You Never Know

These are some powerful lyrics from one of my favorite Dave Matthews Band songs.  It's called simply You Never Know.  If you have never heard this song, I hope you find the music and the message as inspirational as I do. 

This performance was from Red Rocks outside of Denver in a 4-night stand in September of 2005.  One of the greatest weekends of my life.

You Never Know

Sitting still as stone watching - watching
People walking by you wondering why
No one ever stops to talk or thinks about it – if they ever did
What if God shuffled by?

One day we might see
Doing not a thing
Breathing just to breathe
We might find some reason

But rushing around seems what’s wrong with the world
Don’t lose the dreams inside your head
They’ll only be there til you’re dead
Dream

Lying on the roof counting
The stars that fill the sky I wonder if
Someone in the heavens looking back down on me – I’ll never know
So much space to believe

Funny when you’re small
The moon follows the car
There’s no one but you see
Hey, the moon is chasing me

I worried if I looked away she’d be gone
Don’t lose the dreams inside your head
They’ll only be there til you’re dead
Dream

Walking through the wood
No cares in the world
The world has come to play
She’s all mine just for a day

There’s not a moment to lose in the game
Don’t let the troubles in your head
Steal too much time you’ll soon be dead
So play

All fall down
It won’t be so long now
Out of the darkness comes light like a flash
You think you can you think you can
Sometimes that is the problem
Dream little darling dream

Spinning on the wind
The leaf fell from the limb

But everyday should be a good day to die
Oh all fall down
It won’t be too long now
Every fire dies
I find it hard to explain how I got here
I think I can I think I can
Then again I will falter
Dream little darling dream

Spinning on the wind
The leaf fell from the limb

Video from DMB at Hollywood Bowl 8.23.10

This is from the Dave Matthews Band Concert at the Hollywood Bowl on 8.23.10.

I shot this video using my iphone4.  If I had any idea it would've come out so well I would've shot even more songs.  However, most of the time I didn't want to fool with my phone and just enjoy the show.

Included in the video:

• Short intro of the Bowl
• End of Lying in the Hands of God
• Entire performance of Write a Song
• Intro to Two Step
• Outro to Two Step
• Middle section of Ants Marching
• Ending of Ants Marching

Thanks to my buddies for hooking me up with 2nd row seats!  It was a real treat.  Thanks to DMB for an awesome show!

I would suggest watching it full screen.  Enjoy!

Saying Goodbye to Alpine Until 2012

My 12th straight show of what I believe to be the Mecca of the Dave Matthews Band: Alpine Valley.  Another two night stand with plenty of surprises and the best DMB fans on earth.

SHOW #102 Alpine Valley 7.4.10

A much cooler tailgate with some pretty incredible food from Chef Reid got the Independence Day festivities started right.  This was my first ever Fourth of July DMB show.  I saw a lot of great peeps, some that I haven’t seen in years.   Thanks so much to Drews for the great tickets once again!

It was hard to keep my expectations down for Alpine Night Two.  Walking again down the slope past the massive lawn, my seat partner Jeffy and I commented on how perfect the place is.  He got us lounge passes and we got to hang out there prior to the show.

I figured if the Big 12 string guitar was on stage it was JTR, and if it was Dave’s standard 6 it would be Pig.  Either way I would be thrilled, and I was really hoping for Pig. 

When the guys took the stage, they really played up to the crowd.  There were a lot of signs and just overall a lot of electricity in the place.  Dave even lit a sparkler and waved it on stage.

The first song was not JTR or Pig…Instead: One Sweet World.  It is a fine song, and one of my wife’s favorite.  I just really do not like it as an opener.  Only because it is my most seen opening song (15), and I really thought it was going to be Pig.  I broke the cardinal rule of having too much expectation.  I did get into the groove, and it was cool to see since it was a tour debut.

In the Fourth of July spirit Dave said something along the lines of, “I was not born in this country, and I have traveled all over the world, but I am proud to call this home.”  A pretty awesome moment.

The Big 12 comes out and I am certain it has to be JTR, but then I remembered Sweet Up and Down was pretty early at Deer Creek……..AND wrong again: Bartender.  I love that song and the Alpine crowd makes Dave’s wails even that much better. 

I hate Everyday.

Jeff Coffin picks up the flute and my buddy Jay and I both said, “Say Goodbye?!”  Dave then talked about how they’ve only played this tiny song a few times.  It was Break For It.  I do enjoy the song.  It is very slow, and tonight seemed to drag on longer than versions I have gotten in the past.

