One of my all-time favorite bands, Counting Crows, have introduced a new way to experience their live performances. Beginning with their show on 7/28 in Charlotte, audio from every show will be available for download in both MP3 and Flac formats at Live Counting Crows.

This idea seems like a complete head-slapper, especially for a band like Counting Crows, who have long been known for their wide-ranging set lists and for multiple extended versions of some of their best known songs. At any given concert, you are likely to hear a version of Mr. Jones Rain King, or Round Here that includes snippets of Bruce Springsteen, U2, or other Counting Crows songs. Fans often debate online about which version of a live song is best. All of this means that no two shows are ever quite alike.

Till now, the only way to get live recordings of Counting Crows shows (other than their official realeases) was to download them from bootleg sites or to participate in trader’s networks, where fans who tape shows swap their recordings with those who have recorded concerts in other locations. Unlike these methods, which can be very hit-and-miss in terms of sound quality, each show at the Live Counting Crows site has been recorded directly form the band’s soundboard which results in a clean and crisp recording.

All this has me thinking about the future of how we may experience concert going. The by-product of companies who create good experiences for their customers are the memories of that experience. What better way to re-experience a great concert than by purchasing a recording that will allow the listener to re-live those memories any time they choose. Bands might further capitalize on this model by offering fans the ability to purchase recordings of that night’s show right at the venue, with customized CDs delivered to their homes within 2 or 3 days of the event.