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

Concert Review: Dave Matthews Band - June 6-8, 2013 (Part Three)

This is a continuation of my concert review for Dave Matthews Band June 6-8, 2013.

You can find part one here: http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2017/08/concert-review-dave-matthews-band-june.html

You can find part two here: http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2017/08/concert-review-dave-matthews-band-june_22.html

The Tale of Night Three

The third and final night of my birthday weekend with Dave Matthews Band was observed from the lawn once again. Snaz had a good seat up close to the stage, but I had opted to stand on the lawn for my final night. Once we got to the venue and went our separate ways, I staked my claim to a spot on the lawn. Then I settled in to watch the world around me and wait for the opening act. After seeing their last two songs the night before, both Snaz and I agreed that watching the entire set from The Head and The Heart was in our best interest. I even went to the Best Buy that afternoon and bought their lone studio album, a purchase I still cherish to this day.

As I waited for The Head and The Heart to walk onstage, I watched some young college kids around me stagger and sway. It was obvious they already had too much to drink and I had a feeling they were not going to survive to the end of the evening. Then the inevitable happened. A girl in front of me fell to her knees, threw her head forward and unleashed vomit all over the lawn. Puking before the opening act while the sun was still up---what a way to start a show. I still don’t understand why people come to a concert and drink to the point where they won’t remember much of the show at all. Wouldn’t it be wiser (and cheaper) to just do that at home?

Shortly after the vomit incident, The Head and The Heart began the night of music. I watched their entire performance with glee and knew that I had found a new band to fall in love with. While their songs sound great in the studio, the live performance enhances their music tenfold. The Head and The Heart have a great stage presence and know how to produce a live performance. Their short opening set was magnificent, well crafted, and well received. By the end of their opening presentation most of the crowd had found their seats and the lawn was near full. Everyone wanted to see at least some of this band’s set and I could understand why. Their live performance was magical and worth seeing.

And while I would have loved to watch them perform longer, the main event was coming up next, and that was the real reason we were all there. Night three lacked the weather issues of night two and the surprises of the previous two concerts, but it was still a solid show put out by the Dave Matthews Band. They opened with a magnificent version of “Seek Up,” which was followed by “Proudest Monkey” and “Satellite.” When “Satellite” played, I texted Rick to let him know what he was missing. It was the one song that he wanted to hear two nights prior and I was getting to hear it for him.

Other highlights of the night included a terrific “Don’t Drink The Water” which I sang along to at the top of my lungs, a hard rocking “Seven,” a beautiful “Best of What’s Around,” a tremendous version of “Spoon” (which was the first time I got to see that song live), and a tremendous “Two Step” as the final song of the night. It was possibly the best version of “Two Step” I’ve ever seen the band perform. And it was a spectacular way to end the three nights. By the end of the night I was exhausted but also jubilant. It had been an incredible way to usher in my 40^th birthday.

Setlist From Night Three:

June 8, 2013 (Comcast Theatre)

Seek Up

Proudest Monkey

Satellite

Don’t Drink The Water

Seven

Spoon

Shake Me Like A Monkey

The Riff

Grey Street

Mercy

So Right

Jimi Thing

Gaucho

Best Of What’s Around

Recently

Funny The Way It Is

Pantala Naga Pampa

Rapunzel

Encore:

Blue Water Baboon Farm

Two Step

The Tale of New Friends 

 Serious question. Have you ever tried Vegemite? It’s an Australian thing that the folks on the other side of the world seem to absolutely love. And being that Snaz was from Australia, she brought plenty of it with her and was handing it out to anyone brave enough to try it.

On the morning of my 40^th birthday, Snaz and I stopped to have brunch on our return trip to New Jersey. We were weary but also joyous. We had just seen three great evenings of Dave Matthews Band, formed a new friendship, and were looking forward to future DMB adventures together. The only thing we hadn’t done was bond in a way that would cement our friendship for eternity. That was about to change over a brunch with Vegemite.

Once we were seated at the restaurant, Snaz insisted that I try Vegemite. Seeing that it was a milestone birthday, I figured what the heck. She even told me I could keep the bottle and let others enjoy it too. What she didn’t tell me was how interesting it was going to be.

