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Dave Matthews Band - Home Depot Center, Carson CA. July 27, 2003: GOAL!!Jul 28 '03 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line I'm still recuperating from last night, it's all reeling in my head.
I thought that I would wait a few days after the show to review it in order to let it sink in. I got home tonight and realized that it was just something that couldn’t wait. Yes, I enjoyed it and paid attention to it but I continuously found myself analyzing it and thinking of things to say for the Epinion. I have been to three Dave Matthews Band concerts now. I have reviewed the first one and now this is the third one. We were all lucky to ride stylishly in a limo once again, us “DMB Girls.” We were so excited because unlike the previous shows, we had supposedly purchased better seats. We were on the floor and only three sections back. We didn’t even have to become part of the Dave Matthews Band fan center called Warehouse. The venue was the Home Depot Center in Carson. The Dave Matthews Band were the first to ever play there. There were two shows. July 26 and 27. We went to the second show so we didn’t see the actual first show ever, but we were the second people ever to sit in the seats we were in. We were excited, took a bunch of pictures, and had Live at Folsom – Dave Matthews Band in the stereo. All four of us girls discussed what songs we wanted to hear. We came to a general agreement that we wanted to hear The Stone, Two Step, Jimi Thing, #41, Crush, All Along the Watch Tower, One Sweet World, and Bartender. We all felt that a combination of these songs would just make for the perfect night. We expected that we wouldn’t hear all of them but we could still dream. We got their EXTREMELY early, but that was beneficial because we half got lost on the way. It turns out that we were in the right direction, but we just had to go a little further. This was just such a new venue that we weren’t exactly sure if everything was smooth. It was such and inviting place, not too big, but definitely modern. The only thing was that parking was $15 so we were lucky that we didn’t drive there. The limo pulled up to the booth and proclaimed that he was going to drop us off. He quickly learned that in order to do that, we would have to shell out $30, just for a drop-off. Uh, no thanks, we can walk. Talk about injustice. Anyways, the opening band, The Roots hadn’t even come on yet so we ate and established where our seats were. Suddenly we heard a funky rhythm with a very energetic voice towering over it. Two of us went to find out if it was in fact the opening band that we had heard so much about and found out that it was. We went to the bathroom to ensure that we wouldn’t miss the best part of the concert simply because we had to go really badly and found our seats. We were amazed at how much different it was to sit on the floor as opposed to nosebleed. The Roots really were a wonderful band. They had their whole hip-hop/rap thing going on with a hint of blues, grassy sound. They had some amazing drum solos, bass solos, and the long time independent artist Cody Chestnut joined these fellows on stage. It was some mad music and something different although the beat got a bit monotonous and I was on borderline to a headache. Actually, during the concert, Cody Chestnut was walking around and we got “autographs” that were actually little phrases like “Look for the Lord first,” which was interesting. He was really down to earth but looking up. After about forty-five minutes, actually being forty-five minutes late, Dave Matthews Band finally came on stage and the half full venue cheered their buttocks off. We were all so excited and the energy was surging and brought everyone to his or her feet. There was one problem with this. We could no longer see. He opened brilliantly with So Much Too Say, the first track off of the CD Crash. I instantly got the feeling that this was going to be incredible. The stage setup was just mind-blowing, all of the lights, the array of color, the three huge projector screens. I couldn’t believe that it had finally come. I was so glad that they opened this song because once I had caught myself singing this song I realized that Dave Matthews Band was really going to be my favorite band of all time. He transitioned wonderfully into What Would You Say which just sent the crowd soaring. It was wonderful because this was an outdoor venue and the picture of the off-blue sunset gave an amazing feel to this particular event. The scent of pot made this even sweeter. It was during this song that we realized that there were completely empty rows in the back of the stadium. We figured that they would be the ideal seats because the stadium was so small that we could still see them perfectly and enjoy them better. We passed the guards, parked ourselves, and enjoyed the concert the rest of the night from there. So no matter how good floor seats for $48.50 might sound, actual stadium seating allows you to sit and have full view. We hardly sat though. Three sections of floor seating is just too much to see over. Rhyme and Reason was next and the light effects just got better as it got darker outside. I hadn’t heard this song for a long time and wasn’t aware that it was a song that he played often so it was an awesome experience, morbid, but awesome. Next was When the World Ends. It had a very long intro where you almost couldn't tell that they were going to play it. For a second I thought they were going to play Where are You Going. It’s always hard to tell with the uncertainty that is Dave Matthews Band, you can never be too sure. Amazingly enough he played The Stone with a different variation on the intro. I was so excited because this song is among one of my most favorites. Of course, I got chills with every typical throw back of the head and plea for the want of love. I absolutely love this song and was almost brought to tears. The only thing that killed it for me was the keyboardist with his semi-solo at the end. I didn’t feel that it was appropriate. I tend to think most of his “interruptions” are mostly at inappropriate times. Don’t Drink the Water was after this, another Before These Crowded Streets song which was perfectly compelling