I'm a pro. I didn't charge my iPad last night. It was a long trip back from Atlanta, punctuated by many many gas station breaks. I like to shop pit stop gas stations. When I finally got home I fed the cat and fell asleep on my 20 year old leather couch.
Adam durst just introduced the opening band mean creek... Look them up and tell me what you think of them. So far, quite nice. A female bassist is always a selling point irregardless of the music.
They are into their 2nd song. I like them. They have a late 80s musical feel.
I'm sitting with Paul chapman of Pump up the volume. He's the musical encyclopedia.
And full disclosure...I like music and that is the extent of my expertise. I hope you enjoy this.
A very special thanks to Kendall R. Barsin, Director of Marketing at the Florida Theatre. She's been super accommodating.
As always, please forgive the broken words and messed up sentences...
She's playing the guitar not ze bass. The theatre is packed. This is a sold out show.
A special " go red sox" comes from the lead singer. Mean Creek thanks the crowd and very warmly thanks counting crows for bringing them on the tour.
From Paul:
The sound of mean creak is...
Replacements meets gin blossoms meets mark mulcahy meets lemon heads ...early nineties aggropop
"this song is about the promises we make growing up. The promises we make to ourselves and to our friends...and to not lose sight of that. "
I have a terrible time understanding lyrics...this is why I wish I liked country more. If more concerts passed around "hymn books" or had a projection screen With the lyrics...well, that would make me happy.
Lead singer has a sore throat.
"this song is about how life can throw a lot of shit at you but you over come it...
Their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mean-Creek/55055975015
Thoughts
Mean Creek is tearing through a barnstormer of a set. The vintage 90's college radio sound is complemented perfectly by the vocalist who weaves through channeling Robert Smith and Win Butler. And the guitarist makes me imagine what it might have been like to have seen Juliana Hatfield in her prime.
Short video of the performance on the Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/MetroJacksonville
My esteemed colleague was confused...Fred Durst's long lost cousin Adam did not, in fact, intro the show, rather, Adam Duritz (lead singer of Counting Crows---killer dreads and all!)
So we have a full team covering the show. Paul is to my right typing away on his iPhone. Im on my iPad. Phil C. Our photographer is close to the stage taking photos. You know, bands like Jacksonville. We are a very supportive crowd.
This song, called You were Wrong, is a psalm to people who tried to discourage you from your pursuing your vision.
This is the song we just heard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XPiMkb_1tw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Pumeduppaul...I still can't get over how much Adam looks like Side show bob from the Simpsons
Wow...there last song was AmAZing!
We're in intermission
So we had a little bit of drama. Our seat neighbors complained about the glaring bright iPad while I went to use the restroom. Security, kindly asked that we use it not as much. Kendall was again, super accommodating. She moved us away from our frustrated neighbors into seats that are well, closer to the stage.
Counting crows are about to enter. The song "lean on me" fills the room as the they take the stage. Good way to get us excited. Crowd...goes...crazy
Yes, pumped up Paul. It is Duritz not Durst. I did have to look up the spelling and now I'd like to take the opportunity to blame autocorrect.
First song of the night â€round here"
Short video clip on the Facebook page....
https://www.facebook.com/MetroJacksonville
Im pretty sure we lost pumpeduppaul to the counting crows performance.
Adam is an awesome performer.
Most of the crowd is standing up. Some clapping. Lots of head bobbing. First song round here has just finished
from pumped up Paul :
Duritz, commands the stage. Subtle hand motions, great hair, and a preternatural ability to make up lyrics on the fly morphing much loved standards like 'Round Here into intimately epic recreations highlight natural born performer persona.
Interestingly, we are familiar with photographers and videographers crowding the stage. Audiences are not familiar with some guy typing on a large screen. They think"how is that guy just going to type on his iPad the whole time..." that will Change. Soon live dialoguing will be so familiar wedding planners will be like "oh, who do you want to hire to live blog the wedding?" hmmm, that's a good idea. New business idea.
The crowd is simmering down as they play their less popular songs. Adam, puts his hands on his face to express deep emotion. I can't stop looking at the mans dreadlocks.
Adam and the lead guitar walk towards each other during a musical moment that requires an interpersonal stage connection. Crowd hollers as the guitar solo fades into Adam singing.
The set list so far, per pumped up Paul:
Round here 10 minute version
Untitled ( love song)
High life
This desert life ( outro of crimson and clover)
Hospital
Time and time
I wish I was a girl
I wish I could capture the dancing in the crowd.
Color blind begins, "The one evanescence ripped off completely" per pumped up Paul.
The last two songs
Start Again
Recovering the satellites
And the one that is on now...
Hard candy
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MYvVPP652hQ
Stage goes black. Spotlights on. the song "hanging tree" begins.
Sound systems seems to be progressing towards the same sound as the speakers in my now extinct 1990 Toyota corolla. Lots of trebble and warpped bass...Pumped up paul disagrees.
Stage goes black. Hanging tree ends.
is it wrong of me to want to hear " accidentally in love"?
They just finished playing mr. Jones. Video clip on www.Facebook.com/metrojacksonville
Taking a small break. Merch table t-shirts cost 30 to 35 dollars.
Shows over. Last song of the night was rain king. The question will they come back on stage? Crowd. Is. Loud. There has been three solid minutes of cheering and clapping....and it worked. They are back on stage.
The encore song is Omaha.
Good night everyone. Let's assume this is the last song of the night. Signing off with 5 % battery life left and a missing bag.
Adam says that though this is their first time playing a show in Jacksonville they stop here every year. Jacksonville is their oasis while on tour. This is where they come to take a break and meditate. They love this place. They have an awesome friend that opens their house to them and allows them to just sit around and be together as a band. He says thank you to the audience.
Last song, I think..."take a holiday in Spain..."
seems like that might be a true statement...there was an Adam sighting at Pinecrest Deli a few years ago.
as forf the show, it was pretty good....but for me, the one in St. Auustine in 2009 was better...it was basically a 3.5 hour non-stop jam session with 3 bands (Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and some other group that I can't remember).
Ah...spearhead.
Quote from: TheCat on May 01, 2012, 09:28:34 PM
Yes, pumped up Paul , duritz. I did look up The spelling. I'd like to take the opportunity to blame autocorrect.
First song of the night â€round here"
Short video clip on the Facebook page....
https://www.facebook.com/MetroJacksonville
Thanks for the clip.
The Counting Crow's performance of "Round Here" on Letterman in 1994 remains my favorite televised performance of all time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SswG-1Q3fFM
My sister has stayed with Adam in NYC for a weekend before, mainly due to the fact that her best friend's godfather is Adam, who is friends with and attended the same prep school as this girl's mother. He has Jacksonville connections, heh (he actually routinely comes down to visit, and I think he stays at this family's house). As for me, I know the family well and have never seen Adam.
Quote from: TheCat on May 01, 2012, 11:17:42 PM
Adam says that though this is their first time playing a show in Jacksonville though they stop here every year. Jacksonville is their oasis while on tour. This is where they come to take a break and meditate while on tour in the south. They love this place. They have an awesome friend that opens their house to them and allows them to just sit around and be together as a band. He says thank you to the audience.
Last song, I think..."take a holiday in Spain..."
See my post above. :)
Thanks for sharing letterman. The whole show was a lot of fun. Although, I was thankful to step into a car that was playing that particular class of music referred to as hardcore...