For those not in the know, which means almost anyone from the USA, Vegemite is an Australian food spread made from leftover yeast extract with various vegetables and spices added into the mix. The ingredients form a rather short list. There’s yeast extract, salt, malt extract, flavor enhancer, spice extract, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and folic acid. All of this is combined to make what Australians insist is a delightful spread for toast or bread.

Snaz placed the jar on the table and we waited for the toast to arrive. She had the video camera on her phone ready to capture the moment. The toast arrived and Snaz held the camera up. I placed the toast in front of me and opened the jar of Vegemite.

“How much should I put on?” I asked. “Is it like Peanut Butter? Should I spread it thick?”

She shook her head. “No, you don’t want too much,” she insisted. “Just a little will do.”

I nodded and spread a very small amount of vegemite over my toast. I held the jar in my hand and sniffed at its contents. The smell almost knocked me off my chair. “That smells horrible!” I informed her. “Are you sure you really eat this?”

Snaz laughed and urged me to go on. Citing that I only live once, I took the vegemite toast and had myself a nice mouthful. When the vegemite hit my taste buds I gagged so hard that I almost spit everything out. This was without a doubt the most awful thing I have ever tasted in 40 years. Somehow, I managed to chew and swallow the monstrosity that I had placed in my mouth. My whole body shook and I immediately downed the water glass in front of me.

“What the hell was that?” I asked. “That had to be the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted! You actually eat that and like it?! What’s wrong with you?”

Snaz laughed so hard she had tears coming out of her eyes. It turns out she laughed so hard that she was never able to film me eating vegemite. She accidentally turned the camera off when trying to film. So, my moment of vegemite ingestion was not documented for posterity. And seeing as how I was never going to put that awful stuff in my mouth ever again, it never will be.

Noting how hard she was laughing, I insisted that I was being duped. “You don’t really eat that!” I exclaimed. “This is some kind of Australian trick that you play on dumb Americans.”

She laughed harder and then helped herself to some of the vegemite toast. I looked on in disgust as she ate it and appeared to enjoy it. I wondered if she had some mental problems that were not disclosed to me.

Snaz and I finished out brunch and took the long drive back to New Jersey. I dropped her off at her hotel and we said our goodbyes. We were both happy to have made a new friend, a fellow DMB fan that understood and appreciated the joy of their music and the effect it had on our lives in the same way. It was nice to make a new friend even if it is one that lives thousands of miles away.

Snaz and I have remained friends to this day and have seen each other a few times. We even visited The Gorge together (LINK) to see DMB in that historic venue. And while I haven’t made the trek across the ocean to Australia, I haven’t ruled it out of my future. It’s nice to know that I would have somewhere to crash and someone to guide my wife and I through all the sites and attractions that the land down under has to offer. I’m sure that one day I will find myself in that sunburn of a country, but I can guarantee that I won’t be eating the local favorite spread for toast. That’s just not going to happen.

Concert Review: Dave Matthews Band - June 6-8, 2013 (Part Two)

This is a continuation of my concert review for Dave Matthews Band June 6-8, 2013. You can find part one here:

http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2017/08/concert-review-dave-matthews-band-june.html

 

 

The Tale of Night Two

Night two put me in a much better seat location at a venue I had never been to before with someone that was fast becoming a new friend. There were a lot of firsts that evening, and I even purchased a new DMB hoodie for my growing collection.

Snaz and I made the ride to Connecticut from New Jersey in a huge rainstorm. Our trip was pelted with wet weather the entire time and that caused even more traffic than usual. Our original plan was to get to the hotel, check in, relax for a little while, and then head to the venue. That plan changed when we were barley into Connecticut at 7pm. We opted to get to the venue and check into the hotel after the show.

Conversation during the ride was friendly enough and we were both excited to see DMB for a second night in a row. We both had great seats that evening, although on opposite sides of the venue. I had what could be the best seat I’ve ever had for a DMB concert. I was 10^th row stage right near the aisle. It was an amazing perspective from which to witness the band.

As we rolled into the parking lot the skies opened wide. It was bad enough that it had rained all day, but as we parked the car the rain came down even harder. I was resigned to the fact that we were getting wet. With a hard, soaking rain coming down, Snaz and I made our way inside the venue and went to find our individual seats.

