Concert Memory: Dave Matthews Band - June 23, 2018

There is nothing more rewarding than watching your child have the same reaction to their first experience of a particular band live that you did many years earlier. I was blessed and thankful to be able to share that interaction with my daughter, which happened on a gorgeous Saturday night in Hartford, Connecticut. The band was Dave Matthews Band and we made a three-hour journey to see them in concert. It was her first time and my 20^th. So, while I knew what to expect and the grand time we were going to have, she had no clue the joyous occasion that would unfold before her.   

Standing in the pit watching the instruments be tuned and set left me with a lot of exciting anticipation. Was my daughter going to love this band as much as I did? Was she going to be enthralled to the point where they became one of her favorite bands as they had for me years earlier? Would she leave with the same feelings of euphoria that I had?   

Sure, I had concerns going into the show. Boyd Tinsley was out and DMB had decided to tour with no violin for the first time since I’ve been seeing them live (maybe for the first time ever). I didn’t know if the essence was going to be the same as I had grown accustomed to. We had pit tickets, so that was certainly going to help improve the vantage point, but I love Boyd Tinsley and knowing that he wasn’t going to be on stage hurt a little. 

My big issue with the new incarnation of Dave Matthews Band (version 3.0 if you will) was that the setlists did not vary much for this trek across the US. The same songs were being played multiple times, which is unlike a normal DMB tour. Part of that could be because new addition organist Buddy Strong was still getting up to speed on the entire DMB catalog, but part of that could be for a different reason (although a reason that I can’t quite figure out). They stayed with the same group of songs for most of the tour. Although, we did get three tour debuts (“Stay or Leave,” “Captain,” and “Black and Blue Bird”) but everything was standard, especially the encore.

There’s a certain amount of magic in the air anytime the Dave Matthews Band takes the stage. Even in the absence of Boyd Tinsley on the violin, I knew this was going to be another special night. The weather was in our favor, the crowd was large but peaceful and loving, and of course the music was going to be magnificent. Standing that close to the stage also added to the experience. I had not been in the pit for a DMB show since my trip to The Gorge. That experience had not been the best, so there were concerns going into this show, but when the opportunity to get pit tickets came up for my daughter’s first experience, I had to grab them. Standing there as the pit filled and the clock ticked closer to showtime, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, we had a grand pit experience this time around. Maybe it’s because we stood by the horns---who can say for sure? All I know is that this was a much more relaxed experience than my last one. And for that I am eternally gratefully.

I was able to guess the opening song, but I don’t take great pride in that, as the setlists were predictable. That is something I’ve never been able to say about a DMB tour before, but it’s true for 2018. There were only three songs they opened with for most of that leg and one of them was the opener the night before, so I had a pretty good feeling that “That Girl Is You” was going to kick off our night. Fortunately, it is a favorite from the new release for both my daughter and myself.

All these items did not make it a bad show. I don’t believe that I’ve ever witnessed a bad DMB show and judging by my daughter’s gleeful outbursts it was the best concert ever performed in the history of music. Yet, perhaps since I’ve been to 20 of these shows now, I’ve grown jaded and hopeful. There are always songs I am chasing (“The Last Stop” in particular) and songs that I want to hear that I’ve only heard once (“Lover Lay Down”), but the band has so many songs they could pull out and they are touring behind a new record. I understand that the new songs are going to take precedence. And they have to balance deep cuts with fan favorites. I get all of that. And look, when it comes to a DMB show, their setlist is a million times more varied than a KISS show. But I think I’ve raised my expectations because the band raised the bar the first time I saw them in concert. I’m like a junkie. I want every concert to be as tremendous as that first one was. I’m chasing the high.

