COUNTING CROWS / THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM LIVE AT THE HHA
Photo: Scott Legato/Getty Images
By Joe Perusse
Counting Crows with The Gaslight Anthem at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT.
The Sunday of the 4th of July weekend the Counting Crows brought their The Complete Sweets! Tour to Bridgeport. Opening act The Gaslight Anthem was surprisingly welcomed to the stage by Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz.
Playing to their Jersey roots they entered to the theme song from the Sopranos and drummer Benny Horowitz even had Edie Falco’s picture on his drum kit. “Old Haunts” led off the set followed by “Handwritten” which had the crowd clapping along. Brian Fallon (Guitar/Vocals) told a strange story about taking Duritz’s call while wearing his mothers high heels but was really excited about being the opener.
“The Weatherman”, “Dark Places” and “Honey Bee” a Tom Petty cover were next. Touring keyboardist Bryan Haring shined on “Mae”. ”Positive Change”, “Mulholland Drive” and “Chloe Dancer” a Mother Love Bone cover followed and then Fallon admitted Sally’s Pizza gives his beloved Jersey pizza a run for its money. The crowd was pleased. “Howl, and “Here’s Looking at You Kid” kept the crowd going and then everyone was up on their feet, singing and clapping along to “The ’59 Sound” and “45”. Rounding out the lineup was Alex Levine (Bass), Alex Rosamillia (Lead Guitar) and touring rhythm guitarist Ian Perkins.
The crowd got to their feet as the first note of “Spaceman in Tulsa” hit to start off the Counting Crows portion of the evening. Next up was “If I Could Give All My Love-or Richard Manuel Is Dead” and the the crowd exploded for “Mr. Jones” which featured a sparkling solo from David Immergluck ( Guitar/Banjo/Mandolin/Pedal) as everyone was singing along and helping Duritz with the chorus. Dan Vickrey (Lead Guitar) jumped on the keys for “Virginia Through the Rain”.
Afterwards Duritz welcomed the crowd and thanked everyone for coming out to the show. After a good ribbing from Duritz about always getting to sit down keyboardist Charlie Gillingham rose to his feet and took center stage on the accordion for “Omaha”. “Goodnight Elisabeth/Pale Blue Eyes” featured solos from both Vickrey and Immergluck. Saying it is the story of his life and also his favorite song off the new album Duritz seemed emotional during “With Love, From A-Z”.
Jim Bogios (Drums) and Vickrey sizzled on the intro for “Miami” and not to be outdone Immergluck played part of the song with his guitar over his head. The band slowed things down for “Colorblind” and then went acoustic for “When I Dream of Michelangelo” and “Friend of the Devil” a Grateful Dead cover. Immergluck jumped on the pedal guitar for an extended intro into “Round Here”. “Boxcars” followed and then a piano was brunt out for Duritz and Gillingham brought out the accordion again for “the 1” a Taylor Swift cover.
Immergluck grabbed the mandolin as everyone else stayed on the same instruments for “A Long December”. Closing out the main set was one of my favorite songs and not just from the Counting Crows but across all my musical tastes, “Rain King”. Leading off the 3 song encore was “Under the Aurora” which saw Millard Powers (Bass) jump onto the keys. Duritz grabbed a tambourine for “Hangingaround” and “Holiday in Spain” closed out the set followed by band introductions. David Bryson (Rhythm Guitar) fills out the line up.
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