Counting Crows made their triumphant return to Nashville on Monday night (Aug. 14) with special guests, Dashboard Confessional. The show marked the halfway point of the Banshee Season Tour as both bands took the iconic Grand Ole Opry stage.
Dashboard Confessional started things off after a brief introduction by Crows’ humble frontman, Adam Duritz. Duritz sang the band’s praises before they took the stage for their hometown show. It was a special night for Dashboard, as lead singer Chris Carrabba had a large family in the audience. His son even joined them onstage to play the drums, wowing the crowd and receiving a standing ovation. That was a standout moment from the supporting set but it was “Burning Heart” that made my jaw drop. The 2022 song is deeply emotional and really lets the 48-year-old’s vocals shine.
After an hour set and a quick set change, Counting Crows took to the stage to an excited crowd. They started their two-hour-set with “Sullivan Street,” as the crowd sang and stood for the duration of the track. It was evident pretty quickly how fantastic this show was going to be. Duritz’s vocals are as strong as they have ever been (if not stronger) and the band is a beautiful, cohesive unit. If you’re not watching the Counting Crows now, you’re missing out on this perfect era.
“This place is it,” Duritz said to the crowd while discussing how much he was looking forward to playing the Grand Ole Opry. He’d been researching the iconic circle and knew the significance of that portion of the stage but he also lovingly joked that no one else in the band was allowed to stand in it.
The band played fan favorites including “Mr. Jones,” “Accidentally in Love,” “Colorblind,” “Omaha,” and “Hanginaround.” Although we always love to hear those tracks, there was one cover in particular that surprised me (and many others near me) – in the best way. My favorite moment, though, was thanks to Duritz’s girlfriend. She convinced him to add “Butterly in Reverse” back to the setlist for the first time in 20 years. I’ve seen the Crows many, many times and this was my first time seeing this (incredibly underrated) song performed live. It did not disappoint.
The Banshee Season Tour is only about halfway done and it’s not a show you want to miss if you’re a fan of either of these bands. You’ll leave with a big smile on your face and your heart full of your favorite music. Check out the rest of their tour dates here.
