Revving Up the New Engine

The Dave Matthews Band crept onto the alternative rock scene almost ten years ago in Charlottesville, VA. A jam band that made its name with its live performances, the Dave Matthews Band grew from the small Virginia college town, eventually becoming one of the biggest touring acts in the world. It was fitting, then, that the band chose to kick off its 2001 tour at Charlottesville's own Scott Stadium. After all, with Everyday, the band's latest major studio release and first with producer Glen Ballard, representing an all new side of the band, it seemed like the perfect venue to reintroduce fans to Dave Matthews - plugged in.

The April 21st show kicked off with a lackluster set from opening act Soulive before Dave Matthews himself stepped forward to introduce special guest Neil Young. The aging rocker ripped through an hour-long set, including such hits as "Hey Hey My My," "Cinnamon Girl," and perennial favorite "Keep on Rockin' in the Free World." As Young hit the opening notes on "Rockin'," one began to wonder if his electric wailing was a possible foreshadowing of the show's main act. After all, Dave Matthews would finally be unveiling his much-hyped electric guitar, and fans could soon see what was causing all the commotion.

Fans of Dave Matthews are a cheerful lot, and each fan has his own personal favorite song. Nevertheless, the band can never go wrong delivering "Two Step" as its opening number. The concert staple, opened by violinist Boyd Tinsley, got the crowd hopping early, and the energy kept building as the band followed with "So Much to Say" and "Too Much." Give the fans a little of the old before giving them a little of the new - cannot argue with that plan. This idea seemed brilliant as lead singer Dave Matthews plucked the first few chords of "So Right," the band's first offering from Everyday. Jazzed up for the live setting, "So Right" proved right away that the band's latest efforts could translate well at a concert venue.

Alas, what "So Right" hinted at was not delivered, as other news songs, including "When the World Ends" and "Sleep to Dream Her," failed to distinguish themselves. Then again, the band is trotting out its latest studio release without much in the line of road-testing. The potential shown by "So Right" and "Everyday" bodes well for the rest of the album, especially after the band gets a few more shows under its belt. In the absence of that, however, fans were put in the unique position of contrasting some of Everyday's finest with a pair of tunes from the unreleased Lillywhite Sessions. "JTR" and a stirring "Grace Is Gone" reminded this fan of last summer's rain-soaked show, as well as the album that never was.

The Dave Matthews Band has always known how to whip a crowd into a frenzy on cue, and this performance proved no different. When Dave Matthews and his cohorts wanted to inject some testosterone into the mix midway through the set, they trotted out Neil Young to offer his licks on "All Along the Watchtower." Near the conclusion of the set, Matthews brought out the Lovely Ladies to work their way through "True Reflections" and a couple of the newer numbers. What would a Dave Matthews concert be without a trademark close, and "Ants Marching" was certainly up to the task. The concert's setlist may have been short a few favorites - notably "Crash Into Me" and radio hit "The Space Between" - but "Ants" invigorated the crowd at the right time. With a summer's worth of shows on the horizon, it left these fans dreaming of the concerts to come.

Setlist:

Two Step
So Much to Say
Too Much
So Right
JTR
When the World Ends
I Did It
What Would You Say
All Along the Watchtower
Sleep to Dream Her
Grace Is Gone
What You Are
True Reflections
Angel
Everyday
Ants Marching

Encore:

If I Had It All
Stay (Wasting Time)

See Also: Dave Matthews Band Tribute

Submitted 4/22/01.

If you have any questions or comments about this or any other concert, please feel free to e-mail me.