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I have probably taken more shit from people for my lifelong love affair with Counting Crows, and in particular with its frontman Adam Duritz, than for any other of my musical-sins-according-to-music-snobs. It’s never bothered me. Is there what one might refer to as a whiny quality in some of their stuff? Well, yes, I suppose I have to grant that. Have they had sporadic mainstream radio success? Sure. He’s still my favorite singer and—with all due respect to the other approximately 100 acts I’ve seen live—they are just consistently the best live band I’ve seen, second perhaps only to E Street. The 11 times I have seen them over the past decade or more have been phenomenal experiences and very difficult to describe to people who remember hearing someone play August and Everything After a lot in 1993 and a few radio singles since.

This past weekend I finally got to attend one of my dream concerts. Very occasionally, and usually in New Orleans, Adam Duritz (usually with lead guitarist David Immergluck) does a small nightclub show and plays whatever the fuck he wants. On Friday, he performed with two acoustic guitars played by members of Low Stars at a Baltimore nightclub for charity. I won’t talk about how much I paid (it’s mostly tax deductible, at least…), but it was worth every damned dollar.

Maybe half the set was Duritz’ material, mostly reimagined and sometimes medleyed with other songs (think “Rain King” merged with “All the Young Dudes” sounds strange? It was, but fantastically so. So was the spur-of-the-moment elision of “Raining in Baltimore” with “Dear Prudence”). The other half was an array of covers showcasing his unique ability to make any song his own, repeating and running and barking and crooning his way like some crazed Southern American Jewish Van Morrison. Opening with a location-apt cover of Gram Parson’s “Streets of Baltimore,” Duritz worked his way through covers of Big Star, Tim Hardin, Loggins and Messina (he couldn’t get through that one without laughing), Loudon Wainwright III, Bob Dylan, etc. I’m not sure I could be too much happier than standing 8 feet away from Adam Duritz performing a heart-wrenching “Wichita Lineman.” I mean, really?

I have hours of live performances of this band and this singer, doing their own stuff and covers. They are fantastically great recordings and they don’t even come close to the energy and joy and sound at a real show. The agonizingly awaited new album, Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings, comes out March 25th. I’m sure they’ll tour behind it and, though it will be a very different show than the one I got to see on Friday night, it’ll be great. I’m already excited.


Counting CrowsAdam DuritzAdam Duritz

Here, have some choons. Top seven of the moment!

(Downloads available here.)

Fat Joe & Ja Rule ft. Ashanti // What's Love
come on (yeah, yeah, y'all) and put it (yeah, yeah, y'all) on me (put it on ya girl) on me (i'm put it on ya girl).
Yes, I love really really shitty mindless rap/hip-hop. Rubbish electronic beat, rubbish lyrics (awesomely rubbish rhyming), rubbish sampling, but it's wonderfully catchy. This song is oozing with sleaziness. Fat Joe (the Don) is there leading the way through the scene, Ja Rule pops in here and there with his creepy "pervert" voice (and even creepier wispy pornstache). However, I like Ashanti on principle - girl gets ragged on for being hairy, I can't help but sympathise.

The Jam // Town Called Malice
and a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts.
From something truly awful to something truly AMAZING. Shamefully, even though I've always liked this song I didn't grasp how excellent it truly is until I caught the video on one of VH1's Top Songs Whatever Blah Blah Blah! The bass line (AWESOME), the keys, the lyrics - such a solid track. 80s music wasn't all bad, then. (I used to think it was a Town Called Alice, though.)

The Long Blondes // Giddy Stratospheres
what's eating you is a mystery, but go home with her one more time and you know you'll be history.
I've been consumed by indie-pop-rock at the moment, and the LB's are one of the few females in my overwhelmingly male collection. Rocky and catchy, great music. Sexy, confident and strident - I need a bit more of that in my life.

The Pretenders // Brass In Pocket
i'm special, so special. i gotta have some of your attention - give it to me.

Sexy, confident and strident? I called? Like "Town Called Malice", I've always liked this song but it's only in the last week I've become completely obsessed with it. I don't know if it's truly is as great as I (currently) think it is, but man, I cannot stop listening. Chrissie Hynde’s slightly off-key voice? got rhythm - i can't miss a beat? Guh. Sexysexysexy.

Suzanne Vega // Luka (Live)
they only hit until you cry and after that you don't ask why.
Just focus on the guitar in this. It's so filling. Sadly lovely song (I'm sure almost everyone's heard it) but the guitar does funny things to my insides.

Counting Crows // All My Friends
do you wanna come a little closer? do you wanna dance with me? do you wanna hum a little harder now?


All thoughts and dreams and ideas, but no action. I've been shamelessly moping along to this. I wish it could've been a song that's a little more cooler, a little less obvious, but thems the breaks. On a none pathetic level, CC do some damn fine, catchy songs. And the bumbling vocal sounds at the end are very endearing.

