Matchbox Twenty, Counting Crows bring charismatic sets to Soaring Eagle

2017-09-15

Story and photos by Anne Erickson

Review + photos: Matchbox Twenty and Counting Crows performed memorable sets on tour in Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Armed with well-crafted songwriting and memorable hooks, the guys of Matchbox Twenty broke out in the mid-’90s with one of the most hit-packed pop-rock albums of the decade: “Yourself or Someone Like You.”

All the songwriting chops in the world wouldn’t matter without a solid stage show, and Matchbox Twenty certainly have credibility as being incredible performers.

That love for the stage came through strong last night (Sept. 14) during their performance at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort’s outdoor amphitheater in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The show was part of Matchbox Twenty’s (Matchbox 20) lengthy summer and fall tour with Counting Crows, dubbed the A Brief History of Everything Tour.

With his charismatic onstage presence and distinctive voice, Rob Thomas is the kind of frontman that brings it every night. In front of a packed amphitheater crowd, Thomas was a fireball of energy, jetting around the stage from the show’s start to finish.

Thomas and the band blasted through their collection of hits spanning the decades: “Push,” “Unwell,” “Real World,” “Bent” and “3AM,” to name a handful. After just a few songs, it was apparent Matchbox Twenty is one of those bands that has so many hits, it’s easy to forget just how many songs you know until you hear them all at once. They also worked in a catchy cover of Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me).”

Counting Crows performed ahead of Matchbox Twenty and proved the perfect companion for this tour. After all, both groups came up around the same time, and both bring a personalized sound and flavor to their pop-rock. Adam Duritz belted out introspective Counting Crows songs such as “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Mr. Jones,” and there was something simply comforting about the set.

Sitting back during the warm, late-summer night, and looking around at the sea of people around the venue, it was obvious fans were happy and appreciative. Call it the perfect end-of-summer concert.

Matchbox Twenty vocalist Rob Thomas at Soaring Eagle on September 14, 2017. Anne Erickson

Matchbox Twenty vocalist Rob Thomas at Soaring Eagle on September 14, 2017. Anne Erickson

Matchbox Twenty performs at Soaring Eagle on September 14, 2017. Anne Erickson

Matchbox Twenty vocalist Rob Thomas at Soaring Eagle on September 14, 2017. Anne Erickson

Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz at Soaring Eagle on September 14, 2017. Anne Erickson

Counting Crows at Soaring Eagle on September 14, 2017. Anne Erickson

Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz at Soaring Eagle on September 14, 2017. Anne Erickson

Anne Erickson
Posted by Anne Erickson | Alternative, Features, Music, Reviews, Rock

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