Journals

                    M y long awaited, highly anticipated trip to C’ville (that’s Charlottesville for those of you who are unfamiliar) to see my all-time favorite band in their hometown was everything I could have asked for and more.  Hopefully, you don’t have to ask what band but if so, it is the Band which has often times over the years simply been referred to as “Dave” by both fans and haters alike.  It is a Band, indeed, which conjures up polarizing emotions.  On one hand, you have the Diehards, willing to travel thousands of miles all across the country, dropping thousands of dollars in the process, all for the chance to experience the live Show which has become just as much a summertime staple in America as hot dogs and lemonade (although not together).  And on the other, there are the vehement Dave-haters proclaiming that every song sounds the same (honestly, I’m not making this up) and Dave’s voice sucks.   Regardless of your stance one way or another or if you’ve ever witnessed them live, it is hard to deny their presence as one of the greatest touring acts of all-time.  Since their first shows atop the Pink Warehouse and at the Earth Day festival in C'ville 18 years ago this week, they have never stopped playing shows, in the early days playing over 200 shows a year and never taking a summer off.              Last year with the passing of founding member, sax player and longtime friend LeRoi Moore came a critical point in the band’s journey.  Would they continue to tour, would they finish the album they had started with Roi, would they be the same without him?  The answer to all those questions was a resounding yes.  In fact, the very day that Moore gave up his soul the band took to the stage in his honour.  With tears in his eyes Dave delivered a stirring performance that night, telling the crowd in reference to Roi's passing, “It’s always easier to leave then to be left.”  All of this leads me to say that I, until this past weekend, had never had the opportunity to witness DMB perform in their hometown, perhaps most famous because it was also home to one of America’s most famous founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson.  The concert itself took place on the campus he founded, the University of Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena.  Besides the beautiful Gorge in Washington or Red Rocks in Colorado there is no better place to witness the Dave Matthews Band perform.           Although I could go on for far too long, to spare you I will only recount a few of the highlights from this Show of many.  But before I do that, let me start by listing my top 5 favorite DMB songs: #41 , The Dreaming Tree , You Never Know , Grey St ., and Bartender (With Seek Up and Ants Marching and others sometimes rotated).  Up to this point I had never seen #41 and You Never Know in person, so naturally, I came in hoping to hear one if not both of these.  That needed to be said, now on to the Show.  First highlight of the night was seeing the 12-string come out on the stage.  With only a handful of songs that Dave plays on this guitar I knew it had to be either Bartender , not likely since they usually only open or close with this, or Grey St.   To my surprise came Raven , a song they have played sparingly since it was released on the 2002 release Busted Stuff.  If you’ve never heard this song, you should listen to it then go read the lyrics.  They contain one of my favorite lines from Matthews’ vast repertoire, “The ground beneath is nothing more than my point of view.”  Next was Grey St ., a favorite of mine and Katie’s.  It’s always fun to be able to sing along with the person enjoying the concert with you and this was no exception.  This was followed by Cornbread , a recent tune they’ve been playing the last couple of years that has suddenly emerged into a live monster.  With the banjo-pickin’ Danny Barnes joining in, this song reached epic heights.  To give you an example (if words can) of Barnes majestic playing, he has been called “One of the most wildly imaginative musicians on the planet” by Austin American Statesman.  It is rumored that Barnes added his banjo abilities to the new DMB album, but more to come on that in another journal later.  After Cornbread came the moment I’d been waiting for ever since my very first time seeing them: hearing the opening cymbals drummer Carter Beaufurd hits to begin #41 , one of the most powerful and moving songs you are likely to ever hear.  In my ever so humble opinion that is.  Number 41 was owned by the one and only Jeff Coffin, sax player from the equally amazing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, on loan to the Matthews Band.  If you have never heard or seen this man play, you must do yourself a favor and check him out, immediately.  He is the only sax player I know of who can play, really play , two saxophones at once.  The man, simply put, is a beast of a musician.  And it was he who carried this already spectacular song to a dizzying level the likes of which I will never forget.          If you have been to a Dave show before you know that every show differs.  Whether they mix up the set list or tweak each song into a different jam each night, which the band is known and respected for, you are certain to get a new experience with each passing performance you witness.  Coffin has done an incredible job not only stepping in to fill the void left by the irreplaceable LeRoi Moore, but improvising and taking this band's music to a whole new level.  On this night #41 was more than just a song, more than merely a moment in time.  It represented all the elements one seeks to find in the experience of live music, running the entire gamut of emotions - joy, sadness, heartbreak, and forgiveness.         Well, what could top what I had already seen.  Closing with Ants Marching, the quintessential DMB song.  As always, it was jammed out and played as if the band was playing it as the last song at their last show.  And what could top that but a four song encore (virtually unheard of in DMB world) ending with the ever-so-reliable All Along The Watchtower.  Yes, this was truly a concert experience like none other for me.  One more thing, if you’ve never been to C’ville, it is an amazing little town.  I thank DMB for introducing it to me and hope if you've never heard of it then I have repaid the favor.  I must visit again to enjoy its atmosphere when there aren't tons of Matthews' fans over-running it.    P.S. - The song I have posted is from their forthcoming album titled Big Whiskey and The Groo Grux King. If you listen closely you will hear those lyrcis in this song. LeRoi's nickname was Groo Grux King.