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Why do I like the Counting Crows? Well, that is a many sided answer. The Counting Crows and especially Adam with his voice and lyrics, create a feeling of comfort within in me. When I'm alone and its late, I can turn them on and hear Adam's voice reach out to me through the darkness. It's makes me feel better to know that I'm not the only one who is alone and can't sleep. Besides, you can feel what Adam says just by his words. This is especially true when you hear them live in concert and can see Adam and his gestures. He animates each song not only with words but motion. You know exactly how he felt when he wrote a certain song because somehow you have felt the same way he did at some time. Thats what makes the band so real to all of us fans. No serious Crows fan listens to their music simply because it sounds good. We each feel something in every song. Sure, we all may interprite the song differently according to our own individual experiences, but that is what makes their music so great. I'm sure Adam would agree that even though he writes for himself, we all can take some meaning from his songs because we are all human; we all hurt.
Well, though no one has actually said anything to me directly, I just want to clear up why I call myself the RainKing. First of all, I don't claim to be Adam Duritz(though we share the same affliction), nor exactly to be the Rain King from the song. I refer mostly to the character from the book Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow. I have read the book and being a lover of literature(and an English minor at that) began to analyize the main character, Eugene Henderson. He is the type of guy you want so much to love. He tries so hard to please but sometimes comes up a little short. When we join him in the book, he is a middle aged man of some wealth(due to inheritance) who makes a modest living raising pigs. He has been in a war, lost a brother, been married twice, and had not-so-great relationships with his children. One day, while working, he hears in his head and indescribable, indeterminate voice. The voice says only one thing, but it says it over and over with a particular urgency. It says only,"I want". This illusive voice in Henderson's head drives him to do a few strange things such as learn the violin, and aspire to become a doctor(remember, he is at least fifty years old). Finally it drives him out of the country to Africa. There he has many adventures, if you will, among the native tribes. Finally he meets one man, a king, who through his death finally satisfies the voice. Now, I may not be so haphazardly as old Henderson, but truthfully, I do yearn; I hear the voice. I aspire not only to be great in terms of acomplishing my own goals, but to become satisfied with life and what I have done with it. I only want to live and satisfy the voice within me. And that is what makes me the RainKing.
The band recorded a new song a few weeks ago called "St. Robinson In His Cadillac Dream" The band also has recorded nine new tracks so far! Once again the band has rented a house in the hills in California to work on thier third album April 1st! A DOUBLE LIVE ALBUM will be released in June or July featuring the acoustic VH1 storytellers show, & the electric Hammerstein Ballroom (NY) show. (MTV's Live fromt he 10 spot.) "Good Luck" or "Chelsea" will be released on the Burn soundtrack. "BURN" is a new film which Adam has co-executive produced. Adam has his own independent record label called E Plurbus Unim. As always, check the official site for the latest updates.
1/6/98 - I added a sound section to the page. It has clips of some rare and live songs taken off the Catapult boot. This is an excellent bootleg and if you don't have it you should set up a trade with me to get it.
2/4/98 - I added some pictures of myself and some of my friends to the "About Me" section. Hopefully this will give you a better idea of who I am.
2/19/98 - I was recently informed that Adam Clay(fellow Counting Crows webmaster) has decided to discontinue his efforts maintaining his website and has taken it off the Net. It was a great site and will be missed. However he was nice enough to give me remnants of it so that parts of it will stay alive. As soon as I get it I will add sections of his old site too mine. First and foremost will be the bootleg trading post. This is an excellent compilation of fellow people who trade Counting Crows bootlegs.
4/24/98 - Added a scrolling marquee at bottom of home page and bootleg sections. Changed this section to "The Scoop". Added a full song to the "Sound Room". It is an acoustic, live version of Rain King.
