Live Review: Counting Crows, O2 Dublin, 8 May 2009

Ireland loves the Counting Crows. We have for years. And I'm one of those people who loves them, even still, even after last year's disappointing record. However, their live show is never disappointing, and last Friday at the O2 in Dublin was no different.

The band had played The Point before, as well as numerous other Irish venues, I remember them a few years back at Slane and at the Olympia. Great shows. Like this one. They've been here many many times, and this is even reflected in their tune 'Washington Square' which was the first song after the encore. It's one of the better tunes from the album, and I had a feeling beforehand that they'd play it.

They opened the show itself with a fan request of 'Sullivan Street', the first time Adam says he ever took a fan request. And I must thank that fan, because it was an excellent start. They then went on to play 'Cowboys', a new song that sounds a bit Recovering the Satellitesy, which is a good thing.

This led perfectly into a run of RTS songs: 'Ghost Train, 'Have You Seen Me Lately?' and sing along classic 'Another Horsedreamer's Blues'. 'HYSML?' is my favourite Counting Crows song, and I definitely wasn't disappointed with this version.

Hard Candy cuts 'Miami', 'Black and Blue', and 'High Life' all sounded decent, especially 'Miami' where Adam introduced it was a nice little story about seeing his lover leave at the airport. Adam was wired throughout and we all thought that he'd end up falling after bumping into the mic stand a few times. He did actually slip on a guitar cable and although it was painful to watch, he got up unharmed.

As I said, this was the first night he ever took a request, but unfortunately he didn't hear my request not to play 'Le Ballet d'Or', a horrendous song from Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings and the worst track they've ever recorded. This was the only low point of the night. It'd be wrong to complain about no 'Mr Jones', because we were given so much else including a nice treat to the Fairport Convention's 'Meet on the Ledge'.

'A Long December' was another highlight, and strangely 'Holiday in Spain' closed the show. This worked better than expected, and is a great tune live. Much better than on the album.

All in all, a wonderful return to Dublin from a band who promised they'll be back soon. I can't wait for the next time...

'Have You Seen Me Lately?' recorded at the O2 by Valerie.

Setlist: Counting Crows, O2 Dublin, 8 May 2009

Expect a review of this gig later today when I get a chance to put it up.

Setlist:
Sullivan Street
Cowboys
Ghost Train
Have You Seen Me Lately?
Another Horsedreamer's Blues
Miami
Black and Blue
High Life
Le Ballet d'Or
Recovering the Satellites
Hard Candy
A Long December
Come Around
---
Washington Square
Meet on the Ledge (Fairport Convention cover)
Holiday in Spain

Setlist: Counting Crows, Odyssey Arena, Belfast, 7 May 2009

In the wrong order, but this is all I have so far. Anyone care to send me the full setlist? I'll be taking down my own at tonight's show at the O2 in Dublin. There's still tickets available, so I suggest you snap them up. The Hold Steady are supporting, so it should be a great gig.

Round Here
Mr Jones
Murder of One
Ghost Train
Catapult
Angel of the Silences
Have you seen me lately?
Long December
Hangin' Around
Miami
Good time
Sundays
Washington Square
You Can't Count on Me
Friend of the Devil

Live: Counting Crows O2 Support announced

Press Release:

Following their critically acclaimed set at this year's Oxegen Festival and their blistering SOLD OUT performance at the intimate Ambassador Theatre, the Counting Crows will return to Ireland for two live concert dates in December.

MCD is proud to present Counting Crows at The O2, Dublin on Saturday 20 December and Odyssey Arena, Belfast on Sunday 21 December, 2008. Featuring very special guests The Hold Steady and Melee, this is the line-up of 2008 and these promise to be unforgettable shows.

Tickets for Dublin and Belfast will go on general sale on Friday 15 August at 9.00am from Ticketmaster and usual outlets nationwide. A pre-sale open only to members of the Counting Crows Fan Club will run from 9.00am, 13 August until 6.00pm, 14 August.