Prior to the show, I even had a list of songs in my head that I wanted to hear. I know it was a stretch for several reasons, but I want to hear the songs I don’t hear live too often. Which may be part of my problem. I need to enjoy the show for the show and if the rare songs are played, consider that a blessing. I was hoping to hear any of the following: “#27,” “Say Goodbye,” “Break Free,” “Come On, Come On,” or “Minarets.” I thought I had the best chance with “Come On, Come On” because it was a new song. The others I knew were a longshot at best. Sadly, none of those songs were performed, but I should have expected that anyway.

Out of the songs that did get played, there were some real highlights for me. I was overjoyed to hear “Crush” and “Jimi Thing” (two of my favorite songs by this band.) I was also glad to get “Stand Up” and “Louisiana Bayou” which is an unpopular statement with most purists. However, these two songs hold a special place in my heart as they were the songs that locked me into being a fan for life the first time I saw the band live. Robert Randolph guested on Bayou the first night I saw DMB and that just blew my mind. So, I will always love most of the songs from the Stand Up album.  They will always remind me of when DMB moved into the top five of my all-time favorite bands.  

The best part about being in the pit was the opportunity to get a drumstick from Carter Beauford. I’ve had opportunities to get a drumstick before and I’ve come extremely close once, at that same venue. The stick went off my fingertips and flipped behind me. SO CLOSE! With that in mind, I told my daughter that if she got a stick from Carter it was mine. I had come too close to let her get one on her first night. Unfortunately, Carter did not take the usual time to toss sticks into the audience. Not at the end of the main set and not after the encore. What the heck, Carter? I had informed my daughter what a big part of the show experience it was going to be and you tossed nothing! What a let down!  

As for my daughter, I had never seen her so happy in her entire life. The joy that overwhelmed her with infectious. She was so enthralled and she could not stop talking about what an amazing time she was having. She told me repeatedly that she had no idea the band was this good in concert. That made me made me laugh. I had only been telling for the last ten years she should think about attending a show with me. In her wise wisdom though she pointed out that she may not have been mature enough in her musical tastes to enjoy the band until now. Out of the mouths of babes… I was ecstatic by her happiness and so glad that we had gotten to see this show together. And now I have a permanent partner to attend all future shows with. She’s already told me that she can’t wait to see the band again and asked if we can do multiple shows next time. As long as they tour in 2019, my dear daughter, yes, we can.  

SETLIST

That Girl Is You

One Sweet World

Granny

Crush

Samarai Cop

Stay Or Leave

What Would You Say

Can’t Stop

Jimi Thing

Captain

Warehouse

Black and Blue Bird

The Song That jane Likes

Lying in the Hands of God

Funny The Way It Is

Come Tomorrow

Stand Up

Louisiana Bayou

ENCORE
The Space Between

Tripping Billies

Lost 80's Live Announces New Summer Tour Dates

Now here’s something I can get behind. The Lost 80’s Live Tour. Set to happen this summer, bands like Gene Loves Jezebel, The Romantics, Missing Persons, A Flock of Seagulls, and Wang Chung will get together for a 30-city tour!

Only a few dates/locations have been confirmed so far, but visit http://lost80slive.com for the latest information. 

A New Year Resolution That Can Actually Be Kept

Welcome to 2018! Another year of promises to change things about ourselves. Promises that we may or may not keep. Promises that may be broken by mid-January. Every year I make some sort of New Year resolution that I try my best to stick to, but usually dissolves by March. Some years it’s to eat better or get physically fit. Other years it’s to stress less and dedicate myself to more writing and less work. And sometimes it’s to reign in my spending and put myself on a real budget that I will stick to.

This year I’ve decided to make concerts one of my New Year resolutions. Music is my lifeline, so why not resolve to enjoy it more? With that in mind, I made a resolution that there are some bands I will make myself see in 2018. If that means travelling to see them in concert, so be it. I rarely travel to see a band, but that needs to change this year. To make this resolution come to fruition I am going to have to take chances and make strides.

Throughout the month of January, I will be posting all my musical resolutions for 2018 starting with the concerts I resolve to see in 2018. And if you are of the same mindset, maybe I will see you at one of these shows.

