Dave Matthews Band's blissed-out jams pack 'em in for sold-out show at Blossom Music Center.
Announced plans Dave Matthews Band to take a break from touring in 2011, so it came as no surprise to find Blossom Music Center filled to capacity Friday night for a 2½-hour going-away party.
When other acts at a time are struggling to fill seats, nothing still packs ’em in like the promise of blissed out jams (incorporating rock, jazz, funk and other genres) under a full moon on a perfect summer evening.
Fronted by singer guitarist Dave Matthews, a former bartender from South Africa (by way of Virginia), this Grammy winning group got the sold out bash started with “Big Eyed Fish,” a midtempo tune with a touch of bluegrass.
Matthews, 43, told the crowd it was good to be back at Blossom.
“A lot of wood,” he noted, completely at home beneath the pavilion’s soaring rafters.
Fans were glad to have him back, too. They greeted the opening bars of “Shake Me like a Monkey,” “Warehouse,” “Ants Marching” and other songs like old friends. They thoroughly enjoyed Matthews’ crazy hot coals dance during “Corn Bread.” And they laughed knowingly at his inscrutable banter.
“Once upon a time there were three bears,” Matthews said at the start of “Stand Up (For It),” seemingly apropos of nothing.
With eyebrows arched and eyes closed, he cooed and occasionally caterwauled, tilting back his head and opening his mouth wide enough for 19,000 plus concertgoers to admire his dental work.
Slipping a few bars of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” into the middle of an emotional rendition of “Don’t Drink the Water,” Matthews struck a topical chord when he lingered on the line about Gulf Stream waters. The BP oil spill immediately came to mind.
As on previous outings, the band’s core lineup -- Matthews, violinist Boyd Tinsley, bassist Stefan Lessard and drummer Carter Beauford -- was abetted by Matthews’ songwriting partner Tim Reynolds on guitar, Rashawn Ross on trumpet and Jeff Coffin on sax.
Tinsley dignified “Dancing Nancies” with some of the most well received fiddle playing this side of the Charlie Daniels Band, while the spry horn section of Ross and Coffin vamped in unison during an epic version of “#41.”
The latter song stretched over 15 minutes. It started out at a mellow simmer, then boiled over when Coffin cut loose with a scorching sax solo. Matthews nodded approvingly.
It’s not going to be the same around here next summer without a visit from these guys. After years of memorable performances like this one, though, Matthews and friends deserve a hard earned break.
SET LIST:
When other acts at a time are struggling to fill seats, nothing still packs ’em in like the promise of blissed out jams (incorporating rock, jazz, funk and other genres) under a full moon on a perfect summer evening.
Fronted by singer guitarist Dave Matthews, a former bartender from South Africa (by way of Virginia), this Grammy winning group got the sold out bash started with “Big Eyed Fish,” a midtempo tune with a touch of bluegrass.
Matthews, 43, told the crowd it was good to be back at Blossom.
“A lot of wood,” he noted, completely at home beneath the pavilion’s soaring rafters.
Fans were glad to have him back, too. They greeted the opening bars of “Shake Me like a Monkey,” “Warehouse,” “Ants Marching” and other songs like old friends. They thoroughly enjoyed Matthews’ crazy hot coals dance during “Corn Bread.” And they laughed knowingly at his inscrutable banter.
“Once upon a time there were three bears,” Matthews said at the start of “Stand Up (For It),” seemingly apropos of nothing.
With eyebrows arched and eyes closed, he cooed and occasionally caterwauled, tilting back his head and opening his mouth wide enough for 19,000 plus concertgoers to admire his dental work.
Slipping a few bars of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” into the middle of an emotional rendition of “Don’t Drink the Water,” Matthews struck a topical chord when he lingered on the line about Gulf Stream waters. The BP oil spill immediately came to mind.
As on previous outings, the band’s core lineup -- Matthews, violinist Boyd Tinsley, bassist Stefan Lessard and drummer Carter Beauford -- was abetted by Matthews’ songwriting partner Tim Reynolds on guitar, Rashawn Ross on trumpet and Jeff Coffin on sax.
Tinsley dignified “Dancing Nancies” with some of the most well received fiddle playing this side of the Charlie Daniels Band, while the spry horn section of Ross and Coffin vamped in unison during an epic version of “#41.”
The latter song stretched over 15 minutes. It started out at a mellow simmer, then boiled over when Coffin cut loose with a scorching sax solo. Matthews nodded approvingly.
It’s not going to be the same around here next summer without a visit from these guys. After years of memorable performances like this one, though, Matthews and friends deserve a hard earned break.
SET LIST:
Big Eyed Fish
Grace Is Gone
Seven
Stay or Leave
Don’t Drink the Water
#41
Stand Up (For It)
Squirm
Eh Hee
Shake Me like a Monkey
You and Me
Dancing Nancies
Warehouse
Can’t Stop
Corn Bread
Ants Marching
ENCORE:
Little Red Bird
So Right
So Damn Lucky
Grace Is Gone
Seven
Stay or Leave
Don’t Drink the Water
#41
Stand Up (For It)
Squirm
Eh Hee
Shake Me like a Monkey
You and Me
Dancing Nancies
Warehouse
Can’t Stop
Corn Bread
Ants Marching
ENCORE:
Little Red Bird
So Right
So Damn Lucky
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