Me blabbering:

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes. We can never get enough Hold Steady over here. But supporting Counting Crows? Should it not be the other way around? There's just not enough justice in the world. That's right Lemar, that's right.

Hold Steady are set to tour with Drive-By Truckers in the US. If only they came here, it would probably be the best gig ever.

Speaking of the Drive-By Truckers, you can a watch a video from their European Tour (no Ireland alas) here:
http://www.stv.no/content/webitem/330/video/2/

Live: Counting Crows at the O2

It was rumoured that it would happen, but now we finally have a date. Well those of us with other halves do, some of you singletons on the other hand, don't. Okay, okay I'm rubbing it in a bit to much. Singleton! Ah I'm just happy cause love is in the air!

Credit to Jim at Off the Record for announcing this (well actually it was one of his readers, TS Ed). Counting Crows will play the O2 Point Depot (it insists upon itself to be called that) on Saturday 20th of December. O2 Priority pre-sale tickets go on sale next Wednesday.

I can't remember whether I've mentioned this yet, I know I've said it in real life to a few people. But you know the way the Luas Red Line is being extended to the Point? What the hell is it going to be called now? The O2 Red Line? Sure now they can't use the snappy advertising: "Straight to the Point". It would have sold itself!

Download: Live Counting Crows

Counting Crows have announced the launch of their new download site, LiveCountingCrows.com where you can download every show they play from 28th of July onwards. Unfortunately that's too late for either the Ambassador or Oxegen performances from this year, but when they play the O2 Point in December, it'll be on there.

The downloads cost $9.95 for 128kbps mp3, seriously guys, make it 320kbps or V2 or V0 or something, better quality is needed. But I suppose that's why they want you to spend 3 dollars more to buy the FLAC. You can also get the CD (not sure if Irish shipping is available) for a robbery of $21.

But the reason I'm highlighting this is because the first ten thousand members of the site (that hasn't been reached yet) can download the 28th of July 2008 at the Verizon Amphitheater in Charlotte, NC. Get it soon, because 10,000 isn't all that much for a US-based site.

http://www.livecountingcrows.com/default.aspx

And from me, here's a live recording of 'Rain King' with a 'Thunder Road' interpolation from a few years back:
Counting Crows - Rain King (Live)

Setlist: Counting Crows, Oxegen, 12 July 2008

Counting Crows made their Oxegen debut on the Main Stage yesterday, and the sun even came out for a while.

Haven't gotten a full setlist yet, if you have one, please email me at swearimnotpaul@gmail.com

Adam finished up by saying: "Thank you so much for all these years. It is such a fucking great place to come. See you at Dublin Point at Christmas."

Thanks to Rich for the partial setlist.

Mr. Jones
-
1492
Round Here
-
Cowboys
-
Hard Candy
Holiday in Spain

('Perfect Blue Buildings' was one of those gaps)

Watch a video of 'Perfect Blue Buildings' live at Oxegen:

Setlist: Counting Crows, Ambassador Theatre, 10 July 2008

The 'Children in Bloom' returned to Dublin last night with an extra-special intimate performance at the Ambassador Theatre. There were a few sound issues to begin with, but then the band really hit their stride with excellent versions of 'Cowboys' (its Irish debut), 'Children in Bloom', and a 'Round Here' up there with the Across A Wire version.

A signed setlist is being auctioned for the Greylist Foundation, you can bid on it here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Counting-Crows-Signed-Tour-Setlist,-Dublin-Ireland_W0QQitemZ320271641429QQcmdZViewItem?IMSfp=TL0807081589r28414

When I Dream of Michaelangelo
Up All Night
Hanging Tree
Mr Jones
Black and Blue
Cowboys
Good Time
High Life
Catapult
Sundays
Insignificant
Colourblind
Washington Square
Children in Bloom
Round Here
Goodnight LA
Come Around
Big Yellow Taxi
A Long December
Hangin' Around
----
On a Tuesday in Amsterdam Long Ago
Hard Candy
Holiday in Spain

Here's a mildly amusing Counting Crows live video: