Pictures from the show have been posted to the AZ Vibe Facebook fan page. Check em out! There’s some great ones!!!
As I was driving along I-10 to the Cricket Wireless Pavilion I couldn’t help to notice the temperature out.
98 degrees.
Now this was my first concert at the Cricket but not my first Dave Matthews Band show. I’ve been to see the Dave Matthews Band play across the US and Canada. The last Dave Matthews Band shows I went to before tonight’s show in Phoenix were at the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington State. When the Dave Matthews Band plays the Gorge at the end of the summer, the temperatures are very similar to Phoenix at this time of year.
The two reasons why this is relevant is 1) the average temperature when the Dave Matthews Band plays the Gorge at show time was around 98. 2) When the temperature hovers near the century mark, the Dave Matthews Band always put on a great show pulling out many surprises and songs out from their back catalog as well.
Their Phoenix show was no different.
The show started with Dave Matthews coming out by himself singing ‘Rye Whiskey’. A song I’ve never heard before in concert and was performed very well. I also found out this was the first time that Dave came out and sung a song solo to begin a show in sixteen years.
Yet another reason why this show was special.
Once the opening song of the set was completed, the rest of the Dave Matthews Band took their places upon the stage. One of the best surprises from the show was seeing long time Dave Matthews Band contributor Tim Reynolds lace up his guitar with the band. This was also another indicator that this would be a great show.
The band then tore into ‘Tripping Billies’ which not only got the crowd rockin’ but set the tone for the rest of the evening. Since the Dave Matthews Band has a new album coming out (Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King) on June 2, they played four songs in total off the new album (Funny the Way it is, Spaceman, Seven, and Why I Am) which were well received by the crowd.
After ‘Tripping Billies’, the Dave Matthews Band took shallow and deep reaches into their back catalog by not only playing fan favorites such as ‘Crash Into Me’, ‘Warehouse’, and ‘Rapunzel’. The band also dusted off some classics that they don’t play very often on tour such as ‘Dancing Nancies’, ‘The Dreaming Tree’, and #41…songs you would expect to hear when they play their yearly three night stand at the Gorge.
From the opening note of ‘Rye Whiskey’ to the last note of ‘All Along the Watchtower’ the fans were treated to one of the best performances I’ve seen the band put on in YEARS.
Even in this economy, the Dave Matthews Band still can pack the Amphitheaters as they are still, without a doubt, one of the best live acts in rock music today. If you missed them this time around, well you’re just gonna have to wait for another year for them to come back.
The Set List from tonight’s show according to the Dave Matthews Band website:
Rye Whiskey
Tripping Billies
Spaceman
Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel
Crash Into Me
Seven
Dreaming Tree
Funny The Way It Is
So Damn Lucky
Everyday
#41
Why I Am
Dancing Nancies
Warehouse
Crush
Grey Street
__________________
Don’t Drink the Water
All Along The Watchtower
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