Rare Songs, Fantastic Crowd, and Great Friends = SPAC Success
Monday, June 7, 2010 at 8:00PM 
Eat Drink and Be Merry!! My first ever SPAC experience was a great time. The Night 2 show was 100 times better than N1. However, I have to say that I had more fun seeing all of my friends than I did at the shows!
I laughed so hard all week long. I saw some peeps I haven’t seen in a long time. The tailgates were fantastic. The weather cooperated both nights, and we all had a great time both before and after shows.
The opening run of the show was really great. There were so many highlights that I would have a hard time ranking them!
My 96th show: Saratoga Performing Arts Center:
It was my first time getting a Squirm opener. That’s my favorite song on BWGK. It also foreshadowed how many tour debuts were to come. It was the first time at a show I’ve been to that Dave’s mini-12 string was on stage. I knew there was no way it would be Shotgun, but I was hoping.
Dave brought out a brand new Gibson guitar for the second song. I had never seen it before. It was dark like his Big 12, but definitely a six. It turns out it is his new Raised B guitar. They played Stay or Leave. What a great version. I didn’t remember that song rocking out so hard towards the end. Since it is normally Dave and Tim style I think of this as a slower song, but that wasn’t the case.
Hello Again it’s been too long!!!!! It was as big of a monster as it was in 04 & 05. I was surprised how tight it sounded. The band really nailed it. Carter’s solo was longer than usual.
Mini-12 comes back to Dave, and I figured it was going to be Baby Blue. I didn’t think Shotgun or The Ideo of You was a possibility. I was wrong…another tour debut: The Idea of You. This is a perfect example of when they don’t pound songs into the ground, you can actually enjoy them. This was a pleasant surprise.
Another great highlight was the return of Cry Freedom. I haven’t gotten this classic tune since Dayton in 2004. Again, Dave really nailed it and the awesome SPAC crowd was really into it.
Dave said “Boyd Tinsley on the violin” I turned to Ryan next to me and said “Lie in our Graves, or maybe even Billies” Then BAM…Highlight of the night….my favorite song of all-time: Tripping Billies!!!! You remember last year I almost went the entire tour without hearing it, until my final show. It was so fantastic getting it midset. They rocked it out like it was the closer. The crowd was into this song more than any other.
Bringing back Can’t Stop was a head scratcher. It is bizarre the song selections that DMB has chosen to resurrect. It’s a fun little jam, but I hope it is only played a few times all tour.
The show keeps rocking with the 2010 debut of Granny. Truly a fan favorite. LOVE -- BABY! Throughout the weekend the SPAC crowd often chanted LAST STOP, LAST STOP… Dave acknowledged it a few times. He then played it on guitar and sang the first few lyrics very slowly. It was very similar to Vanderbilt 09. Of course they didn’t play it. During the encore the chants were very loud and Dave started shaking his head NO NO NO.
I am pretty sure #41 lasted 87 minutes….then the only repeat of the 2 nights: Corn Bread. I was disappointed that Corn Bread didn’t go straight into anything. It has seemingly become the Bridge of 2010.
The only song that I have never gotten before was The Needle and the Damage Done. It’s a great Neil Young cover that displays Dave’s guitar skills and his vocal range. I really enjoyed it.
Time Bomb and Two Step closed the main set. Carter was absolutely ridiculous at the end of Two Step. He would not stop! As a matter of fact, Stefan and Dave kept looking back at Carter waiting for the cue to break it down, and Carter would not stop! Boyd was going nuts strumming his violin. It was a great scene. The lights were going crazy and so was the crowd. Perfect way to end the main set.
The encore was a letdown. I was hoping for a little more from a SPAC N2 show. Some Devil solo by Dave was nice. Some Devil was the seventh Tour Debut. Then Watchtower to close. I love Watchtower, but I am shocked they didn’t do the Stairway to Heaven interpolation. I really missed that. It wasn’t the same without it.
Overall, an excellent show. Thanks to Drews and Jay for the tickets, hotel and ride from airport. Thanks to my seat partner and flight companion Jenks. My brother Tom and Yeedog also got to sit with us N2 which made the show 100 times better! Also thanks to Mike and Marc for driving us to the shows. Thanks to Jeffy for the passes. That made the weekend awesome!
I was hoping for Busted Stuff, JTR, and Sweet Up and Down. There is always next time!
Next stop is Riverbend in Cincy next Tuesday. That will be show #97. See ya then!
Reader Comments (1)
Lance: My first experience at SPAC, too, and it was (mostly) great! I'm glad I made the last minute decision to go! It was great meeting you and hopefully I'll see you at the Indy show(s) next week!