Acoustic guitar jams, saxophone solos and violining fury. This is no music fest, jazz in some club, or a bunch of street musicians; this is the Dave Matthews Band. It is a musical mosaic painted not only by its lyrics, but by a plethora of instruments and talent to illustrate its scope.
If that sounds confusing or too analogous, put simply it is just great music.
Dave Matthews Band was formed in 1991 in Charlottesville, Va. Dave Matthews is the lead guitarist and vocalist. He recruited music prodigy Stefan Lessard who plays bass guitar.
Jazz musician Leroi Moore is their saxophonist. DMB has Carter Beauford on drums, and Boyd Tinsley is the violinist with an attitude. They started out modestly in North Carolina and built up a strong fan base.
They got a record deal with Barna Records in the early 90’s and their first album was a live club recording in 1993, Remember Two Things. In 1994 they released Crash, which is their most successful album to date. Before These Crowded Streets was released in 1998.
Dave has also released several live albums, from Live at Red Rocks, to his acoustic version with fellow songwriter Tim Reynolds, Live at Luther College. All of this has been made possible because DMB is an awesome touring band, and they sound great live. Now we move to the present, and to my experience with the DMB.
Dave Matthews is coming to St. Louis. I said these words as I surfed the net, stuck in Madrid last semester. Not a bad place to be, but that is another article entirely. However, Dave Matthews had always found a way to allude me in his touring, from being an ocean away or putting on concerts nowhere near Omaha. I finally had them within my grasp.
So, in June when the ticket sales opened up my chance had arrived. I was going to see Dave Matthews. I admit it, I am a Dave virgin. For all those people I have talked to who have been to countless DMB concerts, well, I have a lot of catching up to do. After Sept. 18 at Riverport, I now have something to relate.
The stage could not have been set any better. It was turning into a perfect night, with clear skies and temps in the 70s; you could almost over look the bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 70. However, that was all on the outside. Inside the amphitheater was a packed house of mostly college kids waiting for Dave Matthews.
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones opened up the concert with their great folksy sound featuring a saxophone, guitars and a nice mix of banjo, played superbly by Bela Fleck.
It was a great lead in. They played a few covers, including a really cool rendition of Rodeo by Copeland. They jammed for about half an hour, and then it was time for the main event.
The half an hour of anticipation paid off; Dave and his band came on stage. They started off the concert with “The Stone,” off of his Before These Crowded Streets album. Not the best song, but it sounded great live, and most people knew the refrain.
Throughout the concert they played about five songs from their new album, which is going to be released this winter. Dave played “The Song that Jane Likes” and led into “Rhyme and Reason.”
They had a little jam during these songs but they had not warmed up yet. As the concert continued one could tell that the Band was getting into it. “Crash” was great and the crowd chanted along to the “boy’s dream”.
The next two songs were also new and featured typical Dave fare. However, no one knew the words and anticipation built for the next song. It was worth the wait. The performance of “What Would you Say” is what makes Dave concerts so memorable.
Boyd played a five-minute violin solo, and the crowd went nuts. The energy built up through “Grace is Gone” and peaked at “Lie in Our Graves.” Boyd joined forces with Bela Fleck in an improv violin-banjo duet in both “41” and “Lie In Our Grave.”
The song lasted over 20 minutes with an awesome interlude supplied by the whole band. Bela Fleck joined in and showed his banjo talent. Boyd had another great solo.
Carter had the crowd yelling with his drums and the band played on. By the end of the song everyone was on their feet. The next song was more unfamiliar territory, with “Raven.” A Dave show would not be complete without their rendition of “All Along The Watchtower.”
“Bartender” was another smooth new song, and then the Flecktones jammed along. “41” was played next, and the crowd was more than pleased by singing along. The stage obliged by having one of the Flecktones play a saxophone solo.
You could feel the energy, and it looked like the musicians head was going to explode.
“Tripping Billies” ended it, and after another thrilling jam fest, the crowd was left wanting more. The lights went out, the cigarette lighters came on, and the crowd chanted for Dave.
He came out again and did a solo version of “40.” He was joined by the band to play the newly popular “Diggin’ a Ditch,” which is sure to be a hit. Finally, “Too Much” was not too much. The band went into a frenzy again, and the crowd wanted more.
However, as all good things go, it was over and the crowd was left hanging to look forward to waiting in traffic for an hour and a half.
“I was not disappointed,” said Libby Redding, another Dave virgin.
The concert on Tuesday was said to be even better, and they played all the great songs that they had not played on Monday night, including “Jimi Thing” and Dave’s personal favorite, “Don’t Drink the Water.”
You would need at least two full days to go to a Dave Matthews’ concert and hear all the great songs.
There are too many great songs to play and the great ones they play last three times as long because everyone gets into it.
It is truly an experience in music. You do not get the same feel or rush that you would get by going to a Pearl Jam concert or listening to any rock `n’ roll band live.
It is an experience unique to the Dave Matthews Band that is something you cannot find at any other summer concert.
“Turns out not where but who you’re with that really matters.” In this case, though, if you’re with Dave, you are in good company.
