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Dave Matthews Goes Old School

Reviewed by Guest Scribe Harpoon

The Dave Matthews Band took the stage at Coors Amphitheater for its July 7th concert on a typically SoCal summer evening, cool with a slight breeze, prompting Dave to remark, in Davespeak, of course, on how hot it was everywhere else, but was so cooooool in San Diego. It was a perfect setting for my first stand-alone Dave concert, having tried times before only to be rebuffed by poor planning. I had seen DMB twice before at various music festivals only to leave each show wanting much much more. This time I would not be disappointed...

The two and half-hour show featured a unique setlist, one that was very old school DMB. It was pleasantly surprising, commencing with the rarely heard "One Sweet World," wooing the 20,000 in attendance with a very mellow minutes-long instrumental opening. This was followed by an exceptional version of a personal favorite of mine, "#41," featuring the first of many awesome Boyd Tinsley solos throughout the show, not to mention an excellent sax solo from Le'roi Moore. With the unfortunate inclusion of "Crash Into Me," the band played no other big-named radio releases, prompting many of the trendy DMB fans around me to beg for "their song." Also it was like Before These Crowded Streets was never released, with only two selections making the cut tonight. It was too bad that "Crush" did not get the nod over "Crash," but the inclusion of "Pig" made up for that, as did a spirited performance of "Rapunzel." Dave really shined in "Seek Up," wailing his way through the song.

But for me the highlight of the night was the closing with "Two Step." This man's opinion holds that this is the best DMB song, and knowing that it is a personal favorite of Dave's, I was becoming increasing more nervous that it might not be played as the night wore on. However, as the first notes started playing after a jamming "Recently," I knew that all was well. It was perhaps the best version of the song that I have heard, with a screeching base opening by Stefan Lessard. Highlighted by Tinsley's plucking and Carter Beauford's hypnotic percussion, Two Step was a perfect way to end the show. The encore featured my first introduction to the obscure "#40," which Dave performed solo, and ended with the classic rendition of "All Along the Watchtower."

By far and away the best concert I have ever been to, I am left with a familiar feeling: I want more.

Setlist:

• One Sweet World
• #41
• Rhyme & Reason
• Tripping Billies
• Drive In Drive Out
• Pay for What You Get
• Crash Into Me
• Jimi Thing
• Pig
• Seek Up
• Pantala Naga Pampa
• Rapunzel
• Recently
• Two Step

Encore:

• #40
• All Along the Watchtower

See Also: Dave Matthews Band Tribute

Submitted 7/10/99.