Having seen the Dave Matthews Band perform over eight times, I held high expectations for the show I attended on June 26, 2012, at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey. Not only was this night one of the best DMB shows I’ve ever seen, but it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever attended, period.
Dave Matthews Band (DMB) has definitely expanded their fan base as this show was extremely close to being sold out. I had to fight to get a spot on the lawn where ecstatic fans were packed like sardines.
The band opened up with “Everyday,” and I was happy to hear some true fans singing the “Honey, honey, come and dance with me” part. “Eh Hee” followed. Some fellow audience members mistook the intro of the song for “Don’t Drink the Water.” To this day I don’t know why fans don’t go crazy for “Eh Hee” as it’s one of Dave’s angrier songs.
Next came the beautiful “Seek Up,” which was sandwiched between a horn-filled intro and outro, followed by “Seven” and “Where Are You Going.”
“Minarets,” off of 1993’s Remember Two Things, was a rare treat, as was the wonderful love song “Rapunzel,” which had “Pantala Naga Pampa” as its intro.
Dave then came out alone to perform an acoustic version of “The Space Between,” before performing the bittersweet “Stay or Leave,” off of his solo album Some Devil.
Next came “Don’t Drink the Water,” with the crowd shouting the word ‘Home’ in unison with Dave. “Mercy” (a new song) and “Spaceman” followed, along with “Cornbread,” the song you just can’t sit still too.
“Crush” came next and the crowd seemed to go the craziest over this number. “When the World Ends” followed, along with “Typical Situation,” wherein Dave sang the word ‘Voices’ instead of ‘Choices’ (“Too many voices…”). Closing out the night was “Grey Street,” where Dave, purposefully or not, omitting the word God (“She prays to — most every night”).
I was surprised to hear supposed “fans” ask me whether or not the band was doing an encore. Of course they are! DMB played their new song, “Gaucho,” before closing with their Bob Dylan cover, “All Along the Watchtower.
Surprisingly, this was the first show wherein the encore disappointed, but the regular set was amazing. I was sold once I heard “Rapunzel,” and playing two normally slow songs with a beat was something new (“Typical Situation” and “Seek Up”).
Overall, DMB performs with more heart than any band I’ve ever seen. They aren’t afraid to please their fans, all the while growing themselves.
