One of the biggest questions that come to mind is what they will play and how these songs will be played? Through the years, DMB have been constantly changing their sound and style which as artists, should be done. No rock band can withstand 20 years of touring and recording without exploring their art form, and no one wants to hear the same show and songs over and over.

Even better, getting songs never heard before or songs that they feel the need to bust out just because they are feeling it at the time. Perfect example of that in 2010 are songs like “Break for It” and “Black Jack”. You don’t know what to expect, and sometime neither does DMB. What else is there to do but, just take it all in!

“Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King”, arguably one of their best studio efforts since “Before These Crowded Streets”, has translated to the live stage very well and has been well received by fans. The dynamic of the band and this album has drastically changed with the lack of our beloved saxophonist LeRoi Moore, but his spirit and the band musicianship has held strong.

At this point in the 2010 tour, many have likely had a chance to hear the “new” Big Whiskey songs live at shows and even have seen some progression in these tunes since 2009.

My first impressions of the Big Whiskey tunes live on stage were nothing short of amazing.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May the Lord hold you in the palm of his hand.

There is profound mysticism in this approach. It is parallel to the path of spiritual enlightenment, which is not linear, but circular. We do not arrive at awakening, take off our shoes, have a glass of wine, and sink into the tub. Rather, each moment becomes a chance to either open the heart further and more fully, or to close up and tune out. Surely, both opening, and closing, expanding, and contracting, are integral parts of this work, and yet, it is those times when the stars seem to align in our favor that we may feel the most free. And that is exactly what multitudes of fans feel in Dave’s presence.

That same Post article, which mostly discussed DMB’s essential role at this year’s Mile High Music Festival, questioned whether Dave could be the “Rock Messiah.” I don’t know what we want to label it, (although that is catchy!), but I do believe that thousands and thousands of followers, some of whom may be disillusioned with the black and white qualities of most traditional religions, find that they can truly be themselves with Dave’s music streaming between their ears. Whether we are at a concert, or running a crooked mile with our ipods, it is the lyrics and rhythm of this band that keep many of us afloat. And Dave knows this. It seems to be the main reason that he does what he does. Certainly, it’s not for the money. In fact, he even spoke about how “ridiculous” it is that he gets paid as well as he does. But instead of becoming angry and rebelling against his own talent, which would be a true loss for us all, he has humbly accepted his position. Indeed, it is exceedingly rare, and a true inspiration, to find a person who has grasped that level of material wealth while holding on to a sense of equanimity. It’s enough to have us believing that “maybe, all the cure is lying in the heart.”

Hayley Bauman, Psy.D.

Author of Serendipity and the Search for True Self

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September 1st will be dbtp's 4 year Anniversary!

We have come a long way in 4 years and we hope to continue to provide an abundance of new DMB content along with many new and updated features.

Our plan, with your help, is to continue to provide even more DMB News and Articles, Mp3s, Contests and giveaways, pictures and and even more up-to-date forum and website.

One of our key goals is to eliminated the usage of sendspace and offer all dmb content media on our on dedicated server. Faster downloads for everyone.
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We are coming to the time of the year where yearly fees are due and if we want to continue to move forward, we have to pay bills.

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$1 or $100, it doesn't matter, any and all donations made are greatly appreciated and will only benefit the future of dbtp.org.

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All of us here at dbtp.org thank you for support and contributions! Thank you!

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NFL's 91st season

The NBC show will be broadcast live from Jackson Square and there will be simulcast coverage of the 60-minute pregame show which will air from 7:30 – 8:30 PM ET on NBC and NFL Network. The live pregame broadcast will also be available via NFL Mobile only from Verizon.

Proceeds from this exclusive show will benefit Heschel West's Tuition Assistance program, which is a fund that provides need-based scholarship to students.

Read more about the show and the charity and ticket information. Tickets for this event are on sale now and start at $1000 each.

Farm Aid memebers can take advantage of a ticketing pre-sale on August 6th. Ticketing will be available for warehouse members as well. More info to come later this week for the request period. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on August 14th and will range anywhere from $39.50 to $97.50.

The concert line up is still to be determined, but surely you will be seeing Farm Aid board members, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews.

As of 08/12/10

Artists scheduled to perform at Farm Aid 25

Kenny Chesney
Norah Jones
Jason Mraz
Jeff Tweedy
Band of Horses
The BoDeans
Amos Lee
Robert Francis

This tour is incendiary! Not since the early days of the Dave Matthews Band have we seen such variety and energy emanating from every inch of the group’s presence. We knew going in that there would be surprises, but this is insane! At about halfway through the summer series, we’ve already been treated to a plethora of rarities, including, “Minarets,” “Lover Lay Down,” “Blue Water,” “The Stone,” “What You Are,” “I’ll Back You Up,” “Halloween,” "The Last Stop," and, of course, “Sister,” which a certain spirited fan just happened to write about last week! And if we count partial songs and teases, we can add, “Spoon,” “Beach Ball,” “Write a Song,” “#40,” and “Water into Wine,” to our list of extraordinary shockers. 

Not only have we been blown away by melodies taken straight out of the archives, but we’ve also been lucky enough to witness history being made with brand new pieces hitting the circuit. Two tracks that have never been played live prior to this tour are “Black Jack,” and “Break For It.” The former is a short and bittersweet account of a man who has wagered his life for love, while the latter, also known as, “Run While We Can,” tells the timeless tale of a wistful desire to escape the troubles of a harsh world. Both speak to the power that love can hold over an otherwise melancholy existence.   

With so many unexpected works peppering this year’s set-lists, it’s natural to hypothesize about how the rest of the season will unfold. Many devotees are fervently hoping for a full “Last Stop” at Wrigley Field in September, which marks the official end of the band’s U.S. destinations until after their 2011 break. Being that we’ve gotten three teases and one complete version of this favorite, I’d say it’s likely that we could hear a longer rendition in Chicago, but really, you never know!

Another pick that I wonder about is “Typical Situation.” Teased only once this June, it seems notoriously missing from the rotation, especially considering that it previously went hand in hand with two goodies that have tickled our ears recently; “Minarets,” and “Blue Water.” Part of why I wonder about this tune’s absence is the fact that it has appeared every year since DMB's inception, at least partially, with the exception of 2001 and 2002. In addition, I’m fascinated by the origin of this number. The quintessentially Dave lyrics were apparently inspired by Robert Dederick’s poem, “A Prayer in the Pentagon,” which has an over-arching theme of creation leading to destruction. Dederick’s work appears in the book, “The Quest and Other Poems,” and a collection of his efforts can be found at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The inspiration for Dave’s verses is so often a mystery, that to secure such a clear segue into one of his greatest outputs is truly a notable find.

At any rate, with twenty shows left in this country, and three overseas, it’s impossible to know what to expect. But if the first half of the journey is any indication, it’s safe to say that no song is off limits, and quite possibly, the best is yet to come!

Hayley Bauman, Psy.D.

Author of Serendipity and the Search for True Self

What do you think of the 2010 so far?

June 4th, 1996

This show was thier first back in the United States after a leg of shows in Europe in support of "Crash".

Pre-order your copy today, the Live Trax will be released on August 31st, 2010.

If you feeling lucky, ENTER HERE for a chance to win a FREE copy of Live Trax 18! (forum registration required)

Full Setlist