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Crows fly to festival code

Counting Crows played the Perth Concert Hall on Tuesday night.

CONCERT

Counting Crows

Perth Concert Hall

Tuesday, April 7

Review: Harvey Rae

3.5

he Byron Bay Bluesfest last weekend featured several acts that didn’t make the West Coast instalment. Missing out on headliners, including Alabama Shakes and Ben Harper, was a tough pill to swallow for Perth audiences.

Fortunately, one or two made it over — none bigger than Berkeley, California mainstays Counting Crows, who fit the Bluesfest code of being a great live act.

A near-10-minute rendition of Round Here from 1993 debut August and Everything After kicked off proceedings, the audience captivated by a massive light show and confident seven-piece band, including grand piano and pedal steel.

Three tracks later came hit single Mr Jones, from the same album, which had the concert hall in raptures as singer Adam Duritz changed the lyrics to “We all want to be big, big stars ... then we get second thoughts about that”.

While the crowd was confused about whether to dance or respect those seated behind them, Counting Crows’ serving up their two biggest hits in the opening half-hour made an electric start.

Duritz and co. didn’t take the foot off the pedal. Popular ballad Goodnight Elisabeth merged with Velvet Underground’s Pale Blue Eyes for another 10-minute epic, and Omaha found the crowd in good voice.

If the show’s first hour won the audience over, the second was an indulgent victory lap featuring plenty of new material. Latest album Somewhere Under Wonderland is among their best but its tracks haven’t been developed live.

It wasn’t until the encore, featuring a show-stopping Rain King and closer Holiday in Spain that the show truly got back on track, which along with Duritz’ promise they’d return, left fans on a high note.


CONCERT

Counting Crows

Perth Concert Hall

Tuesday, April 7

REVIEWHARVEY RAE