I love Dave Matthews Band. If someone were to ask me to close my
eyes and describe my “happy place”, I’d be at the Gorge Amphitheatre in
Washington State, Leia at my side, listening to DMB play the first few chords
of the opening song, as the sun slowly sets behind the stage, and the stars
begin to light up the night sky.
I’ve had the great privilege of visiting my happy place several times
now, and look forward to going back again someday soon. There’s just something magical about
being there, the feeling you get in that very moment, that despite my best
efforts, cannot be described. If
you’ve been there, and experienced that moment I am referring to, then you
know.
I get asked all the time by family and
friends why I like DMB so much, and what it is that makes them so special. They do not understand how a band that
rarely gets their music played on the radio could have this sort of effect on
me, where I am willing to tattoo one of their logos permanently into my skin. It boggles their mind why I need to
wait until the summer tour dates are announced before I can make vacation
plans. They may have heard “Crash
Into Me” a few times, or the odd song here and there, but for the most part,
they don’t really know who DMB is.
I used to try to explain it to people, but I don’t anymore because quite
frankly, I can’t. I once bought my
brother a DMB cd (Live in Central Park), hoping that it would help him
understand. I later found out he
took it back to the store and exchanged it for Johnny Cash’s Greatest
Hits. I guess DMB isn’t for
everybody, and I’m okay with that.
I’m okay that you don’t get it.
I’m not here to recruit you, this isn’t a cult, but if you change your
mind, just know that everyone is welcome, and the door is always open for those
wanting to join us.
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel and
experience DMB in many different venues throughout the United States and Canada. Many people think this is far too extreme
or borderline obsessive to spend the kind of money I do following a group of
musicians around the Country. Some
people think I’m crazy. What they
don’t know is that amongst DMB fans, this type of behavior is not the least
bit uncommon. Going to see DMB
eight times in eight different venues over the course of a summer is, believe
it or not, normal. There’s nothing
strange about it to a DMB fan, and trust me when I say there are many fans that
have seen far more shows than I could ever dream to. Although the cities and venues may change along the way,
there are several constants regardless of where you are that you can count on
at every DMB show.
Tailgating is a DMB tradition. The hard core fans of DMB are extremely
loyal, not just to the band, but also to the DMB family of friends they have
interacted with along the way. As
I mentioned earlier, since traveling to shows is very common, pre-show
tailgate parties are often seen as a reunion of sorts that many fans look
forward to each summer, an opportunity to not only meet old friends, but also
make new ones. Going to a DMB show
is not simply something to do, it’s an experience. The opening act takes the stage at 7:00pm, with DMB
beginning their set at 8:25pm, but the experience begins much earlier than
that. Vehicles are often customized
with DMB stickers, hand written lyrics and firedancers before the keys are even
in the ignition. As soon as the
venue parking lot gates are opened, the fans pour in with canopies, barbeques, frisbees,
footballs, an assortment of drinking games, and of course alcohol and other
herbal mind enhancers. The sounds
and smells are intoxicating, and for those few hours, nothing in the outside
world matters. It’s all about the
here and now. Canadian venues
don’t have tailgating worthy of mentioning, but our neighbours to the south
have perfected the art of it. If
you only go to a DMB show just for the actual show itself, you’ll still have an
awesome time, but that’s not the true experience. I highly recommend arriving early, and taking the time to
soak it all in.
Once inside the venue, many will take to
their seats right away, or at least find a place to stand as 7:00pm
approaches. Dave Matthews always
comes out at 7:00pm to say a few words and introduce the opening act. DMB fans cannot get enough of
“Davespeak”, which is the awkwardly hilarious way in which Dave often expresses
himself. After sharing a few
laughs and with big smiles on our faces, Dave welcomes the opening band and the
live music portion of the experience begins. By this point barely half of the attendees are in their
seats, with the remainder still walking around, listening to the opening band,
chatting with friends, etc… The
opening act generally plays for roughly 45 minutes, and during this time,
people in the pit (ie. general admission area just in front of the stage)
jockey for position, while those in the reserved seats and lawn section are able
to take a slightly more laid back approach to the evening’s festivities. Without fail, you can count on watching
a dancing girl or two bouncing around vigorously to the opening act right up front
and center in the reserved seats, taking advantage of the extra space that is
afforded during this time, gaining the attention and acknowledgement from the
band.
