The Dave Matthews Band gave it everything they had for three hours Wednesday night at Verizon Arena, and 6,902 people lapped it up eagerly, even minus some of the hits they had perhaps hoped to hear, including “Satellite,” “Crash Into Me,” “What Would You Say” and “Ants Marching.”
Instead, the band played, well, what they wanted to play. At one point, Matthews said “We’re going to play a slow one now, because we want to.” They were courageous enough to play several new songs, including the promising “Bismarck,” either about the city in North Dakota, or the lovely crossroad area south of Hot Springs.
Songs included “Jimi Thing,” “You & Me,” “Gravedigger” and a cover of Prince’s “Sexy M.F.,” while new songs included “Death on the High Seas,” “Samurai Cop,” a tribute to what Matthews called “one of the worst movies ever” and one he explained they were just calling “Blah Blah Blah.”
Matthews, with his multi-talented voice, soared above his fine musicians, although his guitar playing could seldom be heard, although guitarist Tim Reynolds got several star turns that were stunning. The horn players soared on many a song, especially Rashawn Ross, who even somehow played two trumpets at once on one song. Bassist Stefan Lessard, who helped found the band, even got some intriguing solos, while Carter Beauford pounded out some fine rhythm even though he spared us the sometimes obligatory drum solos.
The star player in Matthews’ band was clearly violinist Boyd Tinsley, who would be a fine candidate for a solo show, if he even did such things. His intense, amazing playing challenged Matthews and the others and made a good show something far superior.
Just as memorable as the music was the light show, which ranged from pretty pastels reminiscent of a Christmas tree to lasers, patterns and things that just tickled one’s imagination. And while it appeared early in the show that there were no fancy video screens, one suddenly roared to life several songs into the show.
It’s likely that there were “Deadheads” in the audience, who were no doubt grateful — so to speak — that the Dave Matthews Band has picked up the gauntlet of playing hard, fast, long and well.
And let me acknowledge making a mistake in Tuesday’s preview story of the band when I said the only previous DMB performance was at Dickey-Stephens Park in September 2009. I somehow forgot to remember the July 2003 concert in what was then named Alltel Arena, but thanks to a few informative readers, I was reminded.