Counting Crows’ The Complete Sweets! Tour rolled into a hot and humid (typical southern summer night) Raleigh, North Carolina on July 27, 2025 to the beautiful Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh. It’s hard to believe that these guys have been delivering great music to us for over 30 years. They are out touring in support of their latest album Butter Miracle: The Complete Sweets! The setlist (found after our photo gallery) sequenced older favorites with selections from that new album. Lead vocalist Adam Duritz has been vocal about his struggles throughout the years, but he has found peace. He proclaims during one point “I’m a mother fucking rock and roll star!” The hits started early as the band delivered “Mr. Jones and Me” as their third selection. They sprinkled in five stellar tracks, some of the best of their career, from their new album (along with a cover of Taylor Swift’s “the 1”). Duritz’s vocals were spot one and some of the best live story-telling that I’ve ever heard from him. It took a little while before the banter between songs began. It was as if Duritz was taking his time putting his shows on but once they were, he was ready for a long walk. Well, according to Setlist.FM, that was until the curfew cut the show before “Holiday in Spain.” The band, who have been together for 20 years, sounded amazing! I’ll put them up against just about anyone for a Battle of the Bands! This was a great two hour escape from everything bothering you in the world. Then again, isn’t that one of the best things about music?

Review and photos by I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price