The music world buzzed with excitement as Darius Rucker, Mike Mills, and Steve Gorman unveiled their new supergroup Howl Owl Howl to a lively crowd in Indianapolis. This trio, hailing from iconic bands Hootie & the Blowfish, R.E.M., and The Black Crowes, made their remarkable live debut at The Vogue, marking a milestone in the history of rock music.
On the night of their inaugural performance, the setlist was a delightful fusion of fresh tunes alongside beloved classics from their previous bands. Alongside Rucker (the energetic frontman for Hootie & the Blowfish), Mills (the legendary bassist from R.E.M.), and Gorman (the ex-drummer for The Black Crowes), were talented musicians Rich Gilbert on guitar and keyboards and Sol Philcox-Littlefield on guitar. This group didn't hold back when it came to showcasing their musical diversity, kicking off the evening with their recently released debut single, "My Cologne," which cleverly references pop star Ariana Grande, as part of their encore.
The audience was treated to a captivating main set featuring several original Howl Owl Howl songs such as "Fear," "Doesn't Matter Now," "See Me Now," and "Window to My Soul." To elevate the experience, a fiddler joined them for performances of "Leftover" and "Dog Of Life," adding a rich texture to the sound.
Fans also enjoyed renditions of R.E.M. classics like "I Believe" and "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville," alongside Hootie & the Blowfish favorites like "Time" and "Let Her Cry." The Black Crowes' famed "Hard To Handle" also made an appearance, igniting nostalgia amongst the audience.
The closing encore featured the catchy "My Cologne" followed by a heartfelt performance of “Used to Be.” The night’s grand finale took listeners down memory lane with R.E.M.'s poignant tracks "Losing My Religion" and "The One I Love," flanked by The Black Crowes’ evocative "She Talks To Angels."
Howl Owl Howl's inaugural tour is poised to capture attention across various cities including Chicago, Washington D.C., Asbury Park, Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia. The two-week tour will culminate in Georgia—significantly, in Athens, the birthplace of R.E.M., on November 14, and Atlanta, the hometown of The Black Crowes, on November 15.
Check out some of the setlist's memorable highlights:
- Fear
- Doesn't Matter Now
- Hard to Handle
- Leftover
- Everybody Wants Her
- I Believe
- Pilot
- Time
- Dog of Life
- See Me Now
- Window to My Soul
- Let Her Cry
- (Don't Go Back to) Rockville
Encore highlights included:
- My Cologne
- Used to Be
- Losing My Religion
- She Talks to Angels
- The One I Love
For additional details on their setlist, visit the source at setlist.fm.
