"WE will be back" vowed Counting Crows' tormented front man Adam Duritz as he bade farewell to a packed Newcastle crowd.

His promise came after a rousing finale which included the upbeat 'Come Around' from their most recent 2008 offering Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings.

It seemed a hint of hope from Duritz - not known for being overly upbeat - having battled a well publicised dissociative disorder.

Sufferers experience a disconnection from reality, time and place and - as if to underline the fact - during one lengthy ramble he told how he woke thinking he was in Nottingham.

He is quoted as saying most of his songs chart the disintegration of his life and that during the recording of Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings he considered quitting.

Rambling exchanges - and the confession he is an ardent Tweeter - aside, Duritz confided he is now emerging from his downward spiral.

The random set contained a good 'best of' selection from the band's five studio albums released since their 1991 formation - a rich but hardly prolific output.

His self-absorbed offerings included the hit single 'Mr Jones', 'Holiday In Spain' Goodnight Elisabeth', 'Hard Candy', Colorblind' and the night's outstanding highlight 'Rain King'.

His favoured themes of regret, detachment, lost love and the struggle to belong means Duritz doesn't simply sing songs but almost re-lives the emotions which inspired him, leading to some original performances.

Seven days earlier I'd been to see Morrissey at Hartlepool and compared with dreadlocked Duritz, Manchester's finest is up there with Kylie Minogue.

However a generation have now turned to Counting Crows for their fine musicianship and emotional outpourings and I for one hope they do return.

* For listings at the O2 Academy Newcastle log onto www.o2academynewcastle.co.uk