After that, Jeff kept the flute.  I noticed the drum tech guy run out and mess with Carter’s kit…then the spotlights go on Carter.  We knew it had to be Say Goodbye!!!  Awesome!  I wanted this song at my first show way back in 1999. It actually took me until my 30th show which was ironically my first at Alpine in 2005. (Did you follow all of that?)

Anyhow, Say Goodbye was perfect.  Jay asked me to video tape the whole thing and I did my best with his camera.  I will upload it when I get the file from him.  Dave’s voice sounded great and he hit the falsettos.  Jeff was masterful on the flute.  What a great surprise, and the Alpine crowd loved it all giving the guys a huge ovation after Dave’s final Say Goodbye.

Dave gets the raised B Gibson and Lying in the Hands of God is next.  I just love the jam to this, and it was the first song of the night that really rocked out for me.  The outro jam had a very slow build up, but when it got going it was fantastic.  I like how Carter breaks it down now on the very end.

A lot of people do not like Digging a Ditch.  I definitely would not want to hear at a lot of shows, but I had not gotten it since 2006.  It was a nice little song, but it kept the theme of pretty slow songs going.

There were four tour debuts tonight.  The next one is another all-time favorite and a song that features Carter Beauford.  Drive In Drive Out.  They were pretty tight with this song, and the last two verses were just awesome.  There was a very slight hiccup in the ending jam, but of course Carter owned it as always.  First time I have gotten DIDO since Berkeley in 2008.

I keep mentioning the Alpine crowd, and if you have never been it is hard to describe it.  The best way I could try is you know how when you are in the car by yourself and a certain song comes on the radio and you sing pretty loud to it without a care because you are alone?  Well that’s a lot like Alpine.  40,000 hardcore DMB fans singing in their cars all at once.  Sometimes you can barely hear Dave.  During the crescendo of Grey Steet Colors Bold and Bright I could not hear Dave at all.  The massive wall of fans drowned everything out.  I love those little moments at Alpine.

For a tired old song that has gotten a ton of play, Jimi Thing was surprisingly fun tonight.  It started when Boyd Tinsley actually showed some life and jammed with Dave on his smaller solo.  I loved that.  Boyd is great when he shows off a little.  Then Rashawn Ross played Thank You during his trumpet solo.  Thank You has been a staple the past two years at Alpine and the crowd really sang it loudly.  As a matter of fact, Dave didn’t sing much of Jimi at all letting the fans do most of his work.

Instead of the usual Dave scat, he went off stage in what I am guessing (I could be totally wrong)…but I thought he had his tech load the verses of Thank You in the teleprompter.  Dave motioned to the band to keep up the jam.  I thought he was stretching to go straight into Thank You.  It wasn’t the case and I liked the fact Dave didn’t scat and Tim did not do a long solo.  The crowd singing Thank You actually worked pretty well in Jimi and it made a song I don’t normally care for pretty groovy.

I love the sound of the acoustic guitar.  With so many guys now on stage, sometimes Dave’s work gets lost in the noise.  That is why I like Needle and the Damage Done.  It’s a great Neil Young cover that is almost entirely Dave on guitar.

I find it ironic that last year I could not get my favorite song at a show.  This year I have gotten Tripping Billies a lot and I love it!!  Especially midset.

After Billies Dave said, “Of course you know everybody, but I’ll introduce them anyway.”  I thought that was a small shoutout by Dave acknowledging the great fans at Alpine.  Dave was also sure to tell us that he has a lot of nose hair.  What goes on in that brain of his?

Several times Last Stop was chanted.  And just like every single show I’ve been to…Dave laughed it off giving us no hope for one of their greatest songs.  I have given up hearing Last Stop.

Ants Marching closes the set, but not before Carter seemingly does a bit of the Halloween intro prior to the snare drum start of Ants.  I was for certain it was Halloween, and then I remembered some of my buddies that were at Detroit that said the same thing happened.   No Halloween just Ants, but I would never complain about getting their signature song.  During the end I swear Rashawn played the Samford and Son theme song.  Pretty funny if that’s true.

The encore seemed obvious.  I figured it would be Time Bomb/Watchtower with a chance of Stay.  Stay is an awful closer, and luckily it stayed away.

The final surprise of the night happens during the first encore tune.  Before the rest of the guys were even ready on stage, Dave begins on his guitar his very first song:  I’ll Back You Up.  Someone had a sign in the PIT that read: “Please play I’ll Back You Up for my wife in Iraq” 

I often rip on Rashawn, but I thought he did his best work ever with the band on a beautiful muted solo at the end of IBYU.  A really great treat for sure.

Last Stop chants again, and Dave did a little dance in front of the stage.  Then he did an imaginary clay pigeon shooting as if to say he was shooting down that idea.

They guys go into a rocking version of Time Bomb, Fonz does the Star Spangled Banner intro to Watchtower.  No Stairway to Heaven lyrics again, however the outro was awesome.  Carter jammed it out much longer than usual while Dave was swinging his Taylor like an axe.  The crowd ate it up, and it was a cool way to end Alpine 2010. 

42 songs over two nights, 5 tour debuts, no repeats, and the guys didn’t finish until 11:40pm.  That is DMB!

As we drive 8 hours back home with my Evansville buddies Ryan, Jason, and Kyle, I am thrilled I made another trip to Alpine.  They weren’t epic shows like 2008.  However, there were some great rarities and performances that were pretty exhilarating.  The Alpine crowd adds so much to each and every song.  I have never been to the Gorge, and hopefully someday I will be able to judge for myself.  However, for now…nothing compares to the greatness of Alpine.

DMB at Alpine

100 DMB Shows, 100 Great Memories, Countless Number of Friends

100

That many times I have experienced my beloved passion of the Dave Matthews Band.  All day and night people at my home venue of Deer Creek outside of Indianapolis said the same thing to me:  “Happy 100th show!!”  It was always hard to react.  First off, I’m hardly the first person to go to 100 DMB shows.  As a matter many of my close friends have already hit that century mark.  Also, it’s such an unusual accomplishment.  It’s not like it’s a birthday or landing a new job…it’s just a milestone of the number of times I have forked over a few bucks to see my favorite band.  I never knew how to respond when I received well-wishes, except to simply say thanks.  I really do appreciate it.

Going to DMB shows is not about the music, or seeing the guys play live on stage.  It’s not about where my tickets are, or how great the tailgate is.  It is not about the setlist, or getting rare songs.  It’s not about Boyd tearing into a great solo, or Carter blowing a bubble while playing.  Of course all of that is a major part of the experience.  However, my 100 shows of DMB are all about friends.  The friendships that I have built over the years have been those that will last a lifetime.  I have met friends all over the country and beyond that are some of the greatest people that you would ever believe.  These people will go out of their way to help one another.  Not just with a concert, but in anything.

For example, our greatest accomplishment was raising nearly $3000 after saxophonist LeRoi Moore died for his memorial fund.  The check was hand delivered to his family.  That is the kind of big-hearted people I am talking about.

It is the pay it forward mentality.  Not everyone can return favors back to one another, but we can always help out the next person.  And the DMB community always does.

There was definitely a part of me that wanted to have a #100 sign at the show tonight.  I even wanted to try and meet the band, or at the very least throw a little card on the stage just saying thanks.  But I came to the conclusion that this DMB journey isn’t about the guys on stage, it’s definitely not about me….it is about the friends in the pavilion. 

As we tailgated in the parking lot, everyone was excited, not because of my 100th show but because it’s freaking night two of Deer Creek!  It’s a venue that never disappoints.  It’s a venue with some of the most passionate fans, and some of my very best shows out of 100. 

Ironically, my brother Ryan who was at the show tonight was also with me at my first ever DMB show on 5.8.99.  He is directly responsible for the DMB madness!

Before our group heads into the venue, two of my best friends in the universe call everyone together.  Taryn climbs on top of a truck while my brother Tom pours champagne.  “It’s Lance’s 100he show!!”  They had noise makers and a big signed card from everyone!  Inside the card were two sweet tickets to the show for me and my favorite seat partner: my wife Kim.  I can’t thank everyone enough.  That was so awesome, and I’ll never forget it!  Taryn and Tom are the bestest!  Thanks so much to REID, DREWS, and JAY BIRD for the tickets not just for tonight, but throughout the years.  Thanks to Jeff and Brian for the same.  I had an enormous group from Evansville that loved their seats tonight and night one.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

SHOW #100 Deer Creek Amphitheatre 6.19.10

This is my 17th show and my ninth straight year at Deer Creek.

