Dave Matthews Band

The reason I am a musician is because of the Dave Matthews Band.  Period.

In August of 1995 I had just returned from a backpacking trip in New Mexico when I received tickets to see Dave for my 14th birthday.  My best friend and I saw them at Palmer Auditorium in Davenport Iowa.  It was one of the first times I was allowed to go to a concert by myself.

At the time DMB were becoming more well known due to their two hit singles “What Would You Say” and “Ants Marching”.  The main reason I went is because I heard they were pretty cool from some of my friends.

Here is the set list from that night:

Seek Up

Proudest Monkey>

Satellite

Two Step

The Best of What’s Around

#41 >

Dancing Nancies >

Warehouse

Rhyme and Reason

Lover Lay Down

What Would You Say

Recently

All Along The Watchtower

Ants Marching

E: Little Thing (Tease) >

Typical Situation

Tripping Billies

I distinctly remember hearing “All Along the Watchtower” and thinking “So that is who wrote that song.’”  I was completely clueless, but I couldn’t believe the energy that a great band could put out. 

From that moment on I wanted to play guitar. 

Since then I have seen Dave in various formats (both with the band and solo) in most of the big Midwest venues.  Each and every time it brings me back to that incredibly hot and sweaty gymnasium in August of ‘95. 

Yesterday I listened to their new album “Big Whiskey and the GrooGroux King”. It is the first album since the death of Saxophonist LeRoi Moore last August.  From the first listen it strikes me as one of the best (if not the  best) DMB studio album of all time.

Next week I am taking my wife to see them for the first time.  She has never seen them before.  I don’t have any doubt that she will enjoy the concert, as far as deciding to quit everything and play guitar, maybe not.

But you never know.

If you have a favorite Dave Matthews Band concert experience, I would love to hear it.