and kept you into the song the whole time. At this point, we hadn’t even sat down. Dave Matthews voice was crisp and even if it almost broke, it added to the suspense of the night. Perfection in imperfection. Boyd Tinsley on the electric violin definitely took his instrument to its outer limits. I was surprised to hear Fool To Think off of the Everyday CD. He hadn’t played a new song yet, which I was happy about, but there was a decent mixture and this is one of the better songs off of that album. Too Much was done beautifully and again the lights just made the crowd soar. The lights were definitely piercing but how can you say that they aren’t perfect the way they move with the beat and accentuate the mood. I was talking to my friend next to me and she said that it would be wonderful to hear Jimi Thing at this point. Lo and behold the next song was indeed Jimi Thing. This turned into a wonderful ballad as it progressed and finally gave us an opportunity to sit down and mellow out. It was done wonderfully. To our elation, he played Crash and even sang the alternate ending of I will be your Dixie chicken And you can be my Tennessee Lamb And we can walk together Down in Dixie Land That particular phrase always makes the crowd go wild and it had such perfect timing. Dancing Nancies had a variation on the beginning and then it broke into the actual song. It was interesting, but it’s near impossible to catch what was new because the crowd was screaming to loudly. I do have to admit that I did scream as well. In fact my throat is a little soar and raspy, but well worth it. I Did It brought the mood up again after all of the mellow songs and just got everyone out of their seat (if they were in them) and dancing. Again, misconceived as Where are You Going was Grace is Gone which is a far better song. I admire this one so much and I’ve always felt that the version off of Lillywhite was the preferable one. Stefan Lessard, the bassist, started this song with a wonderful slide bass effect until it came time for the actual acoustic. It was done wonderfully. Supposedly topping off the night was What You Are which built up to the fact that it was. Cater Beauford went nuts and absolutely had the most charisma. I always enjoy watching him. This song would have been an interesting way to end the night if there were no encore. It was incredibly abrupt and basically “song end” “g’night folks.” The encore was endless. I proposed the theory that the Dave Matthews Band sits back stage listening to the crowd and trying to wait a few seconds more than the night before. I can honestly say that it was at least a ten-minute wait. It was torture and a few people in front of us got fed up and left. Of course they’d get back on stage or the stadium lights would come on. Of course they ‘d come. Although there was so much doubt. I think that’s the point of making us wait so long. When Dave FINALLY stepped on stage after the continuous clap and stomping of feet we realized that he was going to play one by himself. The song was Gravedigger which I have been told is on the radio now. It really is a wonderful song and I am almost positive that I had heard it before. The band came out for what I thought to be the last song, but was sad that it would be. It was The Maker which is an incredibly somber song. I enjoyed it but they just faded off into nothing and I was disappointed because I thought that they were going to end it there. They hadn’t even used the brightest of the lights that they generally used during All Along the Watchtower that make the crowd sing with pleasure. Little did I know that The Maker blended into Tripping Billies, an upbeat song and a perfect closer. Here, they went all out for the lights where they shone bright yellow to white, jumped from on to off and of course the blinding/brightest ones were used and got the energy to climax. It was absolutely wonderful and everything had seemed perfect. They walked off stage and that was it. We walked out and after the fifteen minutes of searching for our limo, we were ready to go home. So even though we only heard two songs out of our "want list" and the light effects of All Along the Watchtower it was still quality. In the Limo, we discussed our thoughts of the concert. We all concluded that the first one that we saw together at Dodger Stadium had the most energy, the one at the Staples Center had the better set list, and this was the concert that was mellow and almost depressing. There were many factors as to why this wasn’t as high energy. This was the second show that the band had performed in at the same venue, it wasn’t sold out, it was a Sunday night, and the atmosphere called for it. This place definitely was a relaxing place but if the band had gone all out, I’m sure everyone would have followed. As we realized what was completely different about the night in comparison to the other concerts, we realized that Leroi, the saxophonist was not there. He was there, I remember seeing him on the big screen ONCE during Don’t Drink the Water but I only heard him the rest of the night. I thought it was very odd because usually they all get on the big screen at least once during every song, even the keyboardist. I later found out that Leroi only showed up for the first couple of songs because he was battling a stomach virus. It got the better of him and he is trying to get better now. Good luck Leroi! Also as a downer, the merchandise was SO damn expensive. I spent $28 on a shirt. *Rolls Eyes*. Overall, the sound quality was good although there was a lot of echo. It wasn't horrible though. People got weird and creepy after the concert. Some guys called us band-aids, which is the term coined from Almost Famous and a boy came up to our limo playing a guitar saying “Tripping Billies” and then continued to grab at the handle for a ride. The wackos came out of the woodwork. Beside those negative effects, this definitely was a wonderful show and they brought a light to my summer. As a suggestion, if you want to see them, join Warehouse and you can pre-order tickets. It was a perfect night and the songs were wonderful and flowed beautifully. I can’t wait to do it next year once I become a member of the fan club.  |
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