Review: Maroon 5, Counting Crows

Maroon 5, one of the most commercially successful bands of this millennium, create perfect pop music.  However, before more than 7,000 fans at Starlight Theater on Friday, the band demonstrated that its frothy concoctions don't translate well to the concert stage.

No amount of flashing lights, laser beams or bouncing beach balls could disguise the unfortunate fact that Maroon 5 is not a good live act.

Unlike tour mates Counting Crows and Augustana, Maroon 5 rarely attempted to explore new dimensions of their repertoire. Instead, they tried to faithfully replicate the songs on their two studio albums. From set opener "This Love" to final song "Sweetest Goodbye," their performance failed to equal the shimmering gloss of their recorded work.

The band falters worst on rock-oriented material like "Kiwi" and "Shiver." Maroon 5's strength is breezy R&B. They embraced their inner Lionel Richie on "Sunday Morning." Other highlights of their 80-minute appearance included the Prince-ly funk of "If I Never See Your Face Again" and the Michael Jackson-style groove of "Makes Me Wonder." Vocalist and songwriter Adam Levine's unusually high voice and spontaneous squeals are reminiscent of the gloved superstar. His dancing, alas, is not.

Counting Crows are like a reverse mirror image of Maroon 5. Their unfashionable roots rock is shunned by the same radio and music television programmers who embrace Maroon 5. But what a live act!

The band never completely recaptured the astonished buzz generated by their 1993 debut August and Everything After, but Counting Crows made a case Friday evening for being as relevant as ever.

They began with a joyous interpretation of Van Morrison's "Caravan." As they would be throughout their 85-minute set, the rock veterans were assisted by members of opening act Augustana.

Duritz characterized himself as a "well-intentioned sh*thead" in his introduction to a haunting version of "Washington Square." He's a painfully awkward front man. Between his clumsy jumps and confessional stage patter, Duritz could be confused for a deeply troubled little brother of Bruce Springsteen.

His band leaned heavily on songs from the new release "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings."

"It's an album about falling apart and trying to recover," Duritz said. "Which is something I've done more than once in my life."

Exuberant versions of hits like "Hanginaround," "A Long December" and "Mr. Jones" were satisfying, but the improvised feel of songs including "Anna Begins" were particularly compelling.

Duritz called Augustana "one of the best young bands in America today." It's no wonder he likes them- Augustana resembles a younger, more optimistic version of Counting Crows. The appealing California-based folk-rock band proved that their big hit "Boston" is no fluke.

|Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[Jeff]

So I guess nobody made it out to Lawrence to cover the Dandy Warhols show, eh?

I understand they do not have the same name recognition, or glitz and glamour of the acts in Starlight last night, but I would go out on a limb and assume the DW put out a much more focused, satisfying (albeit smaller) stage production, and the concert contained much more listenable music as well.

But I understand - you can't be in two places at once.

[robert moore]

No mention of KC band Softee playing the pre-party?

[Tim Finn]

Actually, I'd planned to catch the early Jim Gaffigan show then dash to Lawrence and see the Dandys. And I would have made it except for a skull-crushing sinus infection that sent me home. How was it?

[TK]

Sadder is that was almost twice as many people that were at the Plant/Krauss show...

[Jeff]

Sorry to hear about your sinus problem, Tim.

This was my first show at Liberty Hall. Liberty Hall seems like a smaller version of the Uptown Theatre. The place was about 75% full. We were able to score seats balcony, front row, center. I think we had the best seats in the house, so of course we were stoked the whole night. The second of the two opening acts was so good, that at first we thought they were DW when they first started playing. DW finally took the stage at just after 10 PM, and played a surprising 2 hours, 15 minutes. I thought the crowd at first was very quiet and tame. But things livened up considerably as the show hit its stride, at about the 90 minute mark. At that time, DW started taking request yelled from the crowd, so of course the audience participation was in full force. DW did not do any encores, but they did backload most of the fan favorites towards the end. Not alot of wankering going on, just churned out one after another of what seemed to be a very well-though out setlist. Most of the material seemed to be culled from their first few albums, with 3-4 tunes from the new CD.

We thought the sound quality at LH was absolutely superb and high quality, supassing even most of the shows I have heard at the Uptown. Is this usually the case?

Some of the songs I DO recall that they played:

Boys Better
Minnesoter
Not if you were the last Junkie on Earth
Good Morning
Cool as Kim Deal
Godless
Horse Pills
Get Off
Bohemian Like You
All the Money or the Simple Life Honey
(about 5 others that I was not familiar with)

[mothman]

I was at the Softee pre-party in the VIP area; they were tremendous and just about a perfect kick-off to the night.

[Tim Finn]

I saw Softee at the Brick last weekend. Mucho joie de vivre. A fun live band.

Liberty Hall is one of my favorite places. I really wanted to see that show. Did they play "Love Song" from the new record. Love that tune.

[JC N KC]

"Spot on" review of the entire night..this pairing of acts has had me scratching my head ever since the tour was announced.

Maroon 5 is even more vapid in person than on the radio, and Counting Crows is just the opposite...even deeper in person than on the radio.

Adam Duritz has really traveled a long and painful road battling his personal demons and this tour is a celebration of that.

The band really seemed to be in a celebratory mood last night. With two of the regular members of the band out on "paternity leave" the band seemed to mesh well with Augustana.

I thought the Crows show at Liberty Hall back in April would be difficult to top. What the April show lacked in polish, was made up for in the initmacy of the venue.

I can't say that this show was better or worse...just different...and equally satisfying.

Hopefully the next tour they embark will pair them with a more appropriate band, or better yet, they will tour solo. It would be a treat to see them dig deeper into the catalog each night.