I was as excited as my 2 year old son when Elmo comes on TV as I headed to my seat.  I did not care if they played Bayou Balls 18 straight times, I was going to have a great time tonight.  Kim and I made it to our seats and they were PERFECT!  Front row up against the rail of the PIT (still the worst idea in the history of mankind). 

Many of you know my appreciation for Jeff Coffin.  I have loved that guy since lucking into meeting him at Randall’s Island in New York City in 2006.  He was so genuinely nice and down to earth.  Not to mention he has handled joining the band as well as anyone could have since Roi’s tragic death.  So when the guys took the stage we were just feet away and Jeff looked my way, of course I waved like a big goofball and Jeff waved back and smiled.  A great sign to start the show!

We had awesome people around us including buddies Michelle and Drew.  That always makes the shows a lot better.

The Big 12 string is on stage, and we all assumed it was Big Eyed Fish.  This is Jen Cahill’s favorite song and she had never gotten it till tonight.  So I was happy for her.  I love the song too, and it’s another one of their songs that I think is on the top shelf of awesome openers. 

BEF goes into right into one of my favorites: Bartender.  I remember an interview Dave did around the time of Busted Stuff’s release.  He said that Bartender was his best song he had ever written.  That always sticks in my head when I listen to it.  I love it, and I love the lyric when Dave is wailing at the end:  “God is not above you, He’s not above you, He’s all around” So powerful.

If you remember my review from SPAC I talked about how much I loved Stay of Leave full band.  I saw the Gibson guitar come out and I knew it had to be SoL.  It just really really rocks out at the end.  The enthusiastic Deer Creek crowd was singing the lyrics so loud right with Dave. How about Carter Beauford during the song?!  He has one drum stick in his mouth while playing with the other.  In his free hand he is holding two shakers against the cymbals and hitting his double bass!  Good Lord Carter!!  He is talented beyond belief.

Out comes the Big 12 again.  I am guessing Kit Kat Jam, and the guy next to me is saying Grey Street.  Of course one of the great parts of DMB setlists is never knowing what is coming, and of course we were both wrong.  Sweet Up and Down!!!  Yes!!!  I love this song!  It was only the fourth time I have seen it.  I will have to listen to the tape, but if I can remember right it seemed like Dave sang right over where Boyd’s solo usually goes.  I could be wrong. 

Stand Up starts.  Hmmmm.  Odd.  That definitely wasn’t on the radar, but I was thinking cool…at least it’s something different.  Not a huge fan, but I wasn’t complaining.  Then in the middle the music was still Stand Up, but the lyrics were not, I was so confused.   I told Kim what are these lyrics (turned out to be cornbread)…then bam right into Recently!  I did not see that coming at all!  Ironically, my wife told me before the show she wanted Warehouse and Recently.  I laughed and told her we are not getting either of those.  Needless to say we were both rocking out to Recently.  Pretty Pretty Girl outro and Take me to the River!  Love it!

Out comes Nancies.  You gotta love it.  It’s a staple song and of course it’s a chance for Boyd Tinsley to go crazy.  Out of habit my brain immediately turns to Warehouse, but c’mon we all know they don’t play that anymore, plus I can see Dave’s guitar tech getting the Why I Am fender ready to go.

Sure enough Why I am is up next.  I like the song, but I have never have really gotten excited about it.  I have no idea why, but WIA just kicked my rear end tonight.  Its odd how sometimes songs will click later, but I was really into the song.  Forever dancing with the Groogrux King!

Out comes Danny Barnes.  He has been a setkiller my last three shows.  However, the stage crew does not bring out a microphone!  Yes, no Road or Caveman tonight!  I think Danny Barnes is awesome, I am really not hating on him as a musician I just do not want Cornbread or one of his songs!!

Love me some Spaceman, but I just new Cornbread was next.  Nope!  Woo!  Hmm, what is next?  I really had no guess.  The guys talked for a few minutes around Carter’s kit, and I could see Carter talking into his IEM.  Dave then goes near the mic and starts playing.  After just a couple of strums, I knew it was the passion intro!  So did Drew and we gave each other a big high five!  WAREHOUSE!!  Kim laughed and said “I told you so, Dave text me that he was playing Warehouse and Recently.”

The passion intro is so awesome, and it never went to the stop time with the woos, it went right into Boyd just like on the album.  The whole pavilion was rocking, and it was great having our old friend back.  Ironically it wasn’t even after Nancies.  Rashawn Ross still doesn’t seem to know how to play it, but who cares, it’s freaking Warehouse! 

