Dave Matthews isn’t afraid to go biblical in his songwriting, and it being the holidays, I thought it’d be a nice time to take a deeper look at the DMB track “Christmas Song”. Although the track is not exactly your typical holiday song, I love listening to “Christmas Song” around December 25th. The song begins with the miracle of Jesus’s birth -”The Wiseman came, three made their way/To shower him with love/While he lay in the hay”, traces the savior’s formative years - “Not very much of his childhood was known/Kept his mother Mary worried/Always out on his own”, his arrest “By the authorities less informed than he”, his death “When Jesus Christ was nailed to the tree/said ‘o Daddio, I can see now how it will all be”, and the lingering questions we are left with “Father up above, why in all this anger do you fill/Me up with love, love, love”. The song has a very elemental feel to it and really cuts to the heart of the what the Christian holiday of Christmas is based around. One of the best tracks off of Remember Two Things.
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds are finishing up their short trek for charity this weekend in Las Vegas. The duo rocked Seattle on Wednesday playing an intimate show at McCaw Hall. Despite Dave getting a few cases of what he called “Zombie Hand”, concert goers got their money’s worth. Dave busted out some incredible renditions of “Oh”, “Satellite”, and “Don’t Drink the Water”, while Tim wowed the crowd with a few instrumental solos. The two long-time collaborators have a one-of-a-king chemistry that seems to flourish in small venues like McCaw Hall. In an interview, Dave hinted that maybe the band would get together for one gig next year, possibly at The Gorge or Seattle’s annual music festival Bumbershoot. Dave, who lives outside Seattle, will be likely be spending a lot of time in the area with the band on hiatus in 2011. However, the DMB founder is never one to stay put for long. Stay tuned for more happenings!
Dave Matthews has always been generous with his support of charity organizations, but his two forthcoming gigs with Tim Reynolds is treading on new ground. Dave and Tim will play five charity shows from December 6-11 where in which the fans will be able to choose which charitable organization their money goes to. The pair will play two shows on consecutive nights to start the short charity tour in Seattle at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Fans will be given a credit for their donation on JustGive.org where they can select the charity of their preference. JustGive.org has a massive database of charities you can donate to and can even find charities that are in your local area. Ticket are priced at $135 with VIP tickets available for $375. The concerts are expected to raise around $1 million.
DMB may not be on the road for awhile following their final show this year November 20th in Virginia, but fans can look forward to a new live album from the band. Live in New York City is due out November 9th on RCA Records. The new record will incredibly be the band’s 17th live album (the last being Dave & Tim’s Live in Las Vegas). The recording captures the second show at Citi Field on July 17th, 2010. I’m looking forward to hearing the record’s live versions of “Two Step”, “Gravedigger”, “Some Devil”, and “Satellite”. In other news, you can reportedly win a chance to hang out with the Dave Matthews Band by way of a VIP auction that will benefit Habitat For Humanity. Green Day and Goo Goo Dolls recently offered up similar experiences to raise money for charity.
I attended DMB’s second show at Wrigley Field after a friend out of the blue offered me a ticket. Attending a concert alone at Wrigley Field is a experience in itself, but to go see Dave there was truly special. The band didn’t repeat one song between the two shows at 1060 W. Addison Street. While I was jealous of those who got to here “Why I Am”, “Ants Marching”, and “Everyday” on Friday night, the show I attended had some truly amazing moments. Sitting in the upper deck I still had a great view of the stage. It was surreal seeing this huge concert stage set up at Wrigley Field with the L rolling by in the background. “Two Step” got the biggest crowd reaction of the night with everyone from the outfield to the upper deck bopping to Floyd Tinsley’s fiddle. Dave’s performance of “Christmas Song” to open the encore was bone-chillingly beautiful, while “Last Stop” finished the set. What a magical night.
Fresh off a well-reviewed show in Dallas, Texas at the Superpages.com Center, the Dave Matthews Band will play two shows this week before descending on Chicago for a historic weekend at Wrigley Field. DMB will play a concert Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska on Tuesday night before traveling to Saint Paul, Minnesota to rock Xcel Energy Center. After opening the 2010 NFL season on NBC where the band played “Why I Am” and Talking Heads classic “Burning Down the House”, Dave & the boys got a warm reception in Dallas. “Why I Am” and “You and I” received some of the best crowd reactions of the night. Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears will open for Dave Matthews in Omaha and Saint Paul, while Jason Mraz will get the party started for Dave’s Friday and Saturday night shows at Wrigley.
In partnership with Farm Aid board members, Dave Matthews will play the 25th Farm Aid concert on October 2nd in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The concert will be held at Miller Park, and will also feature Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young. Last year in St. Louis, Dave played a set with long time accompanying guitarist Tim Reynolds. One would expect that Dave would bring Tim along with him for Farm Aid this year. DMB first played Farm Aid back in 1995, and Dave has maintained his commitment to helping America’s farmers. For 25 years, Farm Aid has helping farming families survive. Fans were thinking it might be some time until they see Dave play live once again after DMB’s Wrigley Field shows in September. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Matthews shows up on stage here or there outside of Farm Aid.
The fans on the north side of the Chicago will not only get to see the Dave Matthews Band at Wrigley Field for two shows, but will be able to enjoy the musical stylings of one Jason Mraz. Mraz and Matthews have a long history together that dates back to before Mraz released his first album, Waiting for My Rocket To Come. Outside of Dave Matthews show, Mraz and his longtime percussionist Toca Riveria set up a make-shift stage and performed for DMB fans. Dave actually came out to join the pair on stage a friendship was struck up. Dave was so impressed with Mraz’s songwriting and vocal ability that he invited him to be his opening act for a number of his tour dates. Mraz’s single “The Remedy” eventually blew up and Mraz gained fame from around the world. The scat heavy vocalist real hit it big when he released “I’m Yours” in 2008. “I’m Yours” has become a quintessential summer song, and I’m sure Jason will get a nice sing-a-long going at Wrigley. The 33-year-old songwriter’s fourth album is expected to be out later this year.
The Dave Matthews Band has cooked up the perfect way to wrap this year’s tour before taking a hiatus from touring. DMB will play two shows inside “The Friendly Confines” of Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. Wrigley Field is one of the world’s most famous and oldest ballparks, and fans lucky enough to get tickets for the show will be in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Police, Elton John and Billy Joel, and Rascal Flatts have played Wrigley Field to great success, prompting the ballpark’s owners to scheduling more concerts. DMB have long been a huge favorite of Chicago with huge fan bases going to see the band at a slew of different Chicagoland area venues in the past. These pair of shows will be a fitting way for Dave and Co to begin their break from touring after 20 straight years on the road. Tickets go on sale on July 17th.
Dave & the boys left Camden, N.J. feeling good after a two show stop at the Susquehanna Bank Center. Porsha Grant of ABC 6 in Philadelphia highlighted DMB’s performance of “You and Me” as one of the night’s best. After the crowd of Philadelphians sang along to Big Whiskey track just like it was one the band’s old hits. Just more evidence that the new album has really struck a crowd with the fans. Thursday night’s show ended with “Stay (Wasting Time)”. I like how songs of Dave’s Some Devil album have been worked into the band’s set lists like “Gravedigger” and “So Damn Lucky” and The band will be in East Troy, Wisconsin for the Fourth of July weekend performing at Alpine Valley Music Theater for two nights.
