This Saturday brought what proved to be a captivating show to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia. Hot on the heels of the Virgin Mobile Freefest the week before, the venue gets a dose of whatever tonic and magic the Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus & Medicine Show brought to town.

Featuring the Counting Crows, Michael Franti and Spearhead, and Augustana, this last stop of the traveling show treated revelers to a format unusual to most. Rather than the typical opening act followed by another opener and then a headliner, this tour brought all the bands together on stage to perform one another's songs together before each branched off into their own separate sets. Even those separate sets tended to have a Crow, Spearheader or Augustinian somewhere on the stage.

Advertised ticket prices were rather shocking, but those who paid the price of admission were treated to three hours of locked-in performing, the entertainers having spent the better part of the summer together. The experience of touring together really showed, as the sets were free-flowing and effortless. Some end-of-tour pranks must have been played, as on more than one occasion the stage was infiltrated by anonymous "dancers" who were clearly not part of the show.

Pranks aside, the easily recognizable Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows made for a good master of ceremonies. Not much has changed about Duritz since the Crows burst onto the scene with "Mr. Jones" and August and Everything After. The t-shirt and jeans is a timeless look and his signature hairstyle remains as it was in 1993. More importantly, so does his distinct voice. If anything has changed, it is his trueness to his reputation of being dreary. On this August night, Duritz was ecstatic and full of showmanship.

 Any musician would be impressed by the prowess of guitarists Dan Vickrey and David Immergluck. Many a great guitarist has been cast into the shadows behind shredding players, but both of these men should be acknowledged for their proficiency and presence. Both guitar players offered their services to Augustana and Spearhead, the former of which seemed to never play a song without one of the Crows on stage with them.

Augustana were no strangers to the Counting Crows, having opened for the band on last summer's tour. Singer Dan Layus portrayed a Bob Dylan affect in his voice, and the band as a whole had an "old soul" feel about them as if they were dropped in 2009 by way of 1969. Their playing chops are fine enough, but their catalogue doesn't have enough weight just yet to carry them on a headlining tour of their own. Any person who has turned on a radio or TV in the last few years would know "Boston" when they heard the chorus, but only a dedicated fan would recognize anything more.

Consider it fortunate for both of these bands that Michael Franti and Spearhead came to town. With a rabid and dedicated fanbase, Franti knows how to rock a venue and this night was no exception. Recently joined by the beautiful voice of Cherine Anderson on vocals, Spearhead were the pulse of the show, injecting the funk and feel-good rhythms to energize a generationally diverse crowd.

Dating back even farther than Counting Crows, Spearhead have matured and metamorphosed their blend of hip-hop, rock and reggae into an experience that warms even the coldest of hearts. Franti and Duritz have a relationship that dates back 25 years and their respect for one another and their craft ensured that no ego ran the show. For Franti and Spearhead, at least, the crowd's engagement is an essential element of the live set. Fans were required to dance, jump, sing along and put their younger children on stage.

 A beautiful night was complimented by a spectacular show. If you thought the Counting Crows had fallen off, think again. Between them and Franti/Spearhead, this traveling show is worth not only the price of admission, but the cost of your own traveling caravan to see either band wherever the road takes them.

Photo credit and copyright: Timothy Rhodes. All rights reserved.

Tags: Augustana, concert reviews, Counting Crows, Merriweather, Michael Franti, Spearhead