Totally cool story here...
So, we hopped onto Counting Crows, which I still think, was at the exact moment before they broke big. A true delight for any music lover to witness. ‘Mr. Jones’ was steadily rising up the charts and anyone who took the chance on August and Everything After was treated to something so emotional and energetic that you couldn't help but fall in love with them.
It was at this moment in time, in a small New Haven club, before they took the stage, you could see Adam stroll through the floor and grab a beer if you were perceptive enough to put the face to the hair, which I did, and it was incredibly enlightening to belly up to the bar with him. He was honest, endearing, excited and scared as I reassured him that he was on the precipice of something great as I launched debut albums out to him like Murmur, Boy and so on, telling him he was next in line. He struggled with buying into it, but knew something was up for sure. At any rate, we parted ways, me with a grin ear to ear in rock star awe and him swinging his Amstel by his hip as he headed to the stage. Their early shows were electric, liberating, and his presence was arresting as much as it was vulnerable. This was a man (who I later found out) couldn't play Raining in Baltimore live because the heartbreak it carried was still tender. Again, this was early, and you could walk freely on the floor while they played…the secret wasn’t out.
At any rate, the band of boys that saw him that night was so excited that we needed to head to Rhode Island to see them again. So on to Lupos we went and whatta ya know, my eye caught that frizzy haired ruffled soul, Adam, strolling through the pre game crowd with an Amstel in his hand, and me in his way wearing my Yankee hat. Hey Adam, I said (loudly) and we shook hands, and chatted for half a beer. I reminded him that Mr Jones was rocketing up the charts as we both looked around and agreed that the crowd was growing as their album was rising. He looked nervous. I was as proud as ever standing in front of him to witness his success birth itself in the span of a week.
So, off he went, hopped on stage, put on a searing performance, and we left Rhode Island wanting more.
Next up, Northhampton, MA. We took the trek from CT, and when we get there, wouldn’t ya know….sold out. Mr Jones was number one, the album was all over the place and The Counting Crows were IT. So, here we are 2 hours from home and theres a line out the door. What do young 20 somethings do when a shows sold out and we have no options? Well, in my case, I called up the club, spoke to the page, told him I was from Geffen records and needed to talk to a member of the and regarding tour changes. This would never work, but what the fuck, right?
Hold please.
About ten minutes later, a quiet voice picks up.
Hello?
‘Who’s this?’ I asked.
Adam.
‘You’re not gonna believe this…. “ and I proceeded to tell him I was the guy in the Yankee hat who met him in New Haven and Rhode Island blah blah. Of course, he remembers me. Long story, long, I tell him I brought some friends because I felt they had to see these guys live, but the show was sold out. He said no problem, I got ya, then got our names on some list with the page, we sailed past the line, and into the club we went. Place was packed, the band was literally blowing up, but who's there floating anonymously in the crowd but Adam. We caught up, almost as weird friends, I wished him luck, told him I was right and that he was gonna be something special, and, well, that was that.
Bumped into him one last time in a bar across the street afterwards, and I knew I was talking to a guy who was wrestling with his impending success. I'm not sure how he felt about it either. All I know is that he bled Counting Crows, and it was a cinderella story not many fans are able to witness happen 'in the moment,' but I gotta say...it was special.
I ended up seeing him one last time at Red Rocks. I looked to the stars and then behind me to see thousands of people enjoying what I started out watching with no more than 300 people. One thing held true though, he still never played Raining in Baltimore. Wonder if he ever did.
Here's to you, Adam. You made an impact on so many, but it was fun watching you get what you deserved...
Finally...screw Warner Bros. and I'm sure Sony will be no different in their quest to milk whatever they can out of his vault. They'll just sell what they know ill make money as opposed to Princes lifetime fight to release what he wants rather than release what they want. Pretty ironic, actually.
Indeed. To truly understand who they really were you need to start with Village Green Preservation Society and Arthur. Once thats been committed to your memory, their influence/impact on early 70's rock becomes blatantly obvious.
Probably the most sincere, endearing and epic bit I've seen in awhile, and a must watch for anyone who loves music. You could tell Corden caught Paul at the most perfect time and you could see the nostalgia leaking out of him the whole time. Caught myself grinning the whole time.
AOTY gets thrown around too much, especially when no matter what Rez says, its an EP, simply put. Plenty of 8-10 track albums out there where 6 tracks rule but the other 4 or so aren't worthy of any end of year accolade.
Regardless, its a solid, er, ELP?
Not sure how scattershot you can really call him. I mean, his last three were Allied, which wasn't awful, The Walk, and Flight, which carried multiple nominations. He's one of the few old dogs that still tries to make going to the movies fun.
The band is As I Lay Dying....“An Ocean Between Us......“My Own Grave..."Nothing Left".......wanting his wife killed!
I mean, some would say the writing was on the wall here....
Yes I agree, and I like that album alot, too, but its also the definitive album where you first begin to see Coldplay slip into the void of arena rock commercialism.
This is similar, well I think anyway, to whats going on with (former)local talking sports head, Craig Carton, from WFAN in NYC. And every time I read stories like this I always immediately ask, 'How stupid of a human being are you that you wouldn't think at some point you'd get caught?'
This chooch was already busted fro doing the same thing he continued to do!
I mean, its a mind blowing level of self regard going on here .
That 'dude' I believe was Bloc. Respect your elders. Think Japanese Breakfast was also in that conversation at the time, but I'm also old, and I forget things.
I love when people who didn't live thru the 80's come out with snarky opinions about a time they have no clue about. This was the music we loved, and it was unapologetic, and it was unconditional.
Now get off our lawn.
Its about NYC and changing the course of alternative rock at a time in the early 90's when we were starving for something dirty and real....other than that, not much.
New Interpol is always so satisfying. I stopped pressing expectations on them awhile ago and since then feel liberated when I hear them. Good or bad, they really can do no wrong in my eyes. Many of their songs nail immediate memories of my past.
Bring it on, Banksy
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