Ryan Adams // To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)
now you got a bone to pick with me, but i wish you’d let me be.


when you're young you get sad, then you get high. Well, two out of three ain't bad. Right now I'm thinking the third might be fun, though. I've been buddying up "All My Friends" and "To Be Young" which is apt because Adam Duritz/CC and Ryan Adams have worked together. (Duritz does backing vocals on Adams' "Answering Bell", Adam's worte the "Butterfly In Reverse" which is performed by CC. CC have done live performances of Adams' "Come Pick Me Up"). Rocking and a rolling, what. Gloriously rowdy, and Ryan really goes for it with the vocals. hi-i-i-i-i-i-gh.

The ones that were correctly guessed:

2. Burn This City by Cartel
4. Los Angeles by Sugarcult
5. When Horsepower Meant What It Said by Sandi Thom
6. The Investigation by Sugarcult
8. LoveStoned/I Think She Knows Interlude by Justin Timberlake
10. L.G. FUAD by Motion City Soundtrack
11. Liar (It Takes One To Know One) by Taking Back Sunday
12. Welcome To The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
18. Into The Ocean by Blue October
20. Numb by Family Force 5

The ones that were not guessed:
1. Falling Inside The Black by Skillet
5. Different by Acceptance
7. Say Goodbye by Skillet
9. Me And Jesus by Stellar Kart
13. Want To by Sugarland
14. When Heaven Scrapes The Pavement by Mars ILL
15. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is by Jet
16. Something We Can't Be by Project 86
17. Islander by Falling Up
19. So Long, So Long by Dashboard Confessional featuring Adam Duritz

1. What are you listening to right now?
Some Jon Brion instrumental from I Heart Huckabees

2. What song makes you sad?
Legendary

3. What is the most annoying song in the world?
Free Bird - I swear if I ever get this as a request at one of my shows I will have that person thrown out.

4. Your all time favorite band?
Elliott Smith obviously

5. Your newly discovered band is?
Big Star - fantastic band from the beginnings of powerpop

6. Best female voice?
Brandi Carlile - her voice makes me want to make love to her furiously

7. Best male voice?
Adam Duritz from Counting Crows - his range and tone are phenomenal

8. Music types you find yourself listening to most?
Folk, Pop, Indie Rock

9. What do you listen to, to hype you up?
When I go running I rely on my guilty pleasures: Jimmy Eat World and Motion City Soundtrack

10. What do you listen to when you want to calm down?
Often times I play my own music, but if not its usually Elliott Smith, maybe Ryan Adams or David Shultz.

11. Last gig/concert you went to?
I went to a house show of silent film star. It was awesome. I open for them next week.

12. Band you find yourself listening to the most right now.
Big Star

13. Most hated band?
Linkin Park is really gay.

14. Song that makes you think?
I Didn't Understand does it to me every time.

15. Band that you think the world should love as much as you do?
To avoid being repetitive I'll say Jellyfish. Fun fact about them: The Format cited them as an influence on their new album. Awesome? Yes. This gave The Format a lot more of my respect.

16. Coolest music video?
I don't really watch music videos.

17. Music video with the most babe watch?
[track artist: Sysco]The Thong Song[/track]

18. What do you play/would you play in the bedroom to spice things up?
I Want You

19. Can you play a musical instrument?
I can play a few. Namely the guitar, piano, and bass.

20. Ever been in a mosh pit?
No, not technically. I don't think I will ever want that sort of thing for myself. However, I did mosh a girl in the face once while wearing a gorilla suit.

21. Are you in a band?
I am a band.

23. Ever dated a musician?
Not really. I've always wanted to.

28. Do you wish yourself that you were a musician?
I am one. So yes. I do.

29. Best chick band you know of?
Lately I really like Tegan and Sara.

31. Last song that you heard on the radio/cd...etc...?
Oh this was a great song: You're the One I Want.

32. What do you think of Classical music?
I like it, mostly the instrumentation of it. I love string instruments. Unfortunately I'm rarely in the mood for it.

33. What do you think of Country music?
I like Allison Krauss and Union Station. Aside from that, I'll pass.

34. What do you think of Death metal?
I think it's a waste of a lot of talented musicians.

35. Last BIG band that you saw live?
This was years ago but it was Ben Harper with Jack Johnson as the opener. It was the best show I've ever seen and I really don't listen to either of these guys anymore.

36. Are you a groupie?
No, but I'm accepting applications for my own set.

37. Do you listen to music in foreign languages?
Some. I like Maxime Le Forestier(French), Edith Piaf(French), and Tom Ze(Brazilian).

38. What famous musician would you like to f***!?
Brandi Carlile or maybe Mary Lou Lord. This was a vulgar question that made me surprisingly uncomfortable.

