[Billy]

I got home yesterday from seeing the Dave Matthews Band 2 nights in a row at the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington state. I am confident in saying I just saw the 2 best concerts in my life thus far. It could be that the Gorge has a way of making a concert a little extra special (it may very well be the most perfect venue on the globe) but seeing the DMB is such an intense experience in and of itself. I went with a group of real good friends and we had such an awesome weekend.

I'm too tired to go into any specific details, but if you have the chance to go to the Gorge for a concert, do it! If you have the chance to see the DMB at the Gorge (they play there every labour day weekend) definitely do it! I can promise that seeing them there will turn any DMB naysayer in to a convert.

Oh, as an aside, I can understand how a fan who wants to hear a popular song live might feel after some die hard fan says they wish the band wouldn't have played it and played something obscure instead. I have been a member of Antsmarching.org for many years, but I never frequent the forums and only go there when I'm looking for a bootleg. Anyways, the one DMB song I wanted to hear the most live was "Warehouse" and they played it on Sunday night. It sounded so awesome, and as I have heard on bootlegs, got the crowd super pumped up. Later that night I went on Antsmarching.org to see the setlist and found a few die hard fans complaining about the hearing Warehouse because they would rather have heard something obscure. It then hit me how a Hip fan, who hasn't seen them as many time as me, might feel after I say something to the same effect about NOIS. I'm not going to change my opinion about seeing NOIS live, but it did turn the tables on me which was interesting.

Forgot to mention that Tim Reynolds played with them each night...too good!

[PortlandCarbo]

i agree, the gorge has always been my favorite place to see a show. that being said, they have less & less shows there each year. it's a bummer...

btw, did they make any mention about LeRoi?

[sullivand]

I saw Neil Young and Crazy Horse there in 1997. Epic show in an epic rainstorm. The place has magical powers. (And Neil ain't too shabby either.)

[Billy]

i agree, the gorge has always been my favorite place to see a show. that being said, they have less & less shows there each year. it's a bummer...

btw, did they make any mention about LeRoi?

Yup, both nights I saw them they did a photo/video montage to him, set to #34. It was during the break before the encore.

Wonder why they have fewer shows there? I can't imagine there being a better venue anywhere close to there.

[direwolf74]

I saw Neil Young and Crazy Horse there in 1997. Epic show in an epic rainstorm. The place has magical powers.

Indeed. The Gorge is by far the most beautiful concert venue I've ever seen. I was lucky enough to see the Hip there in '06 at the Sasquatch Festival. They went on stage right after the craziest hail storm I've ever experienced. The crew had to shovel all the snow off the stage before any more performances could take place. It was wild.

"I thought the skies would only open up partially. I didn't think it would be fully...completely. I wasn't ready!"

-Gord Downie at the Gorge.

[NegPhil]

The Gorge at George Washington.

[hotmetal401]

Over the three nights, Dave Matthews Band repeated five songs. Only one of those songs was played in full each night, being Anyone Seen The Bridge, which is more a lead in to Too Much more than anything. Too Much was also played all three nights -- sort of. It was "faked" on night one and three, while played in full night two. With the debut of All Along The Watchtower, they've now played 81 different songs through 48 shows this summer. Plus night two got the first ever full band Stay Or Leave, which is probably the best song off of Dave's solo disc.

Cheers,

Pat

[PortlandCarbo]

awhhh, i was there for the hailstorm. good times i tell ya, good times for sure.
btw, does adrian or tony ever come on here anymore? (bigA/TLB)

[mark]

Over the three nights, Dave Matthews Band repeated five songs. Only one of those songs was played in full each night, being Anyone Seen The Bridge, which is more a lead in to Too Much more than anything. Too Much was also played all three nights -- sort of. It was "faked" on night one and three, while played in full night two. With the debut of All Along The Watchtower, they've now played 81 different songs through 48 shows this summer. Plus night two got the first ever full band Stay Or Leave, which is probably the best song off of Dave's solo disc.

Cheers,

Pat

actually, they played stay or leave on 8.10 at alpine valley

there was a great tribute to leroi by the fans.... except the idiots who pronounced his name "lee-roy" and not "lah-roy"

edit: i guess the 8.10 version was dave, tim and carter.

[Billy]

except the idiots who pronounced his name "lee-roy" and not "lah-roy"

That's just being pissy. It's the sentiment that counts and I saw a whole lot of teary eyes from some of those very same "idiots".

[mark]

i don't think it is being pissy at all. the tribute was awesome, but the least a person can do is call him the correct name

[andy42g]

Fabulous band in an amazing venue. Got to see DMB last year when they did their one Wembley show and it was a real treat (got Warehouse wrist bands and were very close to the front). Didn't give a shit what they played to be honest - was just great to get to see them over here at last .