This is the Summer Of DMB
Its Summer and almost the end of July here in Florida and that means one thing and only one thing my friends! Dave Matthews was in town.This will be my 12th year in a row that I have had the pleasure to listen to this amazing artist. More than twenty years after the release of Under The Table and Dreaming Dave Matthews Band’s first studio album the guys can still rock the stage my friends! Its was a jazzy evening filled with good time rock and roll and Dave doing and being Dave! Dancing around the stage thanking everyone like Elvis the King did back in the Day!
The band played to an intimate crowd of loyal fans last night during their debut performance at the Mid Florida Credit Union. And though they might not have filled Arena to the extent of their predecessors. I was told by one staff member that the field was filled to the very back you’d have barely noticed. The grassy knoll looked pretty crowed from my row in the main arena. VIP of Course and pre and post tail gate party as only DMB will allow:)
Starting the evening off with One Sweet World, Grave Digger (See play list above) the crowd was surging with excitement from the first note. Even the enthusiasm and positive vibes that seemed to flow from the stage were contagious. It was clear, even after all these years, the group still has fun playing together.
The group moved effortlessly through Satellite and eventually onto Don’t Drink The Water, two demanding tracks. Matthews, however, proved that though he’s inching closer to 50, he’s still got it. Still able to hit those high vocal notes, Matthews never wavered on the more difficult guitar riffs.
Boyd Tinsley, the group’s violinist, spent much of the evening roving around the stage with a certain exhilaration, while adding to the band’s distinctive sound. If he wasn’t having a blast last night, he was doing a stellar job of disguising it.
As the band moved from popular tracks like Crush, The Space Between,What Would You Say, and Why I Am, Matthews took his time to thank the audience for coming out to see them. “I’m already sweating up here” he joked, early in the set. It’s true that the weather turned unfortunately humid and warm, but nobody seemed to mind.
Eventually, there was a single hit of the drum from Carter Beauford, bringing the crowd to a cheer. Ants Marching — the track most of us has been waiting for all evening closed the main set.The crowd remained. The chant “We want more!” began to rise and the band obliged, ending the evening with the group’s well-known rendition of All Along The Watch Tower.
Though some long-time fans might have been disappointed by the absence of same of the staples of the show throughout the years, the evening’s performance was a true embodiment of Dave Matthews Band. Laid back and effortlessly cool, us long time fans got exactly what we came for. With no sign of slowing down, it leaves one wondering what the guys will have in store for us over the next twenty years. So if you haven't seen him. Please make it point to enjoy this increditable artist at his best.