Dave Matthews Band has played the Meadows Music Theater more than any other artist (46 times), but it’s been 3 years since the band took the stage in front of its usual capacity crowd of 30,000 people. Judging from the reaction of the massive crowd, the show was worth the wait.
Please scroll below for the MisplacedStraws Dave Matthews Band live photos and review.
I have known for a while now that I am in a very small minority. I grew up in the suburbs, went to college in the 90’s, but I never saw the Dave Matthews Band live (well, put an * there, I’ll explain later). Like most, I was familiar with the radio hits, and over the decades I’ve had many people tell me how amazing the band is live and watched as they traveled the country taking in as many shows as possible. I decided to take the plunge and give it a try; I can definitely say that I’m glad I did and now I understand the rabid fanbase that has followed this band for over 30 years.
Dave Matthews Band took the stage at 8:00, 30 minutes after the listed ticket time. As they came to the stage, the band wasted no time launching into 1994 classic “Jimi Thing”. The extended outro featured incredible horn work by Rashawn Ross and Jeff Coffin while Matthews watched from the side of the stage like a proud father. The opening number and second song, an inspired, funky cover of Cameo’s “Word Up!” sung by Ross, show what a great band leader Matthews is. The spotlight doesn’t need to be on him. He has surrounded himself with some of the best musicians in the world and is more than happy to stand aside and let them do their thing. The set saw extended solos by keyboardist Buddy Strong and guitarist Tim Reynolds while the founding rhythm section of bassist Stefan Lessard and fan favorite drummer Carter Beauford propelled each song forward.
One of the things I have always admired about the Dave Matthews Band is that every show is different. Much like Bruce Springsteen, Phish, and Metallica, DMB fans expect the unexpected with every show. Prior to showtime, I was in the photo pit and noticed something very unusual, there were no setlists anywhere on the stage. As the night went on, some tracks segued seamlessly, while other times you can see Matthews conferring with band members, presumably picking the next track. It takes a well-seasoned, immensely talented band to pull off wholesale set changes night to night and make it sound so good.
The show was enhanced with spectacular staging and lighting. The video screen behind the band was used perfectly with each song. You could also see the pure joy on the faces of Matthews, Beauford, and Strong as the crowd took their cues throughout the set. There were choruses of Sly Stone’s “Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and the Elvis Presley classic “Can’t Help Falling In Love” sang by the crowd while the band played along. I think it could be said with a fair amount of certainty that I was one of the few first-timers at the show.
So, earlier I mentioned the * after saying I’ve never seen the Dave Matthew’s Band. I did cover Dave alongside Tim Reynolds at the 2021 Farm Aid, and I was in Cleveland when the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 and Brooklyn in 2023 when Dave inducted Willie Nelson. I will admit that I questioned inducting DMB into the Rock Hall, but now I get it. Seeing them live puts it all in perspective, it’s not necessarily about radio hits or top selling records, DMB has a connection with fans that is unique. The band gets as much from the crowd as they the crowd gets from them. The band has earned its reputation as one of the best live acts in music and shows no signs of stopping.
