In May, Dave Matthews Band took to their Summer 2005 Tour, beginning in New York City at the intimate Roseland Ballroom. The first show celebrated the much anticipated release of their new album “Stand Up.”
The last-minute surprise show, before a crowd of barely 3,000, was the first of many new things to come from the band during the tour.
Fairfield students had many opportunities to experience a show of their own. With dates in Manchester, Mass., Camden, N.J., Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Hartford, CT., students from the northeast could easily get in on a little of the “Dave-magic” during the summer.
Each show offered something a little different and unique such as the introduction of the instrumental “34” at Manchester, and a cover of “Time of the Season” by the Zombies throughout the summer.
The band also went back to their roots playing songs such as “Crash into Me,” “Crush,” “Lover Lay Down” and “Rhyme and Reason” with more frequency than in previous years.
Butch Taylor, the recording pianist for the band, also accompanied the band for the entire tour to accommodate for the new piano pieces such as “Steady As We Go” and “Out of my Hands.”
The band took a break in July when they decided to participate in a worldwide benefit concert, Live 8, to raise awareness to combat hunger and poverty in Africa. Rather than being a fund-raising concert, the Live 8 group looked to use the voices of the people to influence world leaders during the G8 Summit.
The eastern portion of the tour was culminated in an all-day weekend festival at Randall’s Island in New York. Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Ray LeMontagne and the Barenaked Ladies opened for DMB on the first night. The following night’s opening acts were the Black Eyed Peas. The fans were also treated to guest appearances by Trey Anastasio, the former guitarist of fellow jam ban Phish, and slide guitarist Robert Randolph.
Each show sold out for the entire tour and the album went platinum immediately. As indicated by both ticket and album sales, the fans have certainly remained loyal.
Dave Matthews Band shows no sign of stopping, especially with the recent announcement of returning to the studio in early 2006. It is highly anticipated that the band will follow through with their usual schedule of touring, hopefully lasting through summer of 2006.
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