image: christine cotter
Dave Matthews Band played to a sold out crowd last night at the Hollywood Bowl. They even had a lit backdrop of the Los Angeles skyline behind them for part of the show as they played. Nice touch!
The band strayed from their traditional roots of playing lots of classics like “Lie in Our Graves,” “Crush,” and “Lover Lay Down” and instead opted for mostly newer hits like “You and Me,” “Why I Am,” “Alligator Pie,” “Shake Me Like A Monkey,” “Lying in the Hands of God,” and “Seven” off their latest album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, while completely forgoing popular covers like “All Along the Watchtower” and “Sledge Hammer.” That being said, they did raise the roof on favorites like “Jimi Thing,” “#41,” and concert staple “Ants Marching.”
And as usual, each and every musician was totally on point last night rocking their individual instruments-Boyd Tinsley and his ferocious violin solos, Carter Beauford-probably the best drummer in rock n’ roll today, Stefan Lessard and his kick ass baselines, Tim Reynolds who adds the perfect punch with his exceptional electric guitar riffs, and of course, Dave Matthews-a master songwriter with his electrifying guitar solos and his endearing “shuffle.” I do miss LeRoi Moore who passed away 2 years ago, but Jeff Coffin didn’t let a minute pass before he picked up the saxophone and worked the audience into a frenzy.
The strong points of the evening were when Dave & the boys just purely jammed-like during “#41” and “Don’t Drink the Water.”And when not singing, Matthews kept the crowd excited with his gibberish like quips in between songs.
Although this was a solid show, I have definitely seen the band play better-like 2 years ago at the Staples Center (the day that LeRoi died), in 2000 at Starplex Amphitheater in Dallas circa Before These Crowded Streets, or seeing Dave Matthews and Friends with Tim and Trey Anastasio play their acoustic show at Madison Square Garden in 2003. And the band will be taking 2011 off from touring (the first time in their 20 year history) to spend time with their families-so that’s it for 2 years. Already looking forward to their return!
Here is the set list from last night’s Hollywood Bowl performance:
#41
Seven
Stay Or Leave
Don’t Drink the Water
Alligator Pie
Lying In the Hands of God
Crash Into Me
Shake Me Like a Monkey
The Stone
Everyday
Pig
Write A Song
Corn Bread
Jimi Thing
You and Me
Two Step
__________________
Some Devil
Why I Am
Ants Marching
And here is the band performing “Two Step” last night:
