Counting Crows play American music. If some of the band’s biggest hits tend to sound a little bit like Van Morrison, that might be because Morrison was steeped in American soul, blues and rock and roll. Counting Crows emerged with hits like “Mr. Jones” in the ‘90s, making catchy songs that had a hint of nostalgia, but also a touch of the wild energy of the era. Formed in the Bay Area in 1991, the band pulled together the jangle of acts like R.E.M. and the narrative punch of artists like the Band.
This year Counting Crows is out celebrating a quarter century-plus of music-making with the 25 Years and Counting tour (get it!). The band has generally gone three or four years between each studio record, and, by that count, they should be putting some new music together before long.
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In songs like “A Long December,” lead singer and songwriter Adam Duritz can conjure a remote sadness that doesn’t quite hit the depths of misery and still somehow seems romantic. (He’s also started a podcast, which delves into some nice realms of music geekery, like the subject of famous singers singing background vocals.)
The Counting Crows perform at Xfinity Theatre, 61 Savitt Way, Hartford, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22 and up. livenation.com.
