Photos from Daily Bruin File Dave
Matthews, shown here in a concert in 1998, rocked Dodger
Stadium in a sold-out show on Tuesday night. After a bland opening
set by Macy Gray, the band treated audiences with its upbeat
tempo.
By Suneal Kolluri
Daily Bruin Contributor
As the sun set behind the Los Angeles hills, a peaceful aura
overcame a crowd of gleeful fans. They listened attentively to the
beautiful sounds emanating from the musical instruments of the band
that stood before them, and swayed gracefully to the melodic
rhythms that rang throughout the stadium.
And it smelled like dank.
A great atmosphere, amazing music and the stench of marijuana
are staples of the Dave Matthews Band concert experience. This year
was no different as DMB put on an energetic, exciting performance
of both old and new tunes.
The opening act, Macy Gray, had a difficult time attracting the
attention of the Dodger Stadium crowd because all were eagerly
awaiting the appearance of their beloved Dave Matthews Band.
Gray’s music seemed to bore the audience, serving only as
background to their complaints about how badly they wanted her to
end her set so Dave Matthews Band could come on.
When Dave Matthews finally walked on stage, a little chubbier
and balder than he was last time he graced Los Angeles with his
presence, exuberance filled the stadium.
Dave Matthews Band opened its set with such mellow songs as
“Satellite,” “#41″ and “When the
World Ends” as fans happily reached for their lighters and
sang along.
 Almost 60,000 fans packed Dodger Stadium to experience
the Dave Matthews Band in concert. Further into
the concert, the band heated the stadium up. With the
characteristic precision that fans have come to expect, DMB reached
back into its extensive repertoire and played some more energetic
material, such as “Too Much,” “I Did It”
and “So Much to Say.”
Then the fans began to dance.
Something, perhaps massive amounts of controlled substances or
the infectious energy of DMB’s performance, kept the crowd
dancing for the duration of the show.
Even Matthews himself couldn’t help but bust his signature
dance move, a funny shimmy across the stage, at several moments of
the show.
Whoever said white men can’t dance?
As the show continued, DMB jammed together to expand up-tempo
material. The musicians improvised solos that were so well
integrated and remarkably executed that shivers ran down the spines
of those in the audience.
Matthews’ crisp rhythm guitar work and Beauford’s
funky drum beats drove several jam sessions throughout the concert
that were nothing short of breathtaking.
One highlight of the evening came when John Popper of Blues
Traveler joined in a jam with DMB on the song “What Would You
Say.” Popper’s incredible harmonica improvisation added
new vibrance and depth to the song.
The audience didn’t respond as favorably, however, to the
songs from the band’s latest album,
“Everyday.”
Whenever the band played songs from “Everyday,” the
fans danced less, cheered less and were less excited about the
music in general. Even the band’s mega-hit “I Did
It” didn’t generate as much a response as most of its
older material.
Nonetheless, the band came through for its audience. It finished
off the show with such lively classics as “Stay,”
“All Along the Watchtower” and “Tripping
Billies.”
Only after the band had finished its encore, the fans had filed
out of the stadium into their cars, and the large cloud of
marijuana smoke above Dodger Stadium had begun to dissipate, did
the real magic of the concert begin to take effect.
Dave Matthews Band created an atmosphere that provided fans with
an experience that is nearly impossible to find elsewhere.
Loyal fans flocked to the show expecting unique performances of
their favorite DMB stuff. Newer fans went excited to see the live
DMB style about which they had heard so much.
As the band began to play, the power and energy of the music
swept the audience off its feet. DMB succeeded in satisfying its
following while promoting a breakthrough new album.
Fans got lost in the music, forgot about their troubles, and
probably left feeling happier than they have in a long time.