Counting Crows / O2 Apollo / Manchester

Oct 14

Oct 14 Counting Crows / O2 Apollo / Manchester

So here we are in Manchester, and a first trip to the O2 Apollo to see Counting Crows. The venue is an impressive structure with a wonderful art deco façade, and a little like a Tardis, it’s size not so apparent from the main road. On entering the main hall, it is a magnificent old theatre. The seating has been removed and a huge floorspace slopes down towards the ornate stage, with a giant balcony overhead. The stage is large and very deep, and I was so glad I’d brought a longer 70-200 lens with me as the musicians stand some way back from the front. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly and it was a thoroughly enjoyable first trip. The highlight for me, was I was the only photographer here, which was very surprising considering the band on tonight, but I wasn’t going to complain. I almost felt like having a lie down in the pit to make the most of the experience as I’m more used to elbow battling with 13/14 others ! But, their loss is my reward…. And what a show to miss – Ha !

First up in support we had David Keenan. I have to admit to not having heard of him before, so this was going to be a nice surprise. The place was filling up already. What I really loved was that as the house lights dropped, out onto the stage stepped Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz, who introduced David as the opening act. Classy…. You really don’t see that enough, and is a wonderful sign of respect from one artist to another – take a bow Counting Crows !

David, an Irish singer, songwriter, artist and poet from Dundalk stepped out onto the huge stage alone. Following spells in London and Paris, David returned to Ireland and set about writing his second album "What Then?" with American musician / producer Jonathan Mooney. Released in October of 2021 to critical acclaim. David has a wide range of influences including writers, poets, painters as well as musicians, citing the likes of Brendan Behan, Robert Tressell, Merce Rodoreda, Arthur Rimbaud, Ema Berta, Jack B. Yeats, Hieronymous Bosch, Nick Cave, Billie Holiday, The La's and The Dubliners.

A solitary figure on such a huge stage, this would be my worst kind of nightmare, but I have to say David is an exceptional performer. As soon as he started to sing, you couldn’t help but be impressed not just with his lyrical ability, but the beauty of his voice. The crowd continued to grow through the set, and the loud hubbub noticeably dropped as everyone zoned in on the performer on stage.

Delivering a set based on Irish folk music, but demonstrating a wide variety of influences David held the attention of everyone in the room. Ending the set on a piece of poetry, the room fell into silence…. As we hung on every word.

As a support, a short set, which was such a shame. I would love to have heard s much more, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled for another show for another day. Highlights for me were the amazing The Friary and in particular Waiting Room. A stunning performance, and I can see why Adam was so keen to personally introduce him.

With a new album entitled “Crude” out on 11th of November, this is one I’ll be checking out and downloading - make sure to order it here.

Set List

I will love you like you deserve to be loved

An Irish Song

Raving towards Byzantium

The Friary

Ears are Prickd

Waiting room

Magpie

For more information about David check out his website here

The main hall was now packed, and the balcony was open (great to see post Covid) and pretty much full. With a stated capacity of 3,500 I’d have thought there were over 3,000 here tonight. After a short break to sound check the equipment, Counting Crows came out to rousing applause from their faithful fans. The show was to promote their latest 2021 album “Butter Miracle Suite One” and the 21 (!!!) song set was a nice mix of their classic tracks with the best from the new album thrown in as well.

The set started with Speedway (from 1999’s “This Desert Life”) a wonderful and delicate start to the night. I loved thisa as an opener. So many times bands come out hitting hard with something fast & noisy t get the blood pumping, to amp everyone up, but this is a deep passionate song about someone carrying a heavy emotional burden and no one else understands. The vocal performance is exceptional as Adam delivers the lines “Sometimes I sit here looking down upon Los Angeles, Sometimes I’m floating away. I’m thinking about breaking myself, I’m thinking about getting back home.” It’s so different, and I guess brave, but incredible, it held the crowd in their hands in silence.

The mood is immediately lifted as we dive headline into 2008’s excellent “Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings” for Come Around which is an excellent showcase for the guitar skills of David Bryson, Dan Vickrey and David Immergluck. The crowd are really into it now, as the first un-mistakable tones of Mr Jones ring out “Sha la la la la la la”…… from 2003’s “Films About Ghosts”. This is one of those all time classics. Back in the day I wasn’t a CC fan, but you couldn’t resist tapping along to this one. The crowd are singing along to the chorus with gusto “Mr Jones and me, Tell each other fairy tales. And we stare at the beautiful women, she’s looking at you. Ah, no, no she’s looking at me, smilin’ in the bright lights.

It's incredible, and the connection between the band and the audience is so clear to see.

What strikes me as I watch, is that they are a rock band almost like no other. There is a variety to their sound, and from this performance, it’s hard to put them into any one category. And I guess that’s it really, they’re a band doing things on their own terms, doing what they love, because they love it, and that comes over in the genuine closeness to their audience. Perhaps best demonstrated by Butterfly in Reverse from 2002’s “Hard Candy” which is so laid back, at times sounding like something from an orchestral stage show, and then at times like a group of friends just chillin’ and jammin’ together - Relaxed, and delightful

Mid way through the set, we get a great version of the Teenage Fanclub hit Start Again (from their 1997 album “Songs from Northern Britain”) before we get some material from the new album “Butter Miracle Suite One” in The Tall Grass, Elevator Boots, Angel of 14th Street and Bobby and the Rat‐Kings. For me the pick of the bunch were the country influenced slow mellow Elevantor Boots and Bobby and the Rat-Kings which has a loud powerful guitar riff intro.

The main set ends with a fantastic performance of A Long December the only track tonight form their 1996 debut album “Recovering the Satellites” so recognisable from it’s piano introduction courtesy of Charlie Gillingham. As the set started with a slow one in Speedway so it ends on a thoughtful tone here as well, a song about a difficult year and looking towards a new, hopefully brighter one “A long December and there’s reason to believe, maybe this year will be better than the last. I can’t remember the last thing that you said as you were leaving, now the days go by so fast…..”

The crowd are shouting and clapping, and it’s not long before the guys are back for a three song encore, starting with Omaha (2007’s August and Everything After) before we head back to 1999 for Hanginaround (“This Desert Life”). Every Counting Crows show has a different set list, but often they end on Holiday In Spain (2002’s Hard Candy) which Duritz has called “our anthem to you”. The crowd are loving it, and so they should.

As I mentioned before, I’ve not particularly listened to Counting Crows over the years, but I have to say, live…. They are one incredible band. The venue is vast, but somehow Adam and the guys seem to have an ability to make everyone in that auditorium feel like they are performing just for them. They have a sense of togetherness and their enjoyment for what they do shines through.

With great support from David Keenan, this was a night that will live long in the memory, and inevitably, I’m singing along to Mr Jones (of course !) as I wind my way back to the hotel……

Set List

Speedway (1999 This Desert Life)

Come Around (2008 Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings)

Mr. Jones (2003 Films About Ghosts)

Colorblind (1999 This Desert Life)

Butterfly in Reverse (2002 Hard Candy)

I Wish I Was a Girl (1999 This Desert Life)

Round Here (2003 Films About Ghosts)

1492 (2008 Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings)

Washington Square (2008 Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings)

Start Again (Teenage Fanclub cover)

When I Dream of Michelangelo (2008 Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings)