) was my first real solid show. 9/09 was more than solid, it was incredible. For anyone who was there, or has simply looked at the setlist, you know what I'm talking about. My first show, good seats, great setlist, basicaly the perfect night. My follow up show in 2004 was incredibly dissapointing. The lack of variety in setlists, and just the performance itself seemed to lack the enthusiasm I had come to love about Dave Matthews Band. The show had it's fine moments, some rare tunes, some dance tunes, but a whole lot blah in between. So when I walked out of the Verizon Wireless Arena last night I was pleased to find myself thinking "What a solid performance." A fairly predictable setlist i.e: 5 Stand Up tunes, Christmas Song encore, Dont Drink The Water opener. The band played well, and I am impressed that every time I see them they are better than the last time. A strange thing has been happening to me, involving certain DMB songs. As I said, I've seen them three times now, and I've heard 5 songs at all of those shows. Those songs: Everyday, Bartender, Grey Street, Ants Marching, and Granny. I can understand the first 4, as they are fairly common songs, but Granny? Is this strange? Has anyone else found this happening to them? On that note as well, I am starting to get sick of Bartender. The first time I saw it live, it really changed my opinion about it, and all of Busted Stuff, and the second time it was enjoyable as well, but last night I found myself getting bored, letting my mind wander. I still love hearing Grey Street, Granny, Ants, and even Everyday.
Overall I was impressed with the band's individual show, and the setlists have gotten much better since the summer, but still I wish it was 2003 again, or for that matter 1998. But who doesn't?
Highlights of the night (IMHO, of course): Bayou, Jimi Thing, Everyday > Ants. My only complaint about the setlist itself is how the energy built up to Bayou, and then dropped off massivly with Pig. I was happy to see Pig again, but it killed me to see them come off such a great rock n' roll tune like Bayou, into a softer emotional number.
On one final note (I know I know, really long, I'm sorry, but I don't post that often anymore):
Mike Doughty = worst guest ever.
Doughty was kinda of weird, but it was cool to see the exchange between him and dave.