We were fortunate enough to get to our seats before The Head and The Heart finished their set. I was able to see their last two songs and I immediately scolded myself for not watching them the night before. I also made a mental note to get to the venue early enough the next day to watch their entire performance.

That’s another magnificent enjoyment of live concerts. Sometimes an opening act is so amazing that they become a favorite band in no time. Such was the case with The Head and The Heart. Hearing just two songs (one and a half in all honesty) made me an instant fan. I had to hear more from this band. I had to hear more of their songs. I wanted to know more about this band.

As The Head and The Heart left the stage and it was prepared for the headliners, the rain came down even harder. I was so thankful to have an actual seat under cover for that night’s show. Being on the lawn would have drowned me in no time. It looked absolutely miserable!

When it came time for Dave Matthews Band to take the stage, the opening notes of “#34” rang out and the crowd roared. “#34” is a rare song to hear in concert and it’s almost never played since LeRoi Moore passed away. To hear it as the opening number was going to be a real treat. Alas, we would not be treated that night as expected. It was just a tease. The band segued from the first thirty seconds or so of “#34” into “JTR.” This was an appropriate opener with the hook of “Rain, rain, rain down on me.” I was pleased because I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that song in concert (before or since).

My second of three consecutive nights with Dave Matthews Band was magnificent. The band performed a cover of Tom Petty’s “Running Down A Dream” and played an outstanding version of the song. I’m a big Tom Petty fan and I thought that DMB was true to the original while still adding their own flavor. It was a nice surprise, and I would welcome seeing them play that song more often.

Other highlights of the night included “Big Eyed Fish” (only the second time I’ve seen that live), my first time seeing “Song That Jane Likes” (a song I absolutely love) and a terrific performance of “Bartender” which I think is one of the best songs in the DMB catalog.

Another special moment occurred during that concert. It was once again a situation where a song was played that I either hadn’t paid attention to, or hadn’t really cared for. In this instance, it was “The Dreaming Tree.” This is a song that I liked but never thought it was anything special and never consumed it that often. And then the band played it live in Hartford. Seeing the live rendition of this song moved it up the chart for me. I was captivated at how the song weaved in its live setting. By the end of the performance I was a cemented fan and knew that “The Dreaming Tree” was going to be in regular rotation a lot more often than it had in the past. It just blew me away.

The big moment of the night came at the end of the concert. For those that are not aware, at the end of every concert, drummer Carter Beauford comes to the front of the stage and tosses drumsticks into the crowd. It’s been a dream of mine to catch a drumstick from him; a fine piece that I would have framed and mounted on my wall as the jeweled piece to my concert memorabilia collection. This was going to be my best opportunity as I was just a few rows from the stage and well within catching distance.

As Carter made his way to our side of the stage grinning and full of the happiness that he always has, my heart raced and a smile of my own crept upon my face. I was getting a drumstick that night. I could feel it. He tossed a couple of drumsticks to the people in the very front and I watched and waited. Then he pointed and tossed a couple of drumsticks deep behind me as I continued to watch and wait. Then the moment happened. Carter pointed a drumstick in our direction, pulled back, and let the drumstick fly from his hand. My eyes watched as the world moved in slow motion and the drumstick headed toward me, spinning and rotating like a well thrown curveball from a pitchers’ hand. I stretched my right arm up at the exact moment the drumstick crossed my path and felt it hit my hands. I closed my hand as quick as possible and when my hand came back toward my body, there was nothing in it. The drumstick had hit off my hand and landed behind me. I quickly wheeled around only to see someone else with the drumstick clutched to their chest like the amazing reward it was. I sighed and let out a laugh of disappointment. Not this time…

Setilist From Night Two:

June 7, 2013 (Comcast Theatre)

#34 (tease)

JTR

Warehouse

Squirm

Broken Things

The Idea Of You

Kill The Preacher

Why I Am

Captain

Belly Belly Nice

Big Eyed Fish

Bartender

The Song That Jane Likes

Lie In Our Graves

Running Down A Dream (Tom Petty Cover)

Rooftop

The Dreaming Tree

Rhyme And Reason

Everyday

Ants Marching

Encore:

Drunken Soldier

All Along The Watchtower