This is where I’ll be July 9th at 7pm…Why? Dave Matthews Band.

After a six year love affair with Elixir strings, I’m calling it quits. Shortly after I started playing the guitar I was introduced to Elixir’s. I used the Elixir Nanoweb Lights for a while, then switched to Nanowed Mediums. I even experimented with the more synthetic-feeling Polyweb coating for a short stint. I eventually settled on the Nanowed Mediums, which I used until last year when I switched to the new Phosphor Bronze product. Along the way, I have always had problems with strings breaking. Specifically the G string, and more recently the D string.

This year I decided to experiment with some other brands. I tried Martins, DR’s, John Pierce’s, and D’Addario’s. After using the D’Addario EXP coated mediums for two months now, I’m sold. The EXP’s have great tone and they’re extremely strong. The Elixir’s definitely have longer-lasting tone, but I change my strings weekly at most, so that’s not an issue for me. The fact is, I haven’t broken a string in like two months. Huge record.

Last night Kristin and I caught the Dave Matthews Band in Tampa. The show was unbelievable. First of all, we got absolutely soaked. I don’t mean that it sprinkled and we got a little wet from the cumulative rain fall. I mean that there was a torrential downpour that started with the opening act and didn’t subside for about an hour and fifteen minutes. Luckily, I read the weather report so Kristin and I had mentally prepared.

Back to the show. It was phenomenal. We were front and center on the lawn, and with some help from the high-def screens that DMB brought we could see quite well. Sound was amazing. I don’t really know how to describe it. I know that I can’t effectively communicate it in a post, so I am going to give you “The Dave Show In Three’s”:

Three band observations:

1. Carter Beauford is the most irreplaceable member of the band. I’m sure there are people who disagree with this statement, but I’m confident that it would be way easier to replace Dave Matthews himself than to replace Carter Beauford. I’ve always thought that Carter owned the drums, but his role in the band is much more pronounced in a live setting.
2. I like the “unofficial” band members a lot. Again, I’ve always thought that keyboardist Butch Taylor added a lot to the band, but live he really shows his chops and contributes greatly to the performance. The new trumpet player, Rashawn Ross, is a beast. He’s the size of a mid-sized SUV and absolutely shreds the trumpet. Minute-for-minute he probably soloed twice as much as veteran saxophonist, Leroi Moore.
3. DMB is tight. I know you’re probably thinking that this is the most obvious statement ever made concerning the band, but their live performance highlights their musicianship and tightness as a band even more than a live album.

Three favorite songs:

1. #27 – I don’t even know this song. I do know that violinist Boyd Tinsley soloed for 6-8 minutes and it was unbelievable.
   
2. Two Step – Classic Dave…Carter is ridiculous.
3. Dreaming Tree – A really solid groove. I liked it a lot. They played this song for a really long time and gave all of the major players an opportunity to solo.

Three “overall experience” observations:

1. The Dave Matthews Band is different. People have been asking me to compare the DMB show to other shows I’ve seen and the truth is that it just can’t be done. It’s not that other artists are not as good, it’s just that DMB is in a totaly different category. Their show can’t be compared to other shows because it is it’s own unique animal.
2. I will never sit on the lawn again. Don’t get me wrong, the concert was great…The lawn’s just not for me. Especially in the monsoon. It’s also a whole different atmosphere than the “assigned seats”. In the words of John Mayer, “The lawn person wakes up a couple days before the show and says, ‘Oh yeah, I think so-and-so’s coming to town. I think I’ll check out that show.’ While the assigned seat person pays extra to be a member and sets a special alarms so that they can be in front of their computer at 6am when tickets go on sale.”
3. I have the best wife ever. Period. Kristin is not a huge Dave fan, and the weather was far less than pleasant, but she stuck it out like a trooper with no guilt trip or complaining. She even turned on some moves during the fast tunes.

DMB Almanac Entry

Yesterday I was actually going to buy a CD. I know what you’re thinking, but something just came over me. Anyway, I’ve heard great things about the new Delirious? Cd, Now Is The Time: Live at Willowcreek. So I go to our local Family Christian Store to pick up a copy. When I get there I find out that not only do they not have it, but they’ve never heard of it, and they can’t order it. I mean, as far as Christian music goes, Delirious? has some serious cred…They opened for U2 in Europe for cryin’ out loud! So I get the number of another local Christian bookstore…Guess what? Never heard of it, can’t order it. So I come home empty handed. Then I jump on my computer, pull up iTunes, and I have the album like ten seconds later…

iTunes: 1
Christian Music Stores: -2

Only the true John Mayer fan will catch the lyrical pun in the title…Tonight Kristin and I saw Mayer for the second time this year. We saw him for the first time in January when he was in Orlando. Tonight we caught the show in Tampa at the Ford Amphitheater. We were happy to be in the covered portion of the venue, because it rained really hard for quite a while. We did get a little wet when the wind picked up, but we weren’t near as wet as the people on the lawn. My friend Chris and his girlfriend were like two rows behind us, but the seats directly in front of us ended up being empty so we all got to sit together.

The musicianship on the stage was incredible. Four favorite songs of the show would have to be:

• Belief – Show opener.
• I Don’t Trust Myself (With Loving You) – Incredible sax solo.
• Good Love Is On The Way – One of my favorites.
• Neon – Acoustic version.

Keep in mind, literally every song was incredible. These songs were just some personal favorites. Also, last fall when John Mayer was in Tampa he was co-headlining with Sheryl Crow. Crow is remembered here in Florida for coming out on stage at the end of the show (a bit tipsy) and in her underwear (Check out the madness here). Tonight, when the band came out after the acoustic encore they were all in their underwear, a wife-beater, and tube socks. It was hilarious.

As for the openers…James Morrison was actually pretty good, but Ben Folds was just frustrating. Maybe he just had an off night, but his set list was literally annoying. There were actually people around me covering their ears because he went all crazy on a synth that sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

Kristin and I pre-show