Review: Counting Crows, Matchbox Twenty deliver
» Counting Crows toured with Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas last summer, and Friday night they were back at Saratoga Performing Arts Center yet again.
But this time, Thomas brought along some friends. The tour, titled “A Brief History of Everything,” featured some of the top hits from both bands, while mixing in some newer jams, old favorites and the occasional cover.
Counting Crows kicked things off shortly after 7:30 p.m., with “Hard Candy” off their 2002 album. Counting Crows did a nice job constructing their set list. Lead singer Adam Duritz is known for playing songs a casual fan wouldn’t know, and although Counting Crows played a newer song like “Dislocation” early in the set, Duritz sang some of the big hits that made Counting Crows famous, which was well received by the audience.
Towards the very end of the set, Duritz hopped on the piano, which only meant “A Long December” would be played. Duritz followed up the 1996 hit with two songs — “Mr. Jones” and “Hanginaround,” prompting people to dance while pleading for an encore. The band delivered with “Palisades Park” off the Crows’ 2014 album,“Somewhere Under Wonderland,” and the popular “Rain King.” Overall, Counting Crows provided a strong performance.
Matchbox Twenty played about six more songs than their peers. Thomas does a wonderful job getting ev- erybody into the show. He mentioned how this was Matchbox Twenty’s Friday night, and it was also the audience’s Friday night, so that they might as well enjoy it the best they could.
Matchbox Twenty began with “Real World,” and they didn’t stop playing all of their hits the rest of the relatively chilly evening, while also playing covers of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” and “Don’t You (Forget About Me).”
Matchbox Twenty can play fast, for sure, but the group also slows it down at times, encouraging the audience to put on their phone lights as Thomas joked that nobody smokes anymore, for one specific slower song towards the end of the set. Thomas plays with so much energy, and he really utilizes the entire stage. After “Push,” the band left the stage to a roaring applause, and for a moment it seemed like maybe they wouldn’t give the people what they wanted. But they returned with a few beverages, and Thomas with a new, dry shirt. Included in the encore was arguably Matchbox Twenty’s most recognizable song, “3 a.m.,” which was an absolute treat to hear live. Matchbox Twenty delivered quite an evening for a packed SPAC.