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On this day, 29 January 2003, American rockers Counting Crows played Cardiff International Arena on their Handy Candy tour. Support was provided by Gemma Hayes.
On July 9, 2002, the band released its fourth studio album, Hard Candy. The album included a cover of Joni Mitchell's song "Big Yellow Taxi". Vanessa Carlton contributed backing vocals to the single edit of the track, which appeared on the soundtrack for Two Weeks Notice and was re-released on future Hard Candy albums.
The original version, without vocals by Carlton, appeared on the first album release as a hidden track. Hard Candy received better reviews than the previous efforts, with "radio friendly" songs, like "American Girls" (which featured Sheryl Crow on backing vocals), and contains a more upbeat feel and tempo. The band toured with the Dutch band, Bløf.
A song, "Holiday in Spain", came together as a result of the camaraderie between the two groups: it is sung partly as a dual language duet, and partly as a musical "round", with both lead singers singing in differing languages at the end of the song.
Midway through the Hard Candy tour, drummer Ben Mize (born February 2, 1971, Durham, North Carolina) amicably left the band to spend more time with his family and pursue his own musical interests. After Mize completed the American leg of the tour, he was replaced by Jim Bogios, formerly a drummer with Ben Folds and Sheryl Crow. Jim attributes leaving Sheryl Crow for Counting Crows to becoming a band member and having more creative input.
Following the Hard Candy tour, longtime bassist Matt Malley left the band after growing weary of touring, and to attend to his duties as a new father. He was replaced by Millard Powers.
Counting Crows released the greatest hits album Films About Ghosts in November 2003.[38]
Setlist
Have You Seen Me Lately?
(acoustic)
If I Could Give All My Love -or- Richard Manuel Is Dead
(acoustic)
Mr. Jones
(acoustic)
Perfect Blue Buildings
Four White Stallions
(electric)
Speedway
(electric)
Omaha
(electric)
Mercy
(Tender Mercies cover)
Rain King
(with Sweet Thing)
Goodnight L.A.
A Long December
Big Yellow Taxi
(Joni Mitchell cover) (acoustic)
Good Time
Angels of the Silences
(acoustic)
A Long December
(electric)
Miami
(electric)
Round Here
(electric)
Encore:
Hanginaround
(with Gemma Hayes) (electric)
Sullivan Street
Encore 2:
Blues Run the Game
(Jackson C. Frank cover) (acoustic)
Holiday in Spain
(electric)