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Call it coincidence or not, but this would be the second time I’d be seeing Counting Crows without any intention to. Now, that may have sounded harsh but what I meant by that it just occurred without any real premeditation. The first time, I was pleasantly surprised by their appearance in a John Mayer concert that my older sister pretty much forced on her siblings as a bonding experience. This time, another writer had to bail at the last minute and needed someone to review and again, I was on my merry way. The difference this time from the last was that I surely knew I was in for a good time.

On Tuesday night, the Counting Crows arrived at Brooklyn’s newest venue, Williamsburg Park in order to promote their newest album, Underwater Sunshine, and kick off the second leg of their tour. On this leg of the Outlaw Roadshow tour, they are accompanied by We Are the Augustines, Kasey Anderson and the Honkies, andt Field Report. The setlist was a great mixture of cover songs from their latest album, hits from the past, and fan favorites.

Air Supply’s Graham Russell (guitarist/singer) & Russell Hitchcock (lead singer) have a longstanding reputation for making hearts swoon all over the world through the power of song.  On Friday night, a sold-out crowd at New York City’s B.B. King Blues Club witnessed an unforgettable performance of what Hitchcock inarguably called “some of the greatest love songs ever written”.  Anyone who has ever heard the Australian duo’s captivating ballads would definitely plead no contest to Hitchcock’s claim.

The deities of soft rock incited a veritable uproar as they opened with “Even the Nights Are Better” (from Now and Forever, 1982).  Air Supply worked their magic with the unfailing charm that has served them so well for almost four decades.  The multigenerational crowd blissfully sang along, & bodies swayed to the romance that filled the room as the band went on to play “Just As I Am” (from Air Supply, 1985), “Every Woman In the World” (from Lost in Love, 1980), & “Here I Am” (from The One That You Love, 1981).

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to celebrate rock & roll,” said Tyler Glenn, lead vocalist of Neon Trees.  He was absolutely right.  On Monday night, the band showed off a bold, well-rounded sound, encompassing a blend of indie rock, new wave, synth pop, & classic rock styles – all in all, modern alternative rock at its finest.

“An Intimate Night with Neon Trees”, the first of two sold out shows at Bowery Ballroom in New York City, marked the eve of the release of Neon Trees’ sophomore album, Picture Show.  The quartet from Provo, Utah (Glenn – vocals/synth, Branden Campbell – bass, Elaine Bradly – drums/vocals, & Chris Allen – guitar) & their touring guitarist, David Charles, played a stadium-worthy set of songs that left fans eager for the album’s midnight release.

This week, I was invited to a showcase displaying the talents of a diverse group of talented rockers, Capelle.  This was just one of the six dates they would be playing here in the States before heading back to London. They’re in town to promote their new album, Crooked Deluxe and their documentary Capelle- All Roads Lead to America. They are quickly making an impact on the local music scene and garnering attention from the industry.

Penguin Prison performed an act of wizardry in Brooklyn on Thursday night.  Chris Glover (aka Penguin Prison), former member of Alicia Keys’ gospel choir, cast a spell on the crowd at the Music Hall of Williamsburg with his groovalicious mix of alternative, pop, funk, electronic, dance beats, & sweet, catchy melodies.  The New York native singer/producer opened for The Temper Trap, & wowed the audience with seven songs from his self-titled debut album, released in October 2011.