With the renewed energy the band is showing, it only seems to make sense.

Perhaps M5 can find a more appropriate touring mate as well..someone along the lines of Justin Timberlake or George Michael. Seems like a better demographic.

[Modoc]

Get tired of the Crows co-headlining shows.When truth be known they probably own a piece of the other bands..Just once I'd like to see them sing their hits.I want to see them ,just like every other time.I can only accept this because I am such a huge fan. Even 20 minutes of 2 of their songs would probably hold me till they appear again . Just feel fan's are taken for granted.Need longer shows and please Adam keep writing.Stay on your meds !

[M5fan]

Counting Crows was not a good pairing with Maroon 5, but thought they translated just fine to concert stage.Loved the songs and presentation and I'm glad Adam Levine is NOT like Michael Jackson- what a stupid comparison.

[christina]

What a ridiculous critique of maroon 5. First of all the light show was great as was the singing and instruments. As a matter of fact that is WHY they are so famous. Adam can dance and is more reminicent of prince than michael jackson btw. His voice is unique, has depth and is sexy as hell. I second that that is a ludacrious comparison. I also agree that counting crows was not a good touring mate. I basically sat through that part in anticipation of the reason I came to starlight and I thought the show rocked and the lyrics to their songs have meaning and I appreciate that they aren't a bubble gum pop show. I don't really care who they tour with, I won't be there to see anyone else anyway. And based on the reaction to the crows vs maroon 5 I am not the only one who shares these sentiments. Maybe it's not your thing but your review was judgemental and totally off the mark!

[Tim Finn]

I've seen Maroon 5 once: They opened for Hall & Oates at Sandstone and got completely schooled in white soul/r&b by two pros who know how to do it. Live, Adam Levine is a paltry lead singer. They're a radio band.

[Denver]

I was at the Dandy's show friday night and like the guy said earlier it was great. They played, i think 5 songs from the new album, love song was not one of them and around 15 other songs from the past 5 albums. I was particularly impressed with Courtney's attitude with the crowd yelling out songs, he was very eager to please as was Zia. they played all their "hits" and seemed sincerely enthused to be playing in lawrence, or the oasis of kansas as he described it.

[JC N KC]

From the St Louis paper...solidifies Bill's review in my opinion..

Counting Crows and Maroon 5
By Daniel Durchholz
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
09/28/2008

With two of their members away on paternity leave, Counting Crows looked to be short-handed during their co-headlining set with Maroon 5 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Saturday evening.

As members of opening act Augustana and a replacement keyboardist filled in, lead singer Adam Duritz warned that the night could turn into triumph or tragedy. “This is a traveling circus now,” he said.

But whether he was jazzed about the impromptu jam session or simply working harder to make up for the missing band members, Duritz led the Crows to their most impassioned St. Louis performance in years. The only problem was their having to vacate the stage so Maroon 5 could perform.

Opening with a spirited cover of Van Morrison’s “Caravan,” a slimmed-down Duritz energetically scissor kicked and shook his Sideshow Bob mop of hair as he traded verses with Augustana vocalist Dan Layus. Throughout the Crows’ 75-minute set, Duritz was locked in on the material, inhabiting the roiling emotions of “Round Here” and illustrating the line about “walking on a wire” by balancing precariously on the stage monitors. In “Miami,” he gestured significantly, looking like any minute his heart might burst through his rib cage. He also sang movingly, with a sense of relief and redemption, of his recent recovery from crippling depression on “Washington Square.”

Augustana rejoined the Crows for a celebratory run-through of “Hangin’ Around” as well as Simon & Garfunkel’s “Celilia” and the Crows’ own “Rain King,” which found Duritz interpolating a sizeable chunk of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends” to underline the obvious debt his band owed the openers.

In comparison to Counting Crows, Maroon 5’s closing set was slicker, more tightly scripted and better received by the audience’s younger members. But it achieved less simply because it risked next to nothing.

Versions of taut, pop-rock hits like “This Love,” “If I Never See Your Face Again” and “Harder to Breathe” and “She Will Be Loved” offered little more than faithful recreations of Maroon 5’s recordings. That wasn’t always a bad thing, though, especially on the easy, breezy singalong, “Sunday Morning.”

The band did step out occasionally, offering a snippet of Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s in Need of Love Today” – a nice pick, given singer Adam Levine’s obvious vocal similarity to Wonder – as well as Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” a completely wrong-headed choice that the band failed to pull off convincingly.

Overall, Maroon 5 often sounded like they had soul, but their show lacked heart. They'd do well to follow Counting Crows' lead and join the circus.

[TrueFan]

Sounds like the STL show was similar to the KC show... I'm a huge CC fan, but stayed to hear M5 out of curiosity. Sorry I did. Most of the people in my row were wise to leave after CC. With the shallow lyrics and the Adam L. chicken-like strut, I understand why the 20-something chick in front of me was so into it.

CC, on the other hand, aptly delivered the depth of the music that was so lacking in M5. Glad they included "Anna Begins" in the set list, but missed my other faves such as "Hard Candy", "Perfect Blue Buildings" and "Holiday in Spain". Maybe this tour will give them the momentum they need to keep from sharing the stage with an 80s-wanna-be-band (e.g. lasers, synthesizers). I seriously thought I was back in 1984. Adam D., we're all rooting for you...

[M5blah]

Your review of M5 was totally on! I saw this pairing twice this tour and kept thinking about M5...didn't they play this song already? It all sounded the same to me.
Counting Crows are true musicians who have and will stand the test of time; Maroon 5 will end up just falling off the radar.