Counting Crows' Appeal Soars With Critics and Fans Alike

Generally speaking, rock stars don’t enjoy giving interviews. Most consider them a necessary inconvenience that helps sell CDs and concert tickets.

There are exceptions, however. Case in point — Adam Duritz, lead singer, songwriter, and founder of the San Francisco Bay area-based rock band Counting Crows, which performed two sold-out shows at Atlantic City's Borgata Music Box September 7 & 8, 2007.

“I actually kind of like talking about [the band and the music],” Duritz admitted in telephone interview prior to the show. “My willingness to say the truth has gotten me in a lot of trouble, but I’m more than willing to get into it again with you today.”

Having interviewed more than a few artists who offer little more than well rehearsed responses to even the most innocuous questions, Duritz’s honesty is refreshing. For Counting Crow’s fans, it’s part of the group’s appeal. Duritz has a reputation for expressing what’s on his mind at any given moment — whether in an interview or on stage. As a result, no two Counting Crows shows are exactly the same, as lyrics and arrangements are often changed mid-song.

“I never think of the recorded version [of a song] ever,” Duritz explained. “I sing the song like I’m feeling the song, which doesn’t mean it won’t be just like the recorded version. I just think of it as ‘this song is happening right now.’ I think that’s why our concerts are emotional. We could play the same set list three nights in a row and it will be a completely different show all three nights.”

The band, which also includes Dave Bryson (guitar), Jim Bogios (drums), Charles Gillingham (keyboards), David Immergluck (guitar), Dan Vickrey (guitar), and Millard Powers (bass), completed a summer tour in 2007. Along with supporting acts Live and Collective Soul, they played in minor league baseball parks across the country. Duritz says the tour provided the opportunity to visit smaller towns that many bands overlook.

“I think bands make a huge mistake in their careers by forgetting that America is made up of a lot more than just 10 major cities,” he says. “You can have a hit and sell a lot of records from the radio or MTV, but you keep a fan by what you do live.”

From the start, Counting Crows earned a reputation for great live performances. The band enjoyed success with its 1993 debut album August and Everything After, and the hits “Mr. Jones” and “Round Here.” Subsequent hits include a Top-10 cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Accidentally In Love,” from Shrek 2. A live album, New Amsterdam: Live at Heineken Music Hall 2003, was released last year. In all, the band has sold over 20 million records worldwide.

Duritz says this summer’s tour allowed him to push the limits of what his band was able to do musically. He continually kept the group from becoming complacent by adding new songs (from the recently recorded Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings — due in November) and rarely-played older songs to the set, often after only one rehearsal.

“I think we’ve added like 18 or 20 songs this summer that we haven’t been playing in recent years,” Duritz says. “It’s made the band fearless. I wanted them to get used to the idea that there is nothing they can’t do — and also that there is no such thing as an excuse. If you have a gig that night, you’d better go out there and be great.”

Duritz admits his approach caused some conflict and frustration in the band, but he believes the group is stronger as a result.

“When you aren’t sure what songs are going to be played, you’re forced to be involved,” he says. “As a result, we’ve gotten great this summer — to the point where friends of mine who have seen us a million times are shocked by how good we are.”

Duritz says that his on-the-edge approach to performing has also been a source of misperception regarding his on-stage sobriety.

“I want a Counting Crows show to be like walking a tight rope,” he says. “I’m always jumping on risers, walking around, and balancing on things — just because I like the sensation that I might fall — literally. I have reviewers all the time writing about how I’m drunk on stage. I’m not high, I’m just gone. If I’m on stage, I’m gone. It is a popular perception that I’m wasted on stage. It’s mostly not the case. And for this past tour, it was never the case.”

“I’m not promising anything for Atlantic City,” he adds. “That’s a fun town.”