Post by jptheprofessor on Aug 22, 2007 11:52:30 GMT -5
On Tuesday night, August 21, Blair County Ballpark hosted the Triple Play Concert, featuring the Counting Crows, Live and Collective Soul. Your friendly neighborhood Professor was there to take it all in!
Rainy weather notwithstanding, I thought this was an excellent concert! This was my first time seeing all three bands, and I thought they all represented quite well. I was especially impressed with Counting Crows; I didn't expect to enjoy them as much as I did. Their singer, Adam Duritz, is the total package as frontmen go; he had the voice, the personality and charisma, and held the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment the Crows took the stage. In his own freewheeling way, he offered insight on nearly every song the group did. I was also impressed with the Counting Crows' public service campaign during the concert; between bands and during the encore of their own set, band members focused attention on several local public service organizations in the Altoona area, and encouraged the audience to get involved and volunteer with these organizations; very cool! Another highlight of the Crows' set was when Adam's sister brought his two kids out onstage to jam with the band at the end of their set.
Collective Soul was sharp in their opening set, and did a number of their hits, including "Heavy," "December," "The World I Know" and "Shine." (They didn't do "Gel," a bit of a surprise.) They locked into their grooves tightly and consistently, and their execution was close to their CD quality.
York, PA's own Live brought the passion as they played a mix of favorites and newer material. They varied the intensity throughout the set, mixing softer acoustic moments with surging and fiery hard rock. Live did many of their best-known tunes such as "All Over You" (which they opened with), "Selling the Drama," "Dolphins Cry," "I Alone," "Lightning Crashes" and "Lakini's Juice;" Ed Kowalczyk also led the group on a surging rendition of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line."
Counting Crows did a wide-ranging set that encompassed the full scope of their musical terrain, from softer ballads to upbeat rock. They did hits such as "Mr. Jones," "Accidentally in Love" (from Shrek 2), "A Long December," and "Hanginaround" (where Adam's kids sat in). They also broke out a funky read of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," and did a number of new songs as well.
Lowlights of the evening included the weather (spitting rain most of the evening, and a brief drenching downpour just as Counting Crows were starting their set), and a heckler who caused some grief during Collective Soul's set (security dealt with him promptly after their set ended). Although some people groaned about the nearly $50 ticket price before the show, I heard more than a few people say they got their money's worth (especially after Live's and Counting Crows' sets). In all, despite the weather, a very good concert; hopefully attendance was strong enough to encourage the promoters (Jam Productions) to do more shows at Blair County Ballpark.
Here are some pictures from the festivities. I was right up in front of the stage for the whole show (thanks to DJ Skiddy for pulling me up front!).
Ed Roland of Collective Soul.
Joel Kosche of Collective Soul.
Collective Soul jamming during "December."
Again, Ed Roland of Collective Soul, breaking out the acoustic guitar for "The World I Know."
Patrick Dahlheimer of Live.
Ed Kowalczyk of Live.
Patrick Dahlheimer and Chad Taylor of Live.
Literally building a head of steam, Ed Kowalczyk of Live.
Again, Patrick Dahlheimer and Chad Taylor of Live.
Live, rallying the crowd to sing along during "Lightning Crashes."
Once again, Live.
A sudden downpour drenched the audience as Counting Crows started their set.
Dan Vickrey of Counting Crows.
Adam Duritz of Counting Crows.
The Counting Crows.
David Immergluck of Counting Crows.
Again, the Counting Crows.
Jim Bogios of Counting Crows.
Again, Adam Duritz of Counting Crows.
Behind the piano for the start of "A Long December," Adam Duritz of Counting Crows.
Once again, the Counting Crows.
Adam Duritz and the Counting Crows, getting the Altoona crowd fired up.
A sentimental highlight of the Counting Crows set, Adam Duritz's two boys playing along with the band onstage during "Hanginaround."
Showing his skills on mandolin, David Immergluck of Counting Crows.
Standing before the audience as the encore draws to a close, the Counting Crows.
Rainy weather notwithstanding, I thought this was an excellent concert! This was my first time seeing all three bands, and I thought they all represented quite well. I was especially impressed with Counting Crows; I didn't expect to enjoy them as much as I did. Their singer, Adam Duritz, is the total package as frontmen go; he had the voice, the personality and charisma, and held the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment the Crows took the stage. In his own freewheeling way, he offered insight on nearly every song the group did. I was also impressed with the Counting Crows' public service campaign during the concert; between bands and during the encore of their own set, band members focused attention on several local public service organizations in the Altoona area, and encouraged the audience to get involved and volunteer with these organizations; very cool! Another highlight of the Crows' set was when Adam's sister brought his two kids out onstage to jam with the band at the end of their set.
Collective Soul was sharp in their opening set, and did a number of their hits, including "Heavy," "December," "The World I Know" and "Shine." (They didn't do "Gel," a bit of a surprise.) They locked into their grooves tightly and consistently, and their execution was close to their CD quality.
York, PA's own Live brought the passion as they played a mix of favorites and newer material. They varied the intensity throughout the set, mixing softer acoustic moments with surging and fiery hard rock. Live did many of their best-known tunes such as "All Over You" (which they opened with), "Selling the Drama," "Dolphins Cry," "I Alone," "Lightning Crashes" and "Lakini's Juice;" Ed Kowalczyk also led the group on a surging rendition of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line."
Counting Crows did a wide-ranging set that encompassed the full scope of their musical terrain, from softer ballads to upbeat rock. They did hits such as "Mr. Jones," "Accidentally in Love" (from Shrek 2), "A Long December," and "Hanginaround" (where Adam's kids sat in). They also broke out a funky read of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," and did a number of new songs as well.
Lowlights of the evening included the weather (spitting rain most of the evening, and a brief drenching downpour just as Counting Crows were starting their set), and a heckler who caused some grief during Collective Soul's set (security dealt with him promptly after their set ended). Although some people groaned about the nearly $50 ticket price before the show, I heard more than a few people say they got their money's worth (especially after Live's and Counting Crows' sets). In all, despite the weather, a very good concert; hopefully attendance was strong enough to encourage the promoters (Jam Productions) to do more shows at Blair County Ballpark.
Here are some pictures from the festivities. I was right up in front of the stage for the whole show (thanks to DJ Skiddy for pulling me up front!).
Ed Roland of Collective Soul.
Joel Kosche of Collective Soul.
Collective Soul jamming during "December."
Again, Ed Roland of Collective Soul, breaking out the acoustic guitar for "The World I Know."
Patrick Dahlheimer of Live.
Ed Kowalczyk of Live.
Patrick Dahlheimer and Chad Taylor of Live.
Literally building a head of steam, Ed Kowalczyk of Live.
Again, Patrick Dahlheimer and Chad Taylor of Live.
Live, rallying the crowd to sing along during "Lightning Crashes."
Once again, Live.
A sudden downpour drenched the audience as Counting Crows started their set.
Dan Vickrey of Counting Crows.
Adam Duritz of Counting Crows.
The Counting Crows.
David Immergluck of Counting Crows.
Again, the Counting Crows.
Jim Bogios of Counting Crows.
Again, Adam Duritz of Counting Crows.
Behind the piano for the start of "A Long December," Adam Duritz of Counting Crows.
Once again, the Counting Crows.
Adam Duritz and the Counting Crows, getting the Altoona crowd fired up.
A sentimental highlight of the Counting Crows set, Adam Duritz's two boys playing along with the band onstage during "Hanginaround."
Showing his skills on mandolin, David Immergluck of Counting Crows.
Standing before the audience as the encore draws to a close, the Counting Crows.