The Counting Crows with special guests Dashboard Confessional played the Saenger Theater on Friday night. The night kicked off with an electrifying performance by Dashboard Confessional, the embodiment of early 2000s emo and alternative rock. Dashboard brought their high energy and charismatic stage presence to hype the crowd with songs like "Vindicated," "Stolen," and "Screaming Infidelities." They ended their set with their fan favorite "Hands Down." They set the night off right in a big way.
The Counting Crows, led by frontman Adam Duritz hit the stage with "Catapult" from their second studio album, Recovering the Satellites. The band took us on a journey from there, playing songs that spanned decades and prompted a wave of nostalgia. Adam Duritz's ability to story tell while singing is a really poetic and moving thing to bear witness to. The connection between the members of the band could be felt through each song and each movement they made together.
A standout moment in the show was during the encore when Dashboard Confessional joined the Counting Crows to perform "Hangin Around." The energy on stage was infectious, and both bands seemed to be genuinely enjoying the collaboration. The instrumental sections allowed each member to shine, with the bands' guitarists trading riffs while each member tossed the tambourine from across the stage to another member to play. The chemistry between the musicians was evident as it radiated out to everyone in attendance. The night ended with "Holiday in Spain" from their Hard Candy album.
