most people really got what this was. It was something special to see three bands who are obviously friends, share not just the bill, but the same stage for the entire night. If you have the opportunity to catch this tour when it comes to your area, do so. It really is something unique to behold.
I go to a lot of concerts, but I think much like the Soul Asylum show I mentioned at the start of this review, that 14 years from now I’ll still remember how special a night it was when I saw the “Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus & Medicine Show”.
www.travelingcircusshow.com
Photos by Naomi