Random DMB Post Thread

[Coldchillin]

Rapunzel is a great track.

[ericwormann]

I'm gonna start fixing my old dmb tab site.

[GSR]

I'm gonna start fixing my old dmb tab site.

It's quite impressive. I usually read the song quotes when I'm bored.

[onid41]

I'm gonna start fixing my old dmb tab site.

did you really tab those out all by yourself? dont lie now.

[GSR]

n an article posted to Nashville’s WMSV dated February 13, 2007, it was announced that Starwood Amphitheatre in Antioch, TN (15 miles southwest of Nashville), is closing its doors after twenty-two years. You can read the article on their website here. While the venue is not sold yet, discussions are serious enough to shut down before a would-be "farewell Summer."

Instantly recognizable by its huge walkways in the lawn and the cloud of evaporated sweat, Starwood Amphitheatre, also known during its run as First American Music Center (1999) and AmSouth Amphitheatre (2000–2004), was opened in 1985. It was sold to SFX Entertainment, Inc., in 1998, then in turn was sold to Live Nation in 2000 which has proved to be the fatal blow. In mid-December 2006, Billboard first reported that Live Nation, now the world’s leading live entertainment company, had intentions to sell four of it’s venues that are either situated in mega-growth markets, or are underperforming. Also up for sale: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Deer Creek) in Noblesville, Indiana; Germain Amphitheatre (Polaris) in Columbus, Ohio; and Sleep Train Amphitheatre (Sacramento Valley) in Marysville, California. From the Indianapolis Star (December 18, 2006): "He said Live Nation is looking to sell the site to the top bidder, which may or may not be an entertainment company that would want to continue to operate the site as a concert venue. 'We're not against selling it to another entertainment group . . . as long as they are the entity that pays us the most money.'"

The news was met with a wide array of reaction from fans. Some understood it as the American way, some figured it would work itself out, some were sad, some were pissed. But a full season of summer shows was promised, and it became a problem for a future day; however, painfully, the future is now. Promises of a last blowout concert are gone for one venue and in serious jeopardy for the other three. The concert that was scheduled for the venue was to be the Volunteer Jam on May 19, headlined by the Charlie Daniels Band; however, according to Nashville’s WKRN, that show has been canceled now as well.

DMB first performed at Starwood in October 1996, playing a make-up show that was canceled after the death of Stefan’s child. Living as a fan in the midwest, there’s always an extra step to ticket ordering after Bela Fleck’s surprise appearance in 1998. You checked when the DMB Starwood date was, then you checked the Flecktones’ schedule. Béla surprised fans by guesting on most of the second half of the show. Three of those songs (Crush, Pay For What You Get, and Say Goodbye) are his only guest spots. That Say Goodbye was the first time it had been played full band in the encore since the RSO shows in 1995, and it hasn’t been slotted there since.

Béla Fleck returned with Futureman and Jeff Coffin in 2000, highlighted by gorgeous versions of Grace is Gone and Long Black Veil (also with Emmylou Harris on vocals). This show’s #41 foreshadowed some of the phenomenal versions that came in the next two weeks when the Flecktones joined them on tour and contained a great percussion duet with both Carter and Futureman playing Carter’s kit at the same time. The set ended with an eight-man Bartender, the only time it has closed a set.

The 2001 show also featured the Béla, Futureman, and Jeff Coffin guesting. The show ran over three hours, was highlighted by a Jeff Coffin sax solo in Bartender with the perfect build. Other standout songs in this show were Grace is Gone, The Space Between, and All Along the Watchtower.

The show in 2002 featured the return of Mike Durham guesting on electric guitar. Until Richard Hardy’s appearance in 2006, Durham’s appearance was the longest guest return in band history going back to the famous post-H.O.R.D.E. 1993 Richmond Flood Zone show. He guested on Two Step, Loving Wings, and Where Are You Going. Durham also guested on Jimi Thing in 2003, a late tour show that featured Flecktones Futureman and Jeff Coffin guesting on a twenty-minute Two Step closer.

The show in 2004 featured fan favorites Crush, Granny, Drive In Drive Out, Cry Freedom, and Seek Up, amid the popular four new songs that defined the tour. Too Much was in the middle of its incredible energy makeover, highlighted by an improvised 'Golden Years' in the middle when a verse didn’t come to Dave. The Golden Years interpolation was the first in a full band version since Halloween 1998 and stuck around for two of the best versions in the song’s history at Cincinnati and Alpine Valley.

In 2005, DMB brought the Stand Up tour to Antioch and also played the first live version of one the most popluar Stand Up tunes, American Baby Intro. This would be the only song to make its debut at Starwood. Other show highlights were the cover of the Zombies’ Time of the Season and the recently-brought-back fan favorite You Never Know.

The last DMB show to take place at Starwood will be remembered for the debut of a polished Shotgun. The song was molded on the road at several shows, then disappeared. After numerous soundchecks, twenty shows after it left, a fully structured version appeared out of nowhere. The reaction by the audience on the tape when Dave hits the first riff is enough to give chills. Mike Durham guested on Louisiana Bayou and the closing Ants Marching on this last show. The Before These Crowded Streets encore of Pig–Stay (Wasting Time) will go down as the last songs DMB played there.

What can we do about this? Is there anything? There are online petitions, here, for example. But will that stop a company who cares so little about public perception that they are quoted as saying they will sell to ensure it stays open only if that’s the highest offer? Unlikely. Each year’s trip to Deer Creek and Polaris is met with more traffic, more malls, more restaurants, and more money. It hasn’t been a subtle change. The best we can do is hope that we get our last shows to celebrate these great venues.

Oh and by the way, Live Nation bought a controlling stake in Musictoday, which operates the Warehouse fanclub, on July 31, 2006.

[i am sam2]

you must be fucking kidding me. goddamnit.

[lakerhoc1121]

i would like to get my hands on that 2001 show they talk about

[taparoo]

i would like to get my hands on that 2001 show they talk about

I was just thinking about how freakin cool it is that you can listen to virtually any show DMB has ever done at the click of a button.

[bense27]

I love listening to Luther College and BTCS after a hiatus.

Is it bad that I don't? I listened to Rapunzel a few weeks ago and I was not amused.

skip Rapunzel and go from Last Stop through to Spoon, listening to all the segues and jams in between too.. If you haven't listened to the album in a while, I guarantee you'll have a new appreciation.

yeah but I just don't have motivation to listen to it right now

[jcarley]

this is a weird question but when dave said that he was camping in the northern part of lake superior on storytellers D&T does anyone know where he was camping im from Michigans upper penisula and am really curious?

[littlefriend]

this is a weird question but when dave said that he was camping in the northern part of lake superior on storytellers D&T does anyone know where he was camping im from Michigans upper penisula and am really curious?

Well most of the northern part of Lake Superior lies within Canada, so I would assume he was in Canada. Could be northern Minnesota, too, but I don't think he ever specified.

[Taylor2885]

I was unaware that Stefan lost a child.

[taparoo]

I have a hunch Sister will be on the new album.

[bassman462]

I have a hunch that he might save sister for a new dave and friends album.

[Yakko]

I think so too. Sister didn't seem to really fit with any of the new songs this year. I think a studio Shotgun has a lot of potential.

I really hope this album is like BTCS, I just hope..