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Dave Matthews Band satisfies raucous sold-out crowd at SPAC
Sunday, June 22, 2008
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Dave Matthews Band opened their first of two sold-out shows at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Friday night with a drawn-out “Bartender” that was meant to send a jolt into the already high-energy crowd, then bring them all the way down before moving into the next tune, a rollercoaster pattern Matthews stayed with most of the night. The sound wasn’t just right for this first tune, but it didn’t matter, Matthews gave his jungle yells, drummer Carter Beauford was let loose and each horn member then stretched a bit, climbing together and then effectively sedating the crowd with a light touch to end the 15-minute opener. The show had begun. Next came “Everyday,” led by the crowd chanting while violinist Boyd Tinsley dug into his first solo of the night. “Proudest Monkey” is a mellow, intense tune that requires full attention. Few gave it. Instead, the noisy crowd was busy on their cellphones, laughing with friends and occupying themselves until the next burst of excitement. LeRoi Moore blew a wonderfully tempered soprano sax solo here that unraveled nicely. Rashawn Ross followed with an equally jazzy trumpet solo. Ross is a large fellow who can blow a very calm horn, which he did, though eventually rising to full-lung capacity. The real action during these jams was with the band and the pocket they created for the soloists to rummage around. That’s where Matthews liked to hang out with his acoustic chords. Next came the waltzy hit “Satellite,” which they ran through faster than any of the others. “We’re just getting started,” Matthews told the sold-out crowd. He was right. The first guitar solo of the night came during “Corn Bread,” Tim Reynolds playing a showy slide guitar that wasn’t necessary. For those who needed more than the music, the video production was superb in quality and quantity. Sometimes five screens showed close-ups of different band members, other screens showing random footage associated with the song. It was fun for sure, but must every pop-culture event try to feel like a sports bar? Dave Matthews fans travel in large clusters. The festivities start early in the day. By time the concert starts — after months of waiting and a day of partying — the crowd is maniacal. Matthews knows this and works hard to manage their energy, containing it at times, blowing off the lid other times. He has the luxury of feeding off it, not having to create it. After the wonderful ruckus of “You Might Die Trying,” Matthews sat down at a piano to sing the somber “Out of My Hands.” The crowd showed no respect here again, yapping, shouting, ignoring the music. The band creeped in to bring a full sound, and Matthews kept the music focused and tight on his vocals. He knows well the power of his soft voice. They then blew through an uneventful but energized version of the Rolling Stones’ “Bitch.” Matthews turned on his sex appeal for “Crush,” with his near-primal screams against soft raspy notes, making it clear, for any who wondered, why the man, and the band, sells out consistently, year after year, when so few do these days. It’s worth mentioning that the band is a racially integrated unit, something you rarely see in large and small acts. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals opened the show, a good ol’ raw jamming garage band led by a strong-voiced, young bluesy woman on a Hammond organ, of all things. While the seats were still empty during their performance, they played their hearts out. “Stop the Bus” was their typical no-frill, loud, raunchy glob of rock and roll, with Potter’s voice coming through it all loud and clear. It was nice — and so rare — to see a woman lead so rough a band. Keep your eye on her. Get ALL of our news...Click here to subscribe to our online edition, a complete replica of our print edition.
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July 4, 2009
9:41 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
I think this article deserved a comment. DMB is a JAM band. Their songs are "drawn" out because that's who they are and what they are about. To have a non-fan review this concert was the wrong thing to do. My husband and I being followers of this band and seen him countless times thought it was easily one of the greatest shows he has played at this venue and possibly ever. Tim Reynolds only added to the bands already greatness. When fans sell out nearly every show you play you know your good. Actually not good GREAT! In closing I don't believe the writer of this article gave this concert review the grace and justice it needed. Negative reviews of tgis show was unfair to the band and all TRUE fans. Hopefully in the future the writer will feel differently>>>>>DMB fans Forever
9:56 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
This has got to be the worst review; hands down. Why this newspaper would send a non "true fan" to review a legandary rock/jam band is beyond me. If you knew anything about the band, you would have realized that this was one heck of a show that the band put on. You must have been sitting in a sea of 15 year olds that weren't showing respect and on their cell phones, because everyone I was around was having the time of their life to every song. I would like to see what this character's review would be for night 2. #40, Shotgun, letting the crowd sing Jimi Thing... what an amazing two night stand at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. I have to highly agree with the post by meg12019.
2:20 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Seriously, i only registered to say how terrible this review is. Both nights at SPAC were amazing and any DMB fan that went would tell you that. The words like "wasn’t necessary" and saying that people were on there cell phone while he played proudest monkey are just absurd. I sure wasn't on my cell phone, I was singing along cause it's a sick song. Man, I just felt the need to critisize your terrible journalism skills because as a fan i'm offended you seem to think you know anything about DMB.
11:04 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Like the user above me, I registered only to comment on a horrible article that in no way reviewed the two shows I attended. When the "journalist" writes, "The crowd showed no respect here again, yapping, shouting, ignoring the music", the awful critique of a non-DMB fan became quite apparent. Do you think, for an honest moment, that if fans showed up to a DMB show and sat quietly on the lawn the band would play with such enthusiasm and joy? I myself too noticed the terrific video work on the stage and saw nothing but happiness and excitement in the faces of ALL band members. The editors of the Daily Gazette would certainly be better off sending folks who understand the content of the stories they cover rather than sending the next available "journalist" just to get some print. Better luck next time, Gazette.
11:14 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
I would have to agree with everybody who has posted here. It doesn't matter, however, if you're a non-true fan. What should matter is that you have an unbiased opinion of the show and the band. Saying anything they did was unnecessary is just absurd. The songs that you are criticizing are also favorites of any DMB fan. Proudest Monkey, Bartender and Satellite are perhaps some of his most famous songs and ones that all of us enjoy. To criticize Tim Reynolds on an "unnecessary" slide guitar is once again completely crazy. Any true fan of music in general could appreciate what Tim Reynolds on guitar brings to any show, period. To put it lightly, this clown should be barred from writing reviews of concerts.