Few are still gaga over these bands of the past

A recent celebrity sighting paired Adam Duritz, 41, lead singer of Counting Crows, with Mary-Kate Olsen, 19, one half of the Olsen twins conglomerate of recordings, movies and merchandise.

Ewwww, you might think, because he's old enough to be her father. But, hey, they both need the publicity.

Olsen must be hungry for any celeb gossip that doesn't include her twin, and Counting Crows has an album coming out on Tuesday — "New Amsterdam: Live at Heineken Music Hall 2003." The album-supporting tour opens next week and includes a show Thursday at White River.

Concert preview


Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, White River Amphitheatre, 40601 Auburn Enumclaw Road, Auburn;

$39.50-$67.50 (206-628-0888 or www.ticketmaster.com; information: www.whiteriverconcerts.com, www.countingcrows.com or www.googoodolls.com).

The tour is an interesting pairing, too. It's a co-headlining jaunt with the Goo Goo Dolls, another '90s band that has seen better days. The Goo Goos also have a new album to promote, "Let Love In," which was released April 25, debuted at No. 9 in Billboard, then rapidly slid down the chart.

The teaming is a little odd because the bands are so different. Duritz takes himself terribly seriously. John Rzeznik, his counterpart in the Goo Goo Dolls, does not. The Crows' music is meant to be cerebral. Duritz wants to make you think. The Goo Goos are all about feeling. Rzeznik wants you to dance.

Both bands came to prominence when MTV was the most powerful influence in pop. Duritz's mass of curly hair and the band's artful videos attracted interest. The Goo Goos had Rzeznik's handsome face and sexy moves. But both bands are now too old for MTV and MTV2, and even for VH1.

Nostalgia is now both bands' greatest appeal.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312

or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com