A Tale of Two Adams

We're back from vacation! It was a most excellent time, full of all the things I love - boat and beach action, good food, bargain shopping, "Dark Knight" at the drive-in, mountain storms and music.

Thanks to a former work associate and (still) good pal of Terry's, we scored primo seats to the Counting Crows/Maroon 5 show at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, a great "shed" venue in upstate New York. I didn't have a photo pass, but the seats were close enough that, using Post-College Girl's new tiny digital camera, I still got a few shots.
Sara Bareilles opened the show with a short, sweet set after a gracious introduction by the Crows' Adam Duritz. Her catchy hit, "Love Song," got the biggest reaction, of course, but her other material made for a nice, low-key start to the night, and she included a throaty cover of the Beatles, "Oh, Darlin'" as well.
I'd heard that this CC/M5 show was a co-headline deal, so we weren't sure who would be up next. Turned out to be Maroon 5, whom I have seen before and knew would wear thin quickly. As catchy as the band's songs are, I have little patience for Adam Levine's posturings. The show was a study in rock star poses, laser lights and loud guitar solos, which the crowd lapped up, but I went wandering toward the end of the set, tired as I was of Levine's "Ain't I Great?" 'tude.

In contrast, Counting Crows let the music create the magic, with Duritz in compelling, compelled rare form. He started the show with a stunning version of "Round Here," a song I hear they rarely play anymore, and his impassioned vocals bordered on a breakdown - and I mean that in a good way. This guy doesn't hold back and, unlike the Adam onstage just before, the honesty of his delivery is almost painful and fully cathartic.

After about a half dozen songs, when the band tore into "Rain King," the hardcore fans in the show (like my older daughter) hit upon the realization that the band was performing its brilliant debut album, "August and Everything After" in order and in its entirety. Duritz made mention of Isaac Haye's recent death and said that he wanted to do a special show as a big fan of the soul legend. And such it was.

Though Duritz is, clearly, the driving force behind the songs, and a riveting frontman in his Sideshow Bob dreadlocks, you never lose sight (sound) of the fact that the band is there to cushion, support and sometimes hang on for dear life as they follow him on his emotional wanderings. It makes for a riveting show.