The DMB

[Gemini Cricket]

(LeRoi Moore 1961-2008)

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!