Why Don't You Call My Name

It may seem strange to say this about a band that I have seen sixteen times, but every Dave Matthews Band concert brings with it a handful of surprises. As I’ve discussed ad nauseum during my past reviews, the band mixes and matches its sets every night, offering a myriad of combinations for its most devoted fans. Sometimes, this has irked me, as I’ve missed dynamite sets by mere nights in years past. Most of the time, however, I appreciate the fact that it allows me to see my favorite band each and every year, never sure what to expect. More so, it allows me to hold out hope that some obscure songs, never to see the light of day during most bands’ concerts, might get dusted off each summer by the Dave Matthews Band. Happily, 2008 proved to be no exception.

I have seen the Dave Matthews Band perform at a half dozen different locations over the years, from Charlottesville, VA up to Toronto. The past five shows, however, have all taken place in tiny Bristow, VA, right outside my home, and, since moving out here, I have a different perspective. I am no longer part of the streams of cars crawling down the interstate, hoping to make it to Nissan Pavilion before Dave and the band take the stage. I also no longer dread spending hours waiting in the parking lot after the show – as was the case in the late nineties – because I know home is less than two miles away. I am not immune, however, to the complaints levied at my neighborhood amphitheatre, because, quite frankly, more could be done. Nevertheless, I have seen some highly entertaining shows there, and this year’s stop proved to be no exception.

When I saw the band perform at Nissan Pavilion during the summer of 2006, I remember eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new album that fall. Two years later, not only have we not had an album, I no longer even expect it to come anytime soon. (News of an injury to sax aficionado Leroi Moore casts additional doubt on this timeline.) What is a band to do without new material? At times during the past two years, I wondered if the band would still be ostensibly touring behind Stand Up, its 2005 release. Happily – and I use that word because the effort does not represent the band’s best work – 2008 appears to be a true medley of material, including some brand new covers. One such song will likely form my lasting memory of this year’s tour.

This show featured a number of highlights, not the least of which were the “Don’t Drink the Water” opener, a spirited “Louisiana Bayou,” and a rare mid-set “Ants Marching.” My first truly memorable moment arrived with my first live exposure to “So Damn Lucky,” the song that I have long considered to be the best track on Dave’s solo disc Some Devil. Hearing this sweet tune revved up with the full-band treatment was stunning and made me appreciate it all the more. Perhaps more surprising, although no less welcome, was the first-ever cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” a song I probably haven’t heard – anywhere – in nearly a decade. Dave Matthews brought out a whole new sound with his voice – sounding a bit like Gabriel himself a some points – and ripped through a song that I now must give a concerted second look.

Not every trick the band pulls out is a success. Dusting off “The Space Between” for the first time in four years, the band offered a stripped-down version of their Everyday hit, an undertaking that was a little lacking. Likewise, nothing sucks the life out of an exuberant crowd like “Out of My Hands,” a number that would be best left on the shelf with forgotten songs like “Pay For What You Get” and “Sleep to Dream Her.” At this point, I am really just quibbling, as, in eleven years, I have never left a Dave Matthews Band concert disappointed. There’s always something special – like a “Sledgehammer” cover or a Tim Reynolds guest performance – to make the show truly memorable. That’s what concerts are after the lights come up – collections of memories – and these ones are always keepers.

Setlist:

Don't Drink the Water
Old Dirt Hill
So Damn Lucky
The Dreaming Tree
The Idea of You
Corn Bread
You Might Die Trying
The Space Between
Sldegehammer
Eh Hee
Louisiana Bayou
Out of My Hands
Everyday
Ants Marching
So Much to Say
Anyone Seen the Bridge
Too Much

Encore:

Sister
Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel
Thank You

See Also: Dave Matthews Band Tribute

Submitted 7/5/08.

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