Dave Matthews Band in Tampa
Last night Kristin and I caught the Dave Matthews Band in Tampa. The show was unbelievable. First of all, we got absolutely soaked. I don’t mean that it sprinkled and we got a little wet from the cumulative rain fall. I mean that there was a torrential downpour that started with the opening act and didn’t subside for about an hour and fifteen minutes. Luckily, I read the weather report so Kristin and I had mentally prepared.
Back to the show. It was phenomenal. We were front and center on the lawn, and with some help from the high-def screens that DMB brought we could see quite well. Sound was amazing. I don’t really know how to describe it. I know that I can’t effectively communicate it in a post, so I am going to give you “The Dave Show In Three’s”:
Three band observations:
- Carter Beauford is the most irreplaceable member of the band. I’m sure there are people who disagree with this statement, but I’m confident that it would be way easier to replace Dave Matthews himself than to replace Carter Beauford. I’ve always thought that Carter owned the drums, but his role in the band is much more pronounced in a live setting.
- I like the “unofficial” band members a lot. Again, I’ve always thought that keyboardist Butch Taylor added a lot to the band, but live he really shows his chops and contributes greatly to the performance. The new trumpet player, Rashawn Ross, is a beast. He’s the size of a mid-sized SUV and absolutely shreds the trumpet. Minute-for-minute he probably soloed twice as much as veteran saxophonist, Leroi Moore.
- DMB is tight. I know you’re probably thinking that this is the most obvious statement ever made concerning the band, but their live performance highlights their musicianship and tightness as a band even more than a live album.
Three favorite songs:
- #27 - I don’t even know this song. I do know that violinist Boyd Tinsley soloed for 6-8 minutes and it was unbelievable.
- Two Step - Classic Dave…Carter is ridiculous.
- Dreaming Tree - A really solid groove. I liked it a lot. They played this song for a really long time and gave all of the major players an opportunity to solo.
Three “overall experience” observations:
- The Dave Matthews Band is different. People have been asking me to compare the DMB show to other shows I’ve seen and the truth is that it just can’t be done. It’s not that other artists are not as good, it’s just that DMB is in a totaly different category. Their show can’t be compared to other shows because it is it’s own unique animal.
- I will never sit on the lawn again. Don’t get me wrong, the concert was great…The lawn’s just not for me. Especially in the monsoon. It’s also a whole different atmosphere than the “assigned seats”. In the words of John Mayer, “The lawn person wakes up a couple days before the show and says, ‘Oh yeah, I think so-and-so’s coming to town. I think I’ll check out that show.’ While the assigned seat person pays extra to be a member and sets a special alarms so that they can be in front of their computer at 6am when tickets go on sale.”
- I have the best wife ever. Period. Kristin is not a huge Dave fan, and the weather was far less than pleasant, but she stuck it out like a trooper with no guilt trip or complaining. She even turned on some moves during the fast tunes.
September 13th, 2007 at 9:38 am
I try, I try…
September 13th, 2007 at 11:15 am
You are right about Carter. He is the heart and soul of the band. He drives things. Sure, Dave directs the band, but I really think Carter LEADS it in a lot of ways.
#27 is a really good song. Of the new ones, Cornbread is my favorite.
I like the unofficial band members…usually. Butch is great. My only complaint (not with him) is that I think he is mixed too loud on a lot of their live releases. Rashawn is awesome…just occasionally out of control I think. Leroi has always played “second” when there is another horn player on stage. Listen to What Would You Say on Live in Chicago.
To call DMB tight is like calling Rashawn “slightly overweight.” They are just ridiculous. Their communication, their instincts of knowing where each other is going, etc…Sure, they make mistakes, but they are just nuts. Add to that the fact that they don’t even play the same sets. They mix them up every single night. Wow.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
If you take Dave Matthews out of the “Dave Matthews Band”, then you just have “Band”. So if for only that reason, Dave Matthews is the most irreplaceable member of the “Dave Matthews Band”. Also, he writes most every song.
But Carter is woweriffic (new word I’m trying out)
September 13th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Shaun,
You’re right; but I think if either of them left, the DMB is gone. I mean, musically, I don’t think Dave is necessarily the BEST guitar player in the world. Great? Yes. But Carter? I personally think he is in the upper upper echelon of drummers. His style is also very unique.
Regardless, Dave has been quoted as saying that if any of the original 5 band members leave, then the band is over as far as he is concerned… Not sure if that would actually be true or not, for whatever it’s worth. Dave and Carter though are the most important/irreplaceable members for sure.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Laura and I are looking into adopting the entire Dave Matthews band. More to come on that story.
September 13th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Have you found the recording from last evening yet?
September 13th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
OSWALD,
Does that mean that Rashawn and Butch would be “unofficial” family members?
September 13th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Diet Jordan: I’ve got the recording. I am uploading it for my brother now. If you want it, he can send you a link when I send it to him.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:09 am
You better watch Rashawn around Landon, he may very eat him if he gets hungry!!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:30 am
I don’t think Rashawn would even bother with Landon. That would be like me getting hungry and settling for a Tic Tac.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
I def think “The Maker” is one of my new favorite songs. I had never heard it until this new album. Awesome!
September 16th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Who’s the Dave Matthews Band? Never heard of them…
Unless they have a member named Bono I don’t listen to them.
September 16th, 2007 at 10:52 am
They were OK, but I heard that the Michael Burns Experience performed an abbreviated show the next day in Lakeland and it was way better.
September 16th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Chris,
The Maker is a Daniel Lanois song. DMB just covers it. It’s a good song though.
I am still hooked on Cornbread and I LOVE Sweet Up and Down. It was on Lillywhite Sessions back in the day. I hope they put it on the new album…
July 10th, 2008 at 11:46 am
[...] I went to the Dave Matthews Band show in Tampa. It was phenomenal. It was even more enjoyable than our last experience because we didn’t get soaked. I said it last time, but concerts always make me realize how [...]