My First Trip to see DMB at SPAC -- Hoping For Better N2
Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 11:39AM 
I am no longer a SPAC virgin. Show number 95 overall for me and my first at one of the Dave Matthews Band majors: Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Tailgating scene was fantastic and I can honestly say that seeing all of my peeps again was just as good if not actually better than attending the show itself. A lot of laughs, great food thanks to the Hessers, and the town of Saratoga is very cool and chill.
My expectations of SPAC were pretty high. I have heard about this place for over a decade. The venue is inside a state park much like Blossom in Ohio. The actual structure is nothing special. The highlight is the balcony area which extends pretty far to the stage. For N1 we sat in section 15 in the balcony which is dead center. The acoustics where we sat were perfect. Easily the loudest outdoor venue I’ve heard DMB. The mix was great, and you could hear Dave very well. The SPAC crowd was also great. They were eally into the show, very knowledgeable and very loud.
The show was pretty all over the place. There was absolutely no flow, and sloppy at times. The beginning was by far the best run. The band opened with Big Eyed Fish. Out of 95 shows, this was only the third time I have heard the song, and the first as an opener. It was really fantastic, and it turns out that the silly monkey dies at the end again. As expected the guys go straight into Bartender. I might be overstating it, but at least during live I thought it was the best Bartender I have gotten. Dave’s wail was awesome. I don’t know why it stuck out so much, but man I loved this version. Jeff Coffin was beautiful on the penny whistle at the end, and Carter Beauford was well….Carter Beauford.
Jeffy, Ryan, Me, and DanThe next five songs were also very solid, including 4 from Big Whiskey. I am particularly fond of Seven and Funny the Way It Is. The guys really nailed Seven. After Seven the crowd chanted Happy Birthday to bass player Stefan Lessard.
I’ve gotten Dancing Nancies a lot lately, but I really enjoyed last night’s version as well. Hoping for Warehouse, but sadly this song has disappeared after Butch Taylor left.
My favorite guitar the Big 12 string made its way on stage several times. The last time was for Kit Kat Jam. It was only the fourth time I have ever gotten that and the first since 2002. It seemed a bit choppy and Dave was mumbling the lyrics. He made mention before playing it that he couldn’t remember the lyrics.
Then we hit a pretty rough patch. For some reason that defies logic, the band decided to bring back their worst song in their catalog: Dreamgirl. I was in shock. I just loathe this song, and I really never thought they would play it again. A lot of fans had the same look on their face. Many headed out of their seats. I did just that going to the VIP lounge. Thanks to my buddy Jeffy for hooking me up with a lounge pass! Luckily Dreamgirl was short. A shade under 4 minutes. I really hope this song is never ever played again!
The Only Place To Watch Jimi Thing: The VIP Lounge!!!Out of So Damn Lucky they band went into this really slow paced version of Thank You. This is nothing like the Thank Yous we have heard in the past. This was a REALLY slow paced version and no verses. Dave and the crowd just sang the chorus over and over. This needs to stop immediately.
There are very very few songs that I enjoy on the studio album and don’t care for live. Most of the time it is the opposite. However, one of those is Grace is Gone. It is a beautiful song on the CD, but it does little for me at a show. I know many of my friends really like it, and I respect that. It is just way too long live for me. The best part is usually the hoedown jam, yet for whatever reason Boyd Tinsley didn’t play during the jam. How do you have a hoedown jam without a violin?!?! Well quite frankly you don’t. Tim Reynolds did what he could to make it work, but I thought it was pretty lousy at best. The combination of a song I don’t care for and the weak jam made it seem to drag on forever for me.
I’m tired of Corn Bread. It went into Recently which Tim is just way to overpowering on. Still I love Recently. One of my favorite songs. No pretty pretty girl or take me to the river outro.
The final three songs of the main set were pretty below average for me too. You and Me, and absurdly long Jimi Thing, then Shake Me Like a Monkey. I like Shake Me, but it doesn’t have enough pop to be a closer in my opinion.
During most of the encore break the crowd chanted Last Stop. Of course we all know they won’t play it. Dave picked up his baritone electric and played a riff from Last Stop just to tease us.
The encore was fantastic, and definitely salvaged the show for me. So Right is also one of my all-time favs. Only the fifth time I have gotten it. What a perfect E1 song!! Dave messed up some lyrics, but I didn’t care. I was just so happy they played it.
It went straight into Ants. A great jam to end the night.
Getting out of SPAC was a nightmare. Thousands of people smashed trying to cross over the bridge.
I am hoping for a lot more tonight. I want one of the awesome SPAC setlists that I have seen numerous times from this great venue! I am hoping for my first ever Busted Stuff. Also some Hello Again, Sweet Up and Down, JTR, and any other pleasant surprises.
Reader Comments (2)
I'd like to know what you thought of Night 2, which I was at. It was my second DMB concert, but my first was when I was around the age of 6. Do you know the setlist that was played on N2?
Hey Michelle. I just posted my N2 review. Thanks for the post. Here is N2 setlist:
Dave Matthews Band
June 5, 2010
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (Saratoga Spa State Park), Saratoga Springs, NY
Squirm
Stay or Leave
Hello Again
Lying in the Hands of God
The Idea of You
Still Water [partial] »
Don't Drink the Water
Cry Freedom
Tripping Billies
Can't Stop
Granny
The Last Stop [tease]
#41
Spaceman »
Corn Bread
The Needle and the Damage Done
Time Bomb »
Two Step
-----------------------------------
Some Devil
Stefan solo »
All Along the Watchtower