Live Review: Dave Matthews Band
July 2nd, 2008 by Jeff Hahne in Live Reviews, PhotosDave Matthews Band
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
July 1, 2008
The Deal: Dave Matthews Band hits Verizon Wireless on its summer run — Tim Reynolds in tow, Jeff Coffin replaces the injured Leroi Moore on sax.
The Good: First, it’s sad news that Moore was injured in an ATV accident — this was the first time the band played without him in nearly 14 years. However, Coffin, who plays with Bela Fleck, did an amazing job. Sure, he needed to be coached from time to time, but he stepped it up on solos and fit in nicely.
Reynolds was given time to shine on a handful of solos, breaking out the slide for “Corn Bread” and ripping it up on “Two Step” and “You Might Die Trying.” The setlist was a good mix of old and new with “Eh Hee” balanced by “Jimi Thing” and “Satellite.” Of course, there were also hints of covers and some played full-out. They played a few lines of “This Land Is Your Land” and Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” but really laid it out with stellar covers of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” The Rolling Stones’ “Bitch” and the encore opener, Pink Floyd’s “Money.” Matthews himself could be seen pumping his fist and screaming, “Yeah!” when Coffin soloed…or smiling at Reynolds while he shredded his Flying V on “Don’t Drink the Water.” Michael Franti, who opened the night, was seen in the front section (around 10th row) for a handful of songs.
The Bad: Aside from Moore being injured, nothing.
The Verdict: Granted, I’ve only seen DMB three times now, but this one is easily at the top of the list. Perfect weather without a cloud in the sky, good music that got kicked up a notch by the presence of Coffin and Reynolds… For a band that had to replace a key member on the fly, they truly shined.
Setlist
The Stone
Old Dirt Hill
You Might Die Trying
Everyday
Eh Hee
Don’t Drink the Water>
This Land is Your Land
Grey Street
Corn Bread
Two Step
Proudest Monkey
Satellite >
For What It’s Worth
Jimi Thing
Sledgehammer
Bitch
Ants Marching
Encore:
Money
So Much To Say >
Anyone Seen The Bridge >
Too Much
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
awesome pics man!
IS IT POSSIBLE YOU CAN SEND ME ALL YAH PICS FROM CHARLOTTE AND THE RALEIGH SHOW (IF YOU GOTO RALEIGH?)
AWESOME QUALITY!
I REPLIED IN THE ANTSMARCHING 4UM ABOUT THE CLT SHOW!
THANK YOU
A.K.A
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Not going to Raleigh - took about 600 pics last night…couldn’t possibly email them all.