Counting Crows Debut Album ‘August and Everything After’ Turns 30

Happy 30^th Anniversary to August and Everything After, the debut studio album by the Counting Crows. It was released on this day, September 14, back in 1993, via Geffen Records.

The legendary Bob Dylan and guitarist T Bone Burnett produced the album. It featured the founding members of the band: Adam Duritz (vocals), David Bryson (guitar), Charlie Gillingham (keyboards), Steve Bowman (drums) and Matt Malley (bass).

Multi-instrumentalist David Immerglück was among the several session musicians used for the album who worked with an early incarnation of the band. He then joined the band as a full-time member in 1999, as well as Burnett, who also provided additional guitar work.

The album spawned four massive singles for the band including some of their best-known hits. “Mr. Jones” reached the Top 5 on the Billboard charts at its height. Other huge hits included “Round Here,” “Rain King,” and “A Murder of One” were other hits on the album. We still play these songs on MMR all these years later.

August and Everything After was a critical and commercial success, peaking at #4 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It has sold over 10 million copies worldwide since its release. It’s been certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as well.

The album cover depicts handwritten lyrics to a song called “August and Everything After.” However, the band decided to leave the song off the album and ultimately did not release it until 2019.

The Counting Crows released a two-disc deluxe edition of the album featuring six bonus tracks and demos, including an acoustic demo of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land.” The deluxe release also came with a live show from Paris on December 9, 1994.

In 2011, the Counting Crows released August and Everything After: Live at Town Hall. They recorded it at Town Hall in New York City on September 18, 2007. It features a performance of the band's debut album in its entirety, cover to cover in the exact track listing order.

The Crows have been on their massive “Banshee Season” tour all summer, which included stops in Atlantic City and Bethlehem. The always bring a fun live performance whenever they are in town.

Happy 30^th Anniversary to August and Everything After!

The greater Philly region has one of the richest cultural histories of any city in the United States and one of the best music scenes in the world.

The City of Brotherly Love boasts a long list of enjoyable concert venues with a wide range of size and popularity. The variety spans from intimate local settings to monstrous amphitheaters to sports arenas turned into concert facilities for major shows.

The 10 largest venues host some of the biggest name performers that tour Philadelphia.

The Keswick Theatre originally opened in 1928. It has closed temporarily twice throughout its history, but it's remained open in its current format since 1988. The venue is located just outside the city limits in Glenside (Montgomery County). It regularly hosts prominent rock artists, popular tribute bands, and other performers in the Philadelphia area.

It holds approximately 1300 people.

The Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem, PA features cutting edge technology like advanced lighting and state-of-the-art digital screens on each side of the stage.

It holds over 1500 guests at maximum capacity. You can catch Preston & Steve's Christmas Miracle every year in December at the Xcite Center.

The Electric Factory changed its name to Franklin Music Hall in 2018 as part of a contest that awarded free tickets for two years worth of shows at the venue to two winners.

Franklin Music Hall has an intimate vibe with a main floor in front of the stage and a second level along the perimeter of the building. It's located on 7th St. just off Callowhill St. in close range of Northern Liberties and Center City. It holds about 2500 people.

The Fillmore stands in the heart of Fishtown, one of the most heavily gentrified neighborhoods in Philadelphia. It's located within walking distance of plenty of popular bars and restaurants as well as Rivers Casino. It holds about 2500 people.

The Tower Theatre in Upper Darby has hosted some of the greatest rock musicians of all time since it opened in 1972. David Bowie recorded his album David Live at the Tower in 1974, helping the building establish a reputation as a respectable concert location for popular musicians.

Delaware County's favorite venue lists a capacity over 3100.

The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus is located on Broad St. in between the corners of Spruce St. and Pine St. in the heart of Center City. It hosts concerts and other events that celebrate the culture of the city of Philadelphia. It holds approximately 3150 people.

The Met underwent lucrative renovations to become "the crown jewel of North Broad Street’s renaissance" when it reopened in 2018. The building originally opened in 1908, but weathering over many years meant it was due for a major upgrade.

It's located just south of Temple University at the corner of Broad St. and Poplar St., and it holds about 3500 at maximum capacity.

 The TD Pavilion at the Mann Music Center in Fairmount Park consists of an amphitheater with two levels of seating and a grassy area outside with digital screens that show the main stage. The highest levels of the outdoor area feature one of the most beautiful views of the Center City skyline from the western limits of the city.

The Mann is a non-profit facility dedicated to growing the arts in Philadelphia. It holds about 14,000 people at maximum capacity.

The Wells Fargo Center (as we now know it) has hosted over 600 concerts at the sports complex in South Philadelphia since it opened in 1996 as a multipurpose facility. The home of the Philadelphia Flyers and the Philadelphia 76ers plays host to some of the biggest name, mainstream artists that tour in Philadelphia.

One of the most famous shows in the history of the venue took place in 2016 when Pearl Jam visited Philadelphia as part of their tour for 25th anniversary of Ten. The arena lowered a banner for 10 Pearl Jam sellouts at the South Philadelphia sports complex.

It holds about 19,500 people.

Freedom Mortgage Pavilion is located along the Delaware River waterfront across the Ben Franklin Bridge in Camden, NJ. Although the venue has changed names several times since it opened in 1995, it still features the same exciting complement of an amphitheater close to the main stage and a spacious lawn area. It's hosted 16 years of MMRBQ lineups.

The amphitheater holds about 7000 people, while the total capacity is approximately 25,000. 

The list wouldn't be complete without some honorable mentions. Brooklyn Bowl, located just a short walk away from the Fillmore, features a newer facility with a bowling alley downstairs and a concert venue upstairs.

The Theater of the Living Arts (TLA) on South Street has a capacity that lands just outside the top 10, but it plays host to some of the best concerts in the Philadelphia area.

Lincoln Financial Field (67,000+) and Citizens Bank Park (43,000+)  host massive stadium shows every summer. Since they were built for sporting events, we'll leave those sellouts to the boys in blue (re: green and red for those who don't speak Pierre).