39. Worst concert moment?
Don't have one really.

40. Funny concert moment?
Ted Leo's philosophical treatment of "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round" or the of Montreal wedding dress fiasco.

41. Sad concert moment?
Again, how could there be one?

42. Best local act you can think of?
silent film star and yours truly.

43. If you were a musical instrument what would you be?
I'd be a voilin.

44. Do you listen to the radio?
Not really. If I have to 104.1 is classical.

45. Do you watch music TV?
No.

46. Do you follow the music charts, like the top 40?
No.

47. Have you ever met any famous musicians?
Nope. I don't think so at least.

48. Are any of your friends/family/etc. musicians?
Just me.

49. Song that best describes your feelings right now?
The Ballad Of El Goodo

50. Song that describes your life?
It Ain't Over Til It's Over haha.

51. Do you know the names of all the band members that you listen to?
Usually.

52. Does a musician's physical attractiveness play a role in the music that you listen to?
No.

53. What famous musician do you want to marry?
Brandi Carlile, though I think she's a lesbian.

53. Favourite movie sound track?
Definately Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

55. Any musician pet peeves?
I hate when musicians show no growth or invention from album to album and I also hate when artists release albums that are completely political, ie. American Idiot.

56. What do your parents listen to?
Really not much at all. Its a wonder that I like music as much as I do.

57. What are you listening to right NOW?
nighttime just ended and Cherry Lane just started.

58. Do you wear band T-shirts?
I have this really great Elliott Smith t-shirt and thats it.

59. What do you think of people who do?
Depends on the band doesn't it?

60. What music sub-culture do you feel like you belong to?
Indie/Folk

61. What song is stuck in your head right now?
Oceanographer, it has this really great hook: 'I miss waking up next to you/there's nothing I'd rather do'.

62. Do you sing in the shower?
All the time, in fact it makes my showers long.

63. If so, what? If not, why not?
I usually sing stuff that I make up while I'm in there, think is awesome and forget by the time I've dried off.

64. Would you rather marry a musician or be one yourself?
Both.

65. How important is your partners taste in music to you?
Yea. In fact, if I don't think somebody has good taste in music I probably won't even want to have a conversation with them. What music people listen to is starting to matter more and more every day.




Well. That was fun. I got good at doign the markup tags. They are a bitch.

1) Neil Young
2) Paul Simon
3) Dave Matthews
4) Jon Birgisson of Sigur Ros
5) Ben Folds
6) Warren Hayes of Gov't Mule
7) Maynard James Keenan of Tool and A Perfect Circle
8) Andrew Bird of Squirrell Nut Zippers and as a solo artist
9) Trey Anastasio of Phish
10) Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Shiiiiiit.

I'd totally forgotten how great Counting Crows are! Which is good because sometimes there's nothing better then rediscovering how much you love certain songs, but bad because omg! how could you have forgotten how much you loved those songs?!

Annoyingly (and again with the contradictions - wonderfully) they're songs where I'd like to do nothing more than post the entire lyrics because to cut out little bits really messes with the overall flow and picture of the story (song).

Urk. Oh man, this song depresses me - but it's so, so... adorably, beautifully, lovely, in the motherfucker that hurts! way (not least because Adam Duritz' voice = gah). Focused on the percussion, with guitar and piano backing up, until it starts to crescendo at around three minutes. Oh, and fucking alliteration, people! these seconds when i'm shaking leave me shuddering for days omg.


Best. Summer. Song. Ever. Even better than Santana's (feat Rob Thomas) 'Smooth' (and I fucking love that song, so that's saying something). Bouncy, pop-rocky, really guitary (unlike 'Anna Begins') - it's just so fun. Also, namechecking Bob Dylan automatically gives them +96952 cool points.

I have such a fondness for these songs because they're some of the first I really fell in love with when I started to seriously get in to and "understand" music around the tail-end of fifteen. 'Mr Jones' was introduced to by one of my best mates during a lunchbreak sometime that May, when we'd spend the time sitting under the few trees on the edge of the "football" pitch (and it's why this song always leaves me craving chips with cheap tomato sauce, and Pepsi). We got broadband installed 'round that time, which led Kazaa (so, so evil) and subsequently, a bit of musical investigation. I didn't like 'Anna Begins' in the beginning at first; it doesn't rhyme for one; and secondly, I've always been first and foremost a guitar kinda gal, so the lack thereof didn't endear it to me. But... fuck man, the lyrics are awesome, so many of the CC's lyrics are - they're very evocative, and interesting, and they tell little stories and include conversations; I can't talk about how much I love conversation in songs.

Sigh-eth. I can't listen to one without the other, and I find listening to 'Anna' and then 'Mr Jones' in a continuous loop fucks quite amusingly with my emotions.

Random aside: I'm still diggin the Savage Garden-ness, too.

