Dave Matthews Band ~ 1 June 2009

Dave Matthews Band ~ 1 June 2009 ~ Beacon Theatre, New York, New York

Lyrics, Lead Vocal, Guitars: Dave Matthews
Violin, Vocal: Boyd Tinsley
Drums, Vocal: Carter Beauford
Bass: Stefan Lessard
Saxophone, Flute: Jeff Coffin
Electric Guitar: Tim Reynolds
Trumpet, Vocal: Rashawn Ross

Oh my, what an amazing show!  The internet is certainly changing our world.  Seeing this concert last night broadcast live on FUSE TV over the internet - a new way for me to experience a concert.  It was a little like watching a concert DVD, but not exactly, because it was in "real" time.  I had the sense that I was there, watching it unfold.  And I didn't have to deal with any "crowd anxiety," so in some ways it was better than live...  I'm still looking forward to seeing them under the stars in Saratoga, though.  If last night's performance is any indication of where they are headed, I'm in for a special treat!

The group did an interview on CBS's Sunday Morning the day before.  They told about how they were having a lot of personal problems between themselves.  Before he died, LeRoi Moore confronted Dave Matthews and advised him that he needed to start leading the band again, but Dave's response was to send them all a letter telling them he was through, that he could not lead them.  But the letter caused them all to talk and lay their cards on the table and take a fresh look at things.  And they started coming together again on their new album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.  And then LeRoi, the GrooGrux King, died suddenly and it brought them all even closer together.  Carter Beauford feels they have matured through this crisis, and that LeRoi was the one who shined the light to show them the way.  LeRoi is still very much with them.  They went back to their roots and have come up, new growth on the original plant.  Last night Dave said that LeRoi shined the light on what they had and so they found out how they did it again.

Personally, I only liked a few of the songs on the Stand Up album, and felt that the producer had led them astray from their synergy and concentrated too much on working with them individually.  But I loved the energy from every song from the new album that they played last night - they all sounded like DMB songs!  They have three excellent musicians joining them for this tour.  Guitar wizard Tim Reynolds humbly performed his magic, adding his stunning talent to the mix.   Rashawn Ross was back with his super trumpet playing and surprised me with a great voice, singing back-up for Dave.  Jeff Coffin, saxophonist for Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, completed the group with his own mesmerizing and sometimes playful way of relating to this group...  Yes, I'm thrilled!  My band is back!  Dave is once again doing what he does best, writing and singing songs with deep and deceptively simple lyrics, and surrounding himself with (and reluctantly leading) top-notch musicians who bring it all together in a captivating way.

The concert lasted three hours and I was laughing and crying and yawning and dancing while sitting on the couch.  I had fallen asleep at least three times waiting for it to begin, so Tim set an alarm, and I was awake when it began.  Dave has twin daughters, one of them is named Grace, a word and name he has used often in his songs.  One day the other twin, named Stella, asked him when he was going to put her in a song!  So he wrote Alligator Pie for her - and it is a delightful song!  I loved that story.  Corn Bread has evolved into a great love song.  Why I Am was dedicated to LeRoi because he was in on the creative beginning of it and liked it.  Dreaming Tree was followed by an amazing jam featuring the sax, flute and trumpet.  #41 went on forever with lots of jazz, Carter and Jeff playing with each other on drums and the saxophone, and a nice long solo for Tim.  The last song in the encore was Grey Street, a song full of personal meaning for me, a perfect conclusion.

Set List:
Funny the Way It Is;  Alligator Pie;  Space Man;  Corn Bread;  Seven;  Out of My Hands;  Why I Am;  Dreaming Tree;  You Might Die Trying;  Everyday;  Sister;  So Damn Lucky;  Squirm;  Ants Marching;  #41;  Time Bomb;  Two Step
[encore]
Rye Whiskey;  Don't Drink the Water;  Grey Street