Dave Matthews Band

So, as I’m going to my second Dave Matthews Band concert this year for the Stand Up tour, I have to ask myself one question: Is it too much, too soon? Up until recently, I happened to be one of the few rock fanatics who hadn’t been smitten by the DMB craze. So what’s all the fuss about? It’s about some good, old-fashioned jammin’ rock with guitar, drums, fiddle, horn and piano. And, then of course, there’s Dave. So, I jumped at the chance to see them again at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Marysville, even on a hot mid-August day.
After winning a highly publicized contest on KWOD, local band Broken Iris was the first opener of the day. The Rocklin-based band played an all-too-short set, including the song that won the vote, “Beautiful Girl,” on the side stage to a small but enthusiastic crowd. In addition to the bass and guitar, they have a strong drummer, a cellist and awesome lead vocals. Their lyrics are deep, they harmonize astonishingly well and their style is likely to fall under something like soft, emotional rock. Whatever it is, it works, and they are definitely a band to watch.
Broken Iris was followed by Slightly Stoopid, a reggae-rock band with a style that has been compared to Sublime. Dave Matthews Band took the stage shortly after, heating up the night and taking over just as the sun was slipping over the horizon. They opened the set with a hot “American Baby” and followed with a list that was sure to please diehard DMB fans and new fans alike. The set included a selection of songs from their latest CD, Stand Up, like the powerful versions of “Dream Girl,” ”Louisiana Bayou,” “Hunger for the Great Light,” “Old Dirt Hill,” and the title track. Of course, what would a DMB show be without the old favorites like “What Would You Say,” “Warehouse,” and “Tripping Billies?”
So, after seeing the Dave Matthews Band again, what’s the verdict? Was it too much, too soon? The answer, a resounding “hell no!” Can you ever get too much DMB? They are one of the few bands who can successfully mix their songs up so well that even shows with identical set lists would seem like a completely different concert. So, what would you say? Hell yes!
– Words & photos Pamela Morgan

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