Once the opening act has ended their set, the
roadies and stage crew appear from every direction in a frantic yet organized
manner to switch out the instruments, and make any final adjustments to the
lights and video screens. Many
from the crew have been with the band for years, so we recognize their faces,
and even know some of them by name.
The crowd files in to take their seats, having loaded up on their
refreshments of choice, and the traditional pre-show vacuuming of the stage
notifies all that DMB will soon be entering the building. Fans begin trading guesses about what
the opening song will be based on the guitar that has been placed upon the
stage. 6-string or 12-string, we
go through the possibilities song by song. Excitement continues to build, and the buzz within the venue
gets increasingly louder. The
lights turn off, the house music ends, and everyone takes to their feet, with absolutely
no intention of sitting back down for the next 2½ to 3 hours. Nobody sits at a DMB concert. Applause thunders down, getting even
louder the moment the first band member is spotted walking onto the darkened
stage. One after another the band
members appear, taking their usual positions. Boyd and Tim to the left, Dave and Carter in the centre,
Stefan, Rashawn and Jeff to the right.
They wave to the crowd. The
crowd roars with anticipation.
With the lights still low, the cheers of
the crowd reverberating throughout the venue, the band members all turn to face
Carter, for he is the pilot sitting in his cockpit of percussion. On his mark, the band begins, and a
wall of sound and light explodes over the crowd. All it takes is one note, the crowd immediately recognizes
the song, and begins dancing rhythmically to the music. The show is not choreographed, there
are no dancers, no set changes, no costumes, there are minimal bells and
whistles. Lip-syncing or backing
tracks? Pfft, I think not. This is truly about the music, pure
music, and nothing more. There are
only two rules when attending a DMB show:
1. Have fun; and 2. Don’t do anything that will take away from the fun of those
around you. We’d prefer that you
leave your beach balls and glow sticks at home, but if you just can’t help
yourself, please do not throw them in the direction of the stage. Everyone expresses themselves
differently, but all are there for the same purpose… the love of the music.
One song after another, the band makes
their way through the ever-changing setlist, while the crowd dances the night
away, and that distinctive herbal scent fills the air. No two setlists are ever the same, every
show is different, each containing an element of surprise, and the rarer the
songs the better. DMB fans know
all the songs, every note, and every word, even when Dave periodically
forgets. Nobody expects
perfection. Perfection isn’t real. We want what’s real. Boyd tearing up the stage with his
violin during a killer version of “Tripping Billies” is real. Stefan bouncing around with his bass at
the beginning of “Anyone Seen the Bridge” is real. Dave dancing in the way that only Dave can dance is
real. Jeff playing two saxophones
at the same time is real. Songs
just 4 minutes long on an album are enhanced into 20 minute masterpieces,
showcasing the skills of each band member along the way. Dave Matthews may be the lead singer
and namesake of the band, but this is about more than just him, and he’ll be
the first to admit it. The
musicianship within this band is second to none, with each member equally important
to the overall sound. More than
anything, DMB is real.
At around 10:40pm give or take, the band ends
their set and takes their encore break, lasting 5 minutes or so. The crowd cheers loudly the entire time,
still on their feet, but wanting to show their appreciation to the band that
has given them so much. Sore feet
will heal tomorrow, the memories will last a lifetime. Dave often returns to the stage alone,
picks up his guitar, and plays a heartfelt solo version of one of the band’s
quieter songs. The rest of the
band then joins him, and depending on the particular venue, plays one or two
more songs, frequently continuing past the 11:00pm curfew. Some songs are better closers than
others, and DMB rarely disappoints.
“Two Step” is a particular favorite of mine, especially when Carter
takes control of the stage with a masterful drum solo which gets you thinking
that maybe, just maybe, the boys will throw caution to the wind and transition
into “Halloween”. It rarely
happens, but when it does, it’s a treat.
Alas as all good things must, the show comes to an end. The house lights come on, the band
waves goodbye, and one by one they leave the stage, all except for Carter, who
remains for several more minutes to toss a seemingly endless supply of
drumsticks to appreciative members of the crowd. The applause slowly subsides as everyone makes their way to
the exits, and the countdown begins until the next time we get to do it all
over again.
DMB is best experienced live and in person,
where you can expose all five of your senses to that which is going on around
you. That is when they are at
their best. That is where the
magic happens. Why do I like DMB
so much? I don’t know, I just do. I don’t expect you to understand. And that’s okay.