Imagine a musical supergroup that blends the iconic sounds of Hootie & the Blowfish, R.E.M., and The Black Crowes—sounds like a dream, right? Well, that dream just became a reality. Darius Rucker, Mike Mills, and Steve Gorman, the powerhouse trio behind Howl Owl Howl, made their highly anticipated live debut at The Vogue in Indianapolis, and it was nothing short of electrifying. But here’s where it gets even more exciting: their setlist wasn’t just a greatest hits compilation—it was a bold fusion of new originals and reimagined classics from their legendary bands. And this is the part most people miss: they strategically saved their Ariana Grande-inspired debut single, My Cologne, for the encore, leaving the crowd buzzing with anticipation.
The night kicked off with a mix of fresh Howl Owl Howl tracks like Fear, Doesn’t Matter Now, and Window to My Soul, each showcasing the group’s unique chemistry. To elevate the experience, a fiddler joined in for Leftover and Dog of Life, adding a layer of richness to the sound. But here’s the controversial part: while fans adored the new material, some debated whether the R.E.M. and Black Crowes covers truly lived up to the originals. What do you think? Did they strike the right balance, or should they lean more into their own sound?
The main set also featured crowd-pleasers like R.E.M.’s I Believe and Rockville, Hootie’s Time and Let Her Cry, and The Black Crowes’ Hard To Handle. The encore, however, was where the magic truly happened. After My Cologne, they segued into Used to Be, followed by a spine-tingling sequence of Losing My Religion, She Talks To Angels, and The One I Love. It was a masterclass in musical storytelling.
Howl Owl Howl’s inaugural tour continues with stops in Chicago, Washington D.C., Asbury Park, Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, before wrapping up in Georgia—first in Athens (R.E.M.’s birthplace) and then Atlanta (The Black Crowes’ hometown). And here’s a thought to ponder: With such a star-studded lineup, will Howl Owl Howl redefine the supergroup genre, or will they forever be measured against their individual legacies? Let us know in the comments!
Check out highlights from their Indy debut below:
Setlist 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:
- My Cologne
- Used to Be
- Losing My Religion
- She Talks to Angels
- The One I Love
For the full setlist, visit setlist.fm. Don’t miss your chance to catch this supergroup live—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