The Big 12 comes out again.  Now there are only three songs left on that guitar, Grey Street, Kit Kat Jam, and Raven.  Crack….Grey Street it is.  After Stefan’s recent radio interview we were hoping for the third verse that vanished somewhere in Conan O’Brien’s old Late Night studio.  However, nope…just the two.  I really miss Roi on the end of Grey Street.  Anyone else?

You and Me was well done, and it was even better being with Kim on that one. 

Here is where it gets a little corny for me.  I am not a fan of Stay, and admittedly I am tired of Jimi Thing.  However, I told myself nothing was going to be a downer tonight.  So when both of those songs were played I reached in my memory bank of my previous 99 shows to find a concert that I really liked both songs.  A time before I grew tired of them.  Corny I know, but it worked.  For Jimi Thing I thought back to Deer Creek 2004.  I remember how much I liked Dave’s scat about soldiers.  Jimi Thing used to be one of my all-time favorites.  For Stay that was easy.  8.5.04. Riverbend in Cincinnati.  One of the best shows ever.  That little trick worked, and I really had a great time for both Jimi and Stay. 

Time Bomb was rocking in E1, and then comes Watchtower.  I am very biased in favor of Watchtower.  It gets very little love these days.  However, for me All Along the Watchtower is DMB live!  It’s a song that brought in a lot of fans on that first live release from Red Rocks 1995.  My first 20 shows, I only got Watchtower once!  I love it.  It was a perfect way to end my 100th show!

Now before Watchtower Dave thanked the crowd for coming.  He said this was the 28th time the band had played at Deer Creek.  As the crowd cheered, he joked….”We’ve been coming here for 175 years!”  I love Deer Creek and it is ironic that my home venue was number 100.  I promise I didn’t plan it that way!

Thank you to the Dave Matthews Band for a great 16 years of my life, and 11 years of following them on the road.  I love the Seize the Day philosophy.  Something I strive for at all times.  Today is indeed the Day!

Thanks to the greatest friends a guy could ever have.  Thanks to each and every one of you that I have met or talked to over the years.  I have learned and taken away so much from all of you!

Thanks to the best wife in the world that loves journey as much as I do!

Wash away this tired notion that the best is yet to come!

Next stop Alpine!  See you July 3rd!



2010 DMB Riverbend: Billies Good, Barnes Bad

My 2010 Dave Matthews Band summer tour continues with Cincinnati.  Tonight was my ninth straight show at Riverbend.  One of the crappiest venues that has hosted some of my best shows ever.

SHOW #97 Riverbend Music Center 6.15.10

Tonight I sat with Huff, Taryn, and near a lot of other great peeps including Dan, Gater and Rob from dmbalmanac.com(greatest site on the web!)  We were in third row behind the pit dead center.  Great seats for sure.  Thanks Jeff for hooking us up!

DMB has some great openers.  It is always hard for me to pick my top 3-5.  JTR would have to be up there.  I was pretty excited to see the Big 12 string sitting on the stand.  That guarantees you an awesome opener.   It didn’t disappoint.  I just love that ending breakdown. 

Proudest Monkey was in the two spot.  It’s another one of my favorites.  I love the older songs.  Surprisingly I actually really enjoyed Satellite.  Normally a song I dislike, but I really liked it tonight.

I thought Lying in the Hands of God was easily the best version I have ever gotten.  Jeff Coffin just owned this as usual.  Such powerful lyrics.  It didn’t drag on as long as SPAC.  I really love the look of Dave’s new Gibson raised B guitar. 

After three straight Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King songs they started playing an unfamiliar song.  I thought it was Can’t Stop at first.  It turned out to be Break For It.  This was only the third time it has ever been played.  You may remember this tune being sounchecked a lot in 2006 but never played live or recorded on the BWGK album.  It’s a very groovy tune that at least to me has a distinct Sting/Police feel to it.  I would like to get it again live to get a better feel for it.

By this time a pretty large storm rolled through Cincy.  I felt so bad for those in the lawn.  They must have been miserable in the downpour.  Why people wouldn’t pay a few more bucks for pavilion seats is beyond me.  At times the rain even blew sideways misting us…it felt great in the heat of the night!

Now for the highlight of the night…Dave says after Break For It…”That’s Boyd Tinsley on violin” I knew what was coming…TRIPPING BILLIES!!  Everyone knows it’s my favorite.  The crowd was really into it.  Boyd of course was great on it, and I love that I have gotten Billies my last two shows. 