The Revivalists

The Revivalists are a band that I just got into last year. I heard their song “Wish I Knew You” on one of the alternative stations through Amazon music and fell in love with them immediately. Suddenly I was playing their album Men Amongst Mountains a lot and it became my go to record for most of the summer. That then led me to listen to their other releases and before I knew it, The Revivalists had become one of my favorite new bands. Obviously, I have never seen them in concert, but 2018 will change that. Currently they only have one show listed, a music festival in Phoenix, AZ, but I will keep an eye on their website and as soon as shows are added, I will determine which one I am going to.

The Strumbellas

The Strumbellas are another band that I just got into last year because of listening to the alternative stations on Amazon music. I fell in love with them as well and purchased a copy of Hope days after hearing their music. From there I went on to enjoy all their material and I often find myself listening to them for hours on end. They are a young, up and coming band that has potential to be huge! Keep an eye on this band because I think they are going to take off and be one of the great ones for years to come. I almost got to see them live in 2017 but I had a commitment conflict the night they were performing in New York City. In 2018, I will make sure that does not happen. Currently, there are no tour dates listed on their website, but I am sure that will change as January marches forward. Once tour dates are up, I will lock in the show that I am going to attend.

Pearl Jam

I don’t even know if Pearl Jam perform in the United States in 2018, but if they do, I am going to have to be at one of their shows. Currently, Pearl Jam has European tour dates for 2018 but that’s it. That doesn’t mean they are going to tour America this year, but I know I’m not travelling to Europe, not even for Pearl Jam. So, I am going to hope that there will be a stateside show, or a Canadian one. I’ll travel to Canada to see this band. It has been over ten years since I last saw Pearl Jam in concert. That is far too long to go without seeing one of my favorite bands perform live. Pearl Jam is a top five band for me, so in 2018, they are going to be treated like a top five band. If they plan a show anywhere in the continental United States (or Canada), I will find a way to see them in concert!

Pop Evil

This one is easy and should be the first band I knock off the list. Pop Evil is going to be playing the Starland Ballroom in March, a local club that’s not too far from my home. I’ve seen them perform there a few times and every performance was exceptional! This time around they will be supporting a brand-new album (due out in February) and treating us to a Saturday night show. All signs point to awesomeness and I know this concert is going to be a memorable one.  A Pop Evil show always is. The last time around it was one of the best concerts of the year (possibly the best). Every time I see Pop Evil they are better than the last time. They continue to improve their skills and they continue to dominate the live scene. Pop Evil 2018 is going to be absolutely amazing.

Brian Fallon

Another one that should be relatively simple to complete. Brian Fallon is also going to perform at the Starland Ballroom on a Sunday night in April. He is also releasing a new album in February. The first two singles from his soon to be released record are some of the greatest songs of his entire career, which has me extremely excited for the new release. I’ve seen his former band The Gaslight Anthem perform live, but I’ve never seen Brian Fallon solo, so this will be interesting to me. I’ve heard that he does not play any Gaslight Anthem songs during his solo performances, but he will mix in a cover or two. Whatever he performs won’t matter too much to me. Brian Fallon is such a talent that he could perform just about anything and I’d like it. And that’s a fact that was proven by my love for his cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.” 

Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band took 2017 off from touring, and while Dave and Tim (Reynolds) went out on an acoustic tour, I did not attend the local show (mostly since it sold out before I could lock in someone to attend with). 2018 should see the entire band back out on the road all summer long and I am sure that my friend Snaz will be coming stateside and want to see the band. I will just have to find out which dates she is going to and then find a way to attend them with her. Perhaps we can hit some Midwest shows and I will be able to take in a ball game in Milwaukee during the same trip. That would be magnificent! Part of this resolution is to see DMB multiple times. This can be achieved by seeing them locally, perhaps driving to a semi local weekend show and seeing both nights, and then hitting the Midwest. 2018 could find my attending my 25^th DMB show before the year is over.