1. What are you listening to right now?
Omaha - Counting Crows

2. What song makes you sad?
I'm Trying to Break your Heart - Wilco

3. What is the most annoying song in the world?
There are so many ugh, most of them i try not to listen to, but anything by dashboard confessional or other emo bands.

4. Your all time favorite band?
I love so so so so many haha but right now i really like Amos lee and Nick Drake and Bob Dylan and Neil Young haha see, i could go on for days

5. Your newly discovered band is?
Amos Lee

6. Best female voice?
Alicia Keys or something, i used to love her

7. Best male voice?
Adam Duritz or the guy from The Cure

8. Music type you find yourself listening to most?
usually shoegaze and acoustic and classic folk, i love so much.

9. What do you listen to, to hype you up?
trance stuff, club music but not 50 cent hahaha

10. What do you listen to, to calm down?
nick drake, coldplay, the cure, root city, G. love and special sauce.

11. Last gig/concert you went to?
Atmosphere

12. Band you find yourself listening to the most right now?
Bob Dylan

13. Most hated band?
Too Many but right now i think im going to say Fall Out Boy

14. Song that makes you think?
If you see her, say hello -Bob Dylan

15. Band that you think the world should love as much as you do?
Everything i listen to, its mostly the feeling i get when i listen to stuff that i want to share

16. Coolest music video?
I dont know haha i dont watch music videos

17. Music video with the most babe watch?
haha again, i dont know

18. What "do you play/would you play" in the bedroom to spice things up?
Lay your love down - root city

19. Can you play a musical instrument?
drums

20. Ever been in a mosh pit?
no

21. Are you in a band?
nope

22. If yes, what kind of music does your band play and what is your role in it?
N/A

23. Ever dated a musician?
yes

24. If yes, what kind of music did he/she/they play/instrument/band?
rockish bluesy, all kinds

27. If no, would you consider?
i love musicians

28. Do you wish yourself that you were a musician?
yes, i think i am

29. Best chick band you know of?
spice girls

30. Best guy band you know of?
counting crows, coldplay, the cure, wilco

31. Last song that you heard on the radio/cd...etc...?
dont listen to the radio much.

32. What do you think of Classical music?
love it. keith jarrett is my hero.

33. What do you think of Country music?
Only Johnny Cash and the Allman Brothers but nothing beyond.

34. What do you think of Death metal?
not my thing, but to each to their own.

35. Last BIG band that you saw live?
atmosphere

36. Are you a groupie?
no

37. Do you listen to music in foreign languages?
some.

38. What famous musician would you like to fuck!?
well johnny depp even though hes not a musician he is my fucking obsession. and then there is the guy from wilco haha brandon boyd bob dylan when he was younger andddd yeah.

39. Worst concert moment?
not really any

40. Funny Concert moment?
haha i was drunk so i dont remember

41. Sad Concert moment?
None really.

42. Best local act you can think of?
root city or the bad plus

43. If you were a musical instrument what would you be?
acoustic guitar even though i play drums.

44. Do you listen to the radio?
the current but nothing else

45. Do you watch music TV?
no i dont watch tv

46. Do you follow the music charts, like the top 40?
no hahaha

47. Have you meet any famous musicians?
i met whoopie goldberg..

48. Are any of your friends/family etc musicians?
we all play music but none of them are in a band

49. Song that best describes your feelings right now?
shoot the moon - Norah Jones

50. Song that describes your life?
too many ups and downs but one that comes close is tangled up in blue - bob dylan

51. Do you know the names of all the band members that you listen to?
Nope.

52. Does a musician’s physical attractiveness play a role in the music that you listen to?
not at all. hahah i like frank zappa..

53. What famous musician do you want to marry?
again, johnny depp even though hes not a musician

53. Favourite movie sound track?
almost famous soundtrack and forrest gump

55. Any musician pet hates?
i hate when artists groan or something hhahahha except keith jarrett, hes allowed to

56. What do your parents listen to?
folk, classic rock classical everything. world music. their great

57. What are you listening to right NOW?
Do What You Like - Blind Faith

58. Do you wear band etc T-shirts?
sometimes.

59. What do you think of people who do?
doesnt matter..

60. What music sub-culture do you feel like you belong to?
i dont know, the hippie one? haha

61. What song is stuck in your head right now?
the one im listening to, see above

62. Do you sing in the shower?
of course

63. If so, what? If not, why not?
i do.

64. Would you rather marry a musician or be one yourself?
both

65. What is in your walkman/discman right now?
ugh i dont have an ipod. the bad plus give

66. How important is your partners taste in music to you?
a lot thats important

67. Hanson moves in next door to you, do you go introduce yourself, or do you arrange to beat them up?
i would serenade them with mmbop

68. Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll, you dig?
meh

69. Do you cook to music?
yeah

70. Do you sing in the toilet?
yes definitely

Keith Jarrett