Let's Ride - Fred Faulkner's Blog About the Road Called Life

The Boys of Summer. That is the story title for the Dave Matthews Band on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine this week. DMB is estimated to gross $40M from their summer tour, which will rank them probably in the top 5 summer acts. Other big competitors include The Rolling Stones, the Anger Management tour (with 50 Cent/Eminem), Green Day, and Coldplay. The article by Jenny Eliscu was decent. She covered information that was also in the DVD part of the Stand Up album, as well as general history of the band. She also emphasizes how the band feels that this album is one that brought the band back together and forged a new union through their music.

What the article did do, at least for me, was explain some of the meaning behind the lyrics in the songs. Dave brought out his politicalness in this album, which I didn't pick up on immediately. I like listening to music for the music. Sometimes I, admittedly, don't pick up on the lyical symbolism or inferences.

While flipping through the rest of the Rolling Stone issue I saw that VH1 is reviving Story Tellers. DMB recorded their Story Tellers installment back in May and it will broadcast in September. Thanks to Coldplay for reviving the series with the desire to record a session.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My friend Ben and I went to the Dave Matthews Band concert last night at the Tweeter Center (formerly known as "The World") in Tinley Park. It was raining which made for an interesting "muddy" experience, but it was fun none the less. Jurassic 5 opened for them, but we were still parking, getting our Preferred Seating wrist bands and beer, so we missed their entire set. Dave and the gang hit the stage about 8:30 and that is when the fun began.

Boyd came out wearing a CHICAGO vest that had a cubbies logo on the back! Kicking off the show was One Sweet World. It is always tough to do, but when I go see them live I always try to call the first song, but 8 albums later I'm rarely correct. The energy from the crowd was magnified on stage 20 fold. The light show was awesome and it was LOUD. Jam sessions lasted for 10 minutes at a crack on multiple songs which makes seeing DMB live the main reason to go.

As I've stated before, I like the new album. It has grown on me just like the rest. I didn't think, however, that many of the songs would translate to good "live" tracks. I was so wrong. DMB rocked the house on songs like Louisiana Bayou, Hello Again, Die Trying, Smooth Rider and Hunger For The Great Light. They also pulled out a cover of The Zombies "Time of The Season" which rocked the entire place. Everyone was having fun on stage. Stefan was dancing to every tune as he laid down his bass lines. Boyd, LeRoi, and Butch all had great solos and jammed out to songs in perfect harmony. Dave was...well Dave. Enough said. Carter blasted out the best drum beats I've heard from any drummer. That man can use every drum in his arsenal and lay down rhythms that will make your head spin.

One of these summers I'm going to take a week off work and just travel with the band for three or four shows. I can never get enough of them live. I highly recommend seeing them live. One of the best live bands out on tour.

Here is the entire set list:

One Sweet World
Grey Street
Louisiana Bayou
Too Much
Dream Girl
Hello Again
Time Of The Season
Die Trying
Lover Lay Down
American Baby
Smooth Rider
Warehouse
Hunger For The Great Light
Crash
Stand Up
All Along The Watchtower

Encore:
Old Dirt Hill
Tripping Billies

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 11:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yes, I'm on a Dave Matthews Band kick lately. If you don't like it come back next week when I'm out of town or blogging about something else. ;-)

VH1 is streaming the new album, in its entirity. Very cool. As I mentioned in my last post, this album was going to be different. Joy Ride and Sugar Will didn't make the final cut, but Hello Again did. I think this one will take some getting used to. I'll have a nice plane ride to Orlando to check out the entire album next week. Until then, head over to VH1's Hear Music First site for DMB.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 09:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The tickets are bought. The new album is on its way in less than two weeks. And the anticipation of the new DMB album is growing. Dating back to 1991 DMB has been building an audience and a sound that is hard to define. Some of it is rock like I Did It from the Everyday album. Then you get a lovely ballad like I'll Back You Up from the Remember Two Things album. There are hints of jazz, blues, bluegrass, african, folk, and rock influence in each of their albums.

Each of DMB's albums have progressed through the times. When they first broke out with Under the Table and Dreaming they already had an EP album out called Recently, and a self released album called Remember Two Things out. So for the first couple of years, including the entire Crash album, their entire library was already written. It took until Before These Crowded Streets for them to start to evolve. And that they did. Then came some live albums which really shows the bread and butter of DMB...listening to them play "live."

Continue reading "Stand Up - New DMB Album May 10th" »

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 06:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Dave Matthews Band continues to tease their fans by placing video shorts featuring all the members on their new studio album microsite. The fourth video was posted last week and features Dave himself talking about the process the band has taken to write the new album. These shorts are great to keep fans involved and anticipating the new album that will be released this spring. The summer tour dates have been announced and it looks like Chicago is again on their tour. Should be a grand time on June 2, 2005.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 06:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Dave Matthews Band is back in the studio recording their next album. Slated to drop in May, the band has again built a micro-site for the new album which is pretty bare right now, but has two videos for you to watch. The first one is from the new producer, Mark Batson, explaining that he wants to push DMB to new levels. The second video, which just came out recently, has a jam session with Carter and Mark on the piano. Stefan commentates about the moment.

I saw DMB last summer when they "road tested" three new songs and then played on they created in the sound check. That was pretty cool to learn after the fact. Regardless, the new songs sound awesome and I can't wait for the new album.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 06:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Fantastic show in Tinley Park tonight! Energy levels on stage and in the audience were high. The band are having a great time together as usual, and it's showing in their performance. Along with the 4 new songs we heard last night, DMB played a tune that they wrote during soundcheck this afternoon. Dave improvised lyrics and band members exchanged solos. When asked what we should name the song on the web site, Dave replied "Hmm? Call it......'Hmm?!'." We're headed to Indy for shows on Sunday and Monday. See y'all there.
-- The DMB Crew

Satuday, June 19
12:31 AM CDT

I couldn't agree more. This show rocked, especially with the fact that we got to hear new songs. I can't wait for the new album. It sounds like another winner just from the preview we heard tonight.

I have to admit that the "Preferred Seating Area" in the lawn rocked. We were able to show up a little after the gates opened and still got good seats. Either not many of the the Warehouse members got lawn seats, or they didn't take advantage of the area because it was pretty empty. Regardless, the show rocked. I drank one or two too many beers. I hurt a little the next morning. :-)

Next summer I think we'll do a little road trip and see them a couple shows in a row. What a vacation that would be!

Here is the Set List from the show:

So Much To Say++
Rapunzel
New Song #1
When The World Ends
Too Much
If I Had It All
Rhyme & Reason ++
Hmm ? [New]
Bass Intro ++
New Song #4
Where Are You Going
Warehouse
New Song #2
Lap Steel Intro ++
Grace Is Gone
Jimi Thing
Grey Street
New Song #3
Stay
__________________

Crush
What Would You Say

++ indicates a segue into next song

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)