The DMB
 

Bornieo had suggested that I buy a ticket to last night's DMB concert. I almost didn't, I didn't have the funds to do it. But, I decided what the heck and put it on a card. I am glad that Bornieo had mentioned it, or else I would have missed the window of opportunity to scoop up a ticket. If I hadn't had a ticket, I would have missed the best concert experience of my life.

I went into Staples Center oblivious to the official report that was released that afternoon that LeRoi Moore had died. When the concert started up, people were crying his name, but I thought those were shout outs for him to recover quickly. What I didn't know was that people were mourning all around me.

My seats which were off to the side of the floor and three rows away from the stage was a mixed blessing. They were the best seats I have ever had for a concert and at the same time, the worst.

The Dave Matthews Band started off the concert with a kick to the chest. 'Bartender' slammed the crowd. Dave let out this primal scream during the song that stunned me. It was so very powerful and something he so very saves until later on in the set. But this time it was upfront. Then I noticed Carter Beauford. This man, in almost every single shot of him in concert, is always smiling. Last night, for the beginning of the concert, he wasn't. When Carter Beauford isn't smiling, something is wrong with the world. And there was, at least in the world of the DMB.

After the song concluded, Dave made his announcement. 'We got some bad news today.' The Staples Center went silent. He told us that LeRoi 'gave up his ghost' that very afternoon. LeRoi Moore was one of the founding members of the group. Without him, there would have been no DMB.

For the first time ever, I had wished my seat were farther away from the stage. All of these men were grieving and some fresh with tears. It broke my heart. At one point, after the song 'Satellite', Carter broke down, wiping tears from his face. The others held it together, but it was clearly evident that had they been alone, they would have been crying as well.

But the thing that blew me away was that despite just getting the news hours before the show, they didn't cancel and gave a legendary performance. It was a tribute, them playing all of Moore's favorite songs, but it was no sad, solemn experience. It was a celebration of the life of a departed brother. For 3 hours, the DMB rocked us hard. A sight to behold, indeed.

A couple of highlights from the show were the covers they did of 'Burning Down the House' and 'Sledgehammer'. The latter was funky and a nice homage to the original, but the former hit the house like a freight train. They transformed the Crowded House*** song into a slamming, rocked up tune.

And, of course, 'Two Step' and 'Corn Bread' was awesome as usual.

As always, the crowd is always part of the show. During 'Everyday' lots of people in the house were hugging each other, strangers too just like the video. It was neat. And DMB fans added their own lines to the song, during a jam session at the end of the song, the crowd sang "Honey, Honey, come and dance with me" and it totally amped up the experience. (I'm not sure of the origin of that, but it's so very nice.) This is definitely one DMB concert that I need to get the bootleg of.

What I took with me from the Staples Center last night, was the lesson that in loss there can be celebration and joy, too. Being melancholy, playing sad tunes, canceling shows would not do the man justice. Carrying on with the show, giving amazing performances and playing Moore's favorites was what was needed and what was done. And nothing was done half-hearted either, they gave it their all and let it ride for three hours. As the night progressed, the sad went away and was replaced with joy for LeRoi.

The setlist:

Bartender
Proudest Monkey
Satellite
So Damn Lucky
Eh Hee
Water Into Wine
Burning Down The House
Dancing Nancies
Loving Wings
The Maker
Sledgehammer
Grey Street
Dreaming Tree
Crash Into Me
Everyday
Anyone Seen The Bridge
Too Much Intro
Ants Marching


Encore:
Sister
Corn Bread
Two Step


***ETA: Burning Down the House is a Talking Heads song. thx, GD!

Great reading this. It's nice to be working with you today as you bask in the afterglow of a great rock concert. They don't happen often enough these days.

Ya know, it's such a special and rare thing to have been a part of. Hundreds of shows and you attend the one surounded by such a personal event for the band. I'm glad you went and have the experince to treasure.

Just a point of fact: Burning Down the House is Talking Heads, not Crowded House.

Sounds like an awesome experience, glad you got to partake.

Ha. You're right.
:blush:
I hope this cover is on their next album. It's great!

OMG, GC, I'm so glad you got to be involved with such an awesome concert experience by your most awesomely loved DMB.


Thanks for the cool report.

Sounds like a wonderful tribute for an excellent musician.

You know, I have alot of respect for them that they played anyway- it was probably the best way to deal with it- and to honor him- that they could have done. I'm glad for you, that you were there for something so special- even if solemn.

*hugs*

Great report. Nothing like going to a seriously good music show to refresh the soul, even in the light of a tragedy.

:snap:

Here is a shot from last night.
SFW

Totally, CP. It did feel like that. My soul was recharged.
:)

Um, was that photo from your P.O.V.???


O.M.G.

A cow orker is going tonight.

No, no. The photo is from a friend who was there last night. She smuggled a camera in somehow...
:)

Here's where I sat. X marks the spot.



Best seat I've ever had for a concert. I could actually see the band without help from the huge screens.

Yes, those are good seats, even if not as fantastic as the GAF Photo Spot. Perhaps, though, your head would have exploded, and heart have been crushed, if you experienced the joyful yet grievous emotions at such close range.

That poor cow.

I'm getting live updates on tonight's concert.

This is what they played so far:

Seek Up
Warehouse
Gravedigger
Rhyme And Reason
Crush
Old Dirt Hill
#41
You Might Die Trying
Where Are You Going
Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel

Complete set list from last night:

Seek Up *
Warehouse *
Gravedigger *
Rhyme And Reason *
Crush *
Old Dirt Hill *
#41 *
You Might Die Trying *
Where Are You Going
Pantala Naga Pampa *
Rapunzel *
Out Of My Hands +
Jimi Thing *
So Much To Say *
Anyone Seen The Bridge *
Too Much
Louisiana Bayou *

__________________

Sledgehammer *
Stay (Wasting Time) *


Show Notes:
Send good thoughts for LeRoi
* Jeff Coffin
+ No Horns, Dave on piano

indicates a segue into next song

I got curious and found a couple of recordings of their Sledgehammer cover. Quality is crappy but I wanted to hear instrumentation. I'm sure it kicked serious ass in person.

They picked 2 great songs to cover! I'm glad it was a great experience.

That sounds like an awesome experience. Thank you for sharing!

It was such a rush. When they played the first few notes of "Sledgehammer", the place went nuts. Same with "BDtH".

CP ~ It was awesome in person. I'm running out of positive adjectives for Tuesday night... :D

I'm so glad you had such an awesome experience.

Burning Down the House

This one is better sound, but no visuals.

It makes me REALLY miss the Talking Heads. This moment from this incredible tour was chill-inducing - it is even now.

I found these clips on YouTube. I just adored watching Dave on this show. Gosh, I love this man.

Politically Incorrect 1998 - Part 1

Politically Incorrect 1998 - Part 2

Politically Incorrect 1999 - Part 1

Politically Incorrect 1999 - Part 2

Politically Incorrect 2001 - Part 1

Politically Incorrect 2001 - Part 2

:)

Glad you went and had a blast given the circumstances. Wow that is an awesome seat. Only time i got close that way was thru fan club never thru Ticketmaster and wouldn't wait til day of show but then again Staples this one fan got front row in front of Richie she just lucked out. They rock that they didn't cancel and still went on. Kudos to them. Not many bands would do that. Very easy to smuggle a camera into the show...lol

Isn't the Dave Mathews Band just a lip-sync band?

May your next parking spot at Disneyland be Minnie 1K.

:D

Woohoo! New Dave Matthews Band coming out June 2nd.
They released one of the singles "Funny How It Is" from "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King" today. Free.
I listened to it already. It's sweet!
Yeehaw!
Happy Brad!

http://www.rcarecords.com/dmbfreedownload/


The cover of the new CD! Drawn by Dave.




The current Billboard mag with Carter, Dave, Stefan and Boyd on it. So weird not seeing LeRoi with them. :(


A still from a photo shoot to promote BW&TGK.


Dave sporting the longer hair. I likes. :)


New DMB album overload. Brad's head... about to explode!
:D

Awesome. :)

Are they including a cover or two from the show you saw?

I hope they do. They have not released a track list yet.
:)

New DMB CD is out today.
Going to pick it up at lunch.
Can't wait.
So very happy!
:)

I never noticed this thread before. GC, so nice to hear from a fellow DMB fan who was there at Staples the night they bid LeRoi farewell. So sad... They'll always be great, but never the same. I'm finally dragging The Wife out to the Gorge to see them this year. It's been years since I've been able to make it to the Gorge gig, and I'm sooooo looking forward to it. It'll be weird not hearing LeRoi, but I'll still hear his work in my mind as the songs play on.

Can't wait to hear the new stuff! I'm going to have to mosey on over to iTunes and check it out.

Just been happily listening away to the new DMB. Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King is their best album since Busted Stuff. It's fun, it's sad, it jams.

A couple of the stand out tracks are:
"Shake Me Like a Monkey" - they are on fire in this song, Lessard is the bomb
"Why I Am" - a tribute to LeRoi (the Groogrux King)
"Time Bomb" - it's about rage, it's about letting it all out, it's powerful
"Funny the Way It Is" - commentary on the world, not bad
"Squrim" - Dark and lovely.

The CD starts off with a LeRoi Moore intro that slam bangs into Monkey. Totally good stuff.

I watched DMB on Jimmy Fallon. They were great. In good form. Dave looking as hot as ever, sounding as loony as ever, too. Love him!