On a day dominated by talks of neo-nazis and the comparisons of George Washington to Robert E. Lee, it was important to find some source of distraction from the circus that has become U.S. politics. Fortunately for the sweaty, shimmery bodies in attendance at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, they found solace in the gift that is live music with 90s alternative groups Matchbox Twenty and Counting Crows.
This co-headlining bill is particularly familiar to Tampa residents, as lead singer Rob Thomas just recently toured the Tampa area with the Counting Crows in July of 2016. That tour marked the 20th anniversary of Matchbox Twenty's album Yourself or Someone Like You, a huge milestone for a band that channeled mainstream soft rock into pop gold. This similar bill did little to thwart the desire of droves of fans who packed the Amphitheatre's lawn and seated areas.
This came only a day after the Amphitheatre nearly sold-out for Atlanta rapper Future.
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With its share of the co-headlining bill, Counting Crows made the most out of the opening slot. The band's set ran 15 songs, which is respectably long for an opening act. The band furnished the stage with their own production as well, a light rig reminiscent of the Golden Gate Bridge, which in real life served as a backdrop for where the band initially formed in San Francisco nearly three decades ago.
Counting Crow's performance however, was marred by highs and lows. At its best, the show featured lead singer Adam Duritz playing a wooden piano out in front of the stage, spraying sweat and spit in the air as he belted the lyrics to songs like "Big Yellow Taxi" and "A Long December." The low points were seeded in the nature of Duritz voice, which is notoriously expressive and nasally.
This became evident on songs like "Mr. Jones," which at times sounded more like a karaoke version as Duritz' vocals soared away in a pitchy howl. Nonetheless fans in attendance, which was comprised mostly of 30 to 40 years old who heard the band for the first time in high school and college, loved it; and the band was met with a thunderous applause for both its encore and final departure from stage.
In only 20 minutes, the stage was quickly disassembled and reorganized for Orlando's very own Matchbox Twenty. Led by singer/songwriter Rob Thomas, the group quickly jumped into the hit heavy set with the now 20-year old track "Real World."
It's crazy to think 90s bands can already be in the 'greatest hits' stage of their touring careers, but this stop by Matchbox Twenty was every bit a hits set as its 18-times platinum status suggests.
The only fault in this hits approach however, is the fact that many of Matchbox Twenty's mainstream hits are slowed down ballads. Whereas the beginning of the show was high paced with spirited renditions of songs like "She's So Mean" and "Bent," the half point of the set produced some yawn-worthy moments, even though you were singing all the words to slower-paced songs like "If You're Gone" and "English Town." But, MB20 has never been the most flavorful or exciting band, perhaps a stamp of the music scene of its hometown Orlando which Thomas himself once described as "vanilla."
No matter, fans didn't fall in love with this group for its flash or pizazz, but rather the heartfelt and emotional lyrics that felt relatable and fun at the same time.
As far as "vanilla" bands go, Matchbox Twenty still has a little something for everyone with its live show. The group is animated and energetic in its musicianship, which gives a more edgy feel to what was essentially considered a mainstream pop band in its day. In a set that featured limited fan interaction from Rob Thomas and co., Matchbox Twenty filled the void with nostalgic ballads like "3 A.M." and "Bright Lights," which have become the soundtrack of the 90s and early 2000s for so many.
As Rob Thomas' lovable and versatile voice chanted the lyrics from fabled hit "How Far We've Come," you rediscovered a sense of appreciation you had found for the group nearly two decades ago.
See more of Chris Rodriguez's photos from the show below.
