1) All Over You
2) The River
3) Selling The Drama
4) Mirror Song
4) Where Do We Go From Here?
5) They Stood Up For Love
6) I Walk The Line [Johnny Cash]
7) Wings
8) The Dolphin's Cry
9) I Alone
11) Heaven
12) Lightning Crashes
13) Lakini's Juice

If you have a review from this concert, please use the submission form located here

Kids did handstands in the plush outfield grass of Jerry Uht Park. Some sat on their parents' shoulders, taking in the scene. Others ran around like the typical kids' stampede across the park at SeaWolves games.

But Tuesday featured no singles or doubles at the ballpark; just a Rock and Roll Triple Play concert with alternative-rockers Counting Crows, Live and Collective Soul. Collectively speaking, they pretty much hit one out of the park on a gorgeous summer night.

"It was great, the whole thing. For Erie, this was awesome," said Brady Ducharme, of Erie, while Counting Crows wrapped up their headlining, 90-minute set. "The whole night was just perfect, the setup and everything. We need more of this in Erie, we really do."

What made it perfect for Live fans Daniel and Angie Cash, of Erie, was a rare bonus: free admission for kids 12 and under with a paid adult. That enabled them to bring Samantha, 7, and Logan, 4, who sat on dad's and mom's shoulders, respectively, for much of the night.

"When they said kids are free, we were sold," Angie Cash said.

"It's nice. It's better for them," Daniel Cash said. "They can get up and move around; they're not confined to a seat. And if it gets crowded, we can always move back."

With 4,100-plus fans, Tuesday's show was far from a sellout. But that didn't stop each band from giving it their all, including headliner Counting Crows, who delivered an adventurous yet crowd-pleasing set. Their organic, rootsy rock conjured up such influences as the Band, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, as they supplemented songs with occasional accordion, harmonica and mandolin.

As if to say "we're not old news," Counting Crows surprisingly opened with a new song -- "Washington Square," from a forthcoming double CD, due out in November. The stirring, piano-laced ballad drew a strong response, which seemed to brighten lead singer Adam Duritz.

With his Sideshow Bob hair and eccentric stage moves -- he stumbles and staggers, dips and curves -- he's not the most graceful front man in rock. Duritz is, however, one of the more compelling and unique ones, the kind of singer you can't take your eyes off. His phrasing is off-kilter, he can meander, at times, and he tends to pack songs with more words than a Tolstoy novel. But -- on a good night -- he's emotionally invested, pouring himself into every song, delivering them with religious conviction.

This night, he was focused and comical, too. He told a story about his mom, who says every time she sees him on stage, she worries he's on drugs.

"Mom, I just act weird when I sing," he told her. "I can't help it." Then he added, "She seemed to buy that."

As if to please old fans, Counting Crows trotted out a few songs they rarely play live -- a sublime "Perfect Blue Buildings," and "St. Robinson in His Cadillac Dream." They also delivered harrowing, psychedelic/psychotic blues with "Mercury." The biggest surprise, though, was a cover.

"This is my favorite song by my favorite band," Duritz announced, before launching into "Ballad of El Goodo" by Big Star, the cult band led by Alex Chilton.

The seven-piece Crows re-worked "Mr. Jones" -- their biggest hit -- and closed their regular set with a loose but fun "Hangin' Around."

While Duritz and Counting Crows specialize in soul-searching material, Live churns out soul-baring, muscular rock that's brooding but also fist-pumping. Their tight set on Tuesday also included a cover -- a pumped-up version of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line."

Live's well-paced set was heavy on hits, including a particularly pulverizing "I Alone," powerhouse "Dolphin's Cry" and still-mesmerizing "Lightning Crashes." Singer Ed Kowalcyzk was in the zone, whether reaching way back for "Mirror Song" or delivering more heartfelt fare like "Lightning Crashes." During the galvanizing finale, "Lakini's Juice" -- the closest Live may get to thrash -- he flung off his shirt and danced.

Ducharme walked away impressed, and he primarily came for Collective Soul.

"Live played some songs that I didn't know they do," he said. "Once you hear them, it's like, 'Oh man -- I didn't know they sung that.' The whole night was great."

Opener Collective Soul, with a relaxed Ed Roland on lead vocals, packed in heavy hooks in a 45-minute set, including "Why Pt. 2" and "Gel." The ringing, circular hook of "December" fired up the crowd, early on, and they ripped it up during the middle of new song "Hollywood," riffing like AC/DC.

They closed with "Shine," which was fitting, with the sun blazing down on Jerry Uht Park.