Taryn was with me and one of her favorites is Seven.  They normally play that in the 2 or 3 spot, so she even figured we weren’t going to get it.  However, right after Billies they start Seven.  Taryn and I got our two favorites back to back.  All of us in our section were screaming the lyrics to Seven.  Love that song! 

What happens next may be hard to describe.  You will probably have to hear the tape (I believe my buddy Mike Peters was only taper tonight).  There was a small Halloween chant, and orange lights go on Carter Beauford and he hits the drums in what seemingly sounds like the intro to Halloween.  Obviously we were all excited.  Then Carter starts hitting the higher sounding drums and it sounds just like intro to Say Goodbye.  Now we are all excited!! Come on either one!!!  Everyone is saying…”This is Say Goodbye!”  (enter sound of Price Is Right Loser noise)  Only for it to go into Gravedigger.  Don’t get me wrong, I like Gravedigger.  However, after thinking we were going to get one of two rare songs, this was a HUGE letdown.

For me the show never really bounced back to first half form.  Danny Barnes came on stage to guest on the banjo for Corn Bread.  They have just overplayed that song.  Then Barnes played one of his own songs called Road.  It was alright, but I feel  like I didn’t pay for a ticket to watch someone else perform their song in the middle of DMB’s set.  Unfortunately, my next three shows are more Barnes guesting.  Which means more Corn Bread and more of either Road or Caveman.  UGH.

Midset Ants was great, and the outro was very different.  I like watching Carter and reading his lips as he tells everyone how many beats.  Ants was awesome.  I do not like Stay as a closer.  It’s just not strong enough in my opinion to end a set.

The encore was solid with Time Bomb/Watchtower.  I love Watchtower, but as I have said before, I hate that they didn’t play Stairway to Heaven in the middle, especially after doing it on Sunday at Bonnaroo.

I’m still chasing Busted Stuff.  I hope we get some rarities tomorrow, but one night tour stops are a crap shoot.  I’m heading over with Ryan, Kyle, and Minime.  My brother Ryan will also be there.

See ya at St. Louis tomorrow!

Journey Begins: 4 DMB Shows in 5 Days

We are getting our hottest weather of the year, that must mean it is time for the Dave Matthews Band to play Cincinnati and St. Louis!  Unfortunately, Indianapolis (Deer Creek) is immediately after St. Louis this year so that means 4 shows in 5 days.  I would much prefer to have them spread out.  I am afraid I will get similiar setlists...especially with Danny Barnes guesting every night.

I hope I fnally get the song Busted Stuff.  I have chased that song for 96 shows without hearing it.  DMB has played it twice this year.

Deer Creek Night Two on Saturday will be my 100th show.  It is hard to believe I am hitting that milestone.  I never thought back at my first show in 1999 that I would go to 100 shows. Hoping for Stone and Billies for show 100!!

I have met so many great friends along the way.  So much so that I look forward to being with them even more than the show itself!

Tonight is Riverbend in Cincinnati.  I have had some of my most epic shows at this venue.  This will be my ninth straight show there.  I hope it is another!  I'd love to get a Halloween 3-peat!

Sieze the day!

Rare Songs, Fantastic Crowd, and Great Friends = SPAC Success

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!

My First Trip to see DMB at SPAC -- Hoping For Better N2

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. 

DMB Announces WH8 Volume 6

Not even remotely thrilled about this one.  Not a single rarity among the 8.  Say Goodbye will be nice from 1997.  Oh well at least it is free.  Only 2 of these that I saw live in person was YMDT in Atlanta and Stay in Columbus.

Track Listing

1. Eh Hee 10.01.2007 / Hollywood Bowl / Hollywood, CA
2. You Might Die Trying 08.15.2006 / HiFi Buys Amphitheatre / Atlanta, GA
3. Gravedigger 08.20.2008 / Staples Center / Los Angeles, CA
4. Stolen Away on 55th and 3rd 09.13.2006 / Pepsi Center / Denver, CO
5. Say Goodbye 07.05.1997 / Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre / Irvine, CA
6. Stay (Wasting Time) 06.23.2004 / Germain Amphitheatre / Columbus, OH
7. Seven 09.06.2009 / Gorge Amphitheatre / George, WA
8. Time Bomb 09.06.2009 / Gorge Amphitheatre / George, WA