Mr. Jones and Me Sweat Our Asses Off for Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional

Long since a staple of “grocery store jams” the Counting Crows have always been humble and been a part of our lives. This kind of longevity should tell you all you need to know about them and Lead Singer Adam Duritz.

But no, you also need to know that this man must have the best heat tolerance of anyone I have ever seen. Clad in shorts and t-shirt for the intro, and jeans with a jacket for his set, he never looked drenched like the rest of the sun-stricken people in attendance. 

This kind of cool under fire gets the tour to attract an audience of all ages. In a concert lineup transcending the ages, the Counting Crows front-man came out to introduce Dashboard Confessional, a band he calls one of his personal favorites. His humility as he spoke was palpable.

Dashboard Confessional is a Florida-grown band, with many of the band’s family members sitting in the crowd. Naturally, they gave them their due for their support as well as having the audience thank them for their long-term support. Blazing through a 12-song set, with “Screaming Infidelities” that had 90% of the crowd singing along. Ending off with “Stolen,” “Vindicated,” and end with Hands Down,” they nailed a nice mixture of top songs and some back stuff.

Returning in the aforementioned Canadian Suit (no denim shirt so no tuxedo), Duritz and the rest of the Counting Crows took the stage. Spreading out across the stage, they walked on to a standing ovation. Given their over 30 years of music, they have amassed a loyal following that will defend their music to the ends of the world and back.

Given the fact that this band set a new record for the fastest-selling album (at the time) surpassing Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” they blazed a trail few could, and their true fans always turn out to relive those days.

Entering the stage with a humble presence, they opened their set with “Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby” and “Come Around.” Both songs are songs that set up a 1-2 punch for them to get their fans in the mood. MPL is a straight-up singalong that has slowly become a deep staple of the kid trying to show off with an acoustic and Come Around gets people up and moving more. 

The beloved “Mr. Jones” rounded out the tone-setting songs of the night. As one of their most famous songs, the band. Given the age and the popularity of the song, many 45-60-year-old fans were dancing, singing, and reliving the glory days of their youth. Among the 16-song set, that night was “If I Could Give All My Love -or- Richard Manuel Is Dead.” Dedicated to The Band guitarist Richard Emmanuel, The Band was a massive influence on their first record which was recorded in his house. No studio, just them in the house. It made it raw and formed them as a band.

As the night sweated on, “Round Here,” “Washington Square,” and “A Long December” were hit to close out the main set before the three-song encore, including one with Dashboard Confessional.

The number of people at the barricade talking about seeing them on a tour a day or two on either side of bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana,  & Hootie and the Blowfish, and now Disturbed was a testament to their longevity and a sign of their genius.

That genius carried on for this length of time means they got something right as a band. With the tour going on until the end of September, they are only halfway done, with plenty of stops to go.