For the second year in a row, Matchbox Twenty and Counting Crows hit the road for a summer jaunt across North America. The bands brought their A Brief History of Everything Tour to West Palm Beach, Florida for a co-headlining concert at Coral Sky Amphitheatre on August 16, 2017.
Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty sauntered on stage as the unmistakable drum beats and guitar chords of “Real World” swept through the venue. The frontman is right at home in front of capacity crowds and relishes his role in the spotlight. The singer was smooth and captivating and easily connected with everyone he sang to. After a brief absence, lead guitarist Kyle Cook is back in the fold. His riffs on songs like “Push” and “Hang” energized the audience and had them swaying at their seats. On this tour, original drummer Paul Doucette put down his drumsticks and picked up a six string to handle rhythm guitar duties for the band. Founding member Brian Yates kept the evening grooving with steady bass lines on the low end. The Orlando natives performed a hit-filled set that spanned their 20-year career.
Counting Crows rocked the Coral Sky Amphitheatre with a mellow and folksy performance. The band played in front of a backdrop that resembled a Bay area bridge, a fitting tribute to a group from Berkley, California. Draped in his familiar dreadlocks, vocalist Adam Duritz sang songs from a catalog filled with hits and newly penned singles as well. His style is not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. The lyrics he writes provide plenty of emotion during the concert. Guitarists David Bryson, Dan Vickrey and David Immergluck all showcased their talents as exceptional musicians. Bass player Millard Powers and drummer Jim Bogios handled chores for the rhythm section while Charles Gillingham got animated on the keyboards and accordion. A surprising omission from the setlist was “Mr. Jones” — but the audience did not seem to mind. They were still smilin’ in the bright lights as the band played on. Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
Rivers and Rust kicked off the concert with a soulful set of rock and roll. The group features Texas singer/songwriter Sheila Marshall and Matchbox Twenty guitarist Kyle Cook. Their tunes, heavily steeped in Americana, were clearly influenced by their home in Music City — Nashville, Tennessee.
