I cannot say enough how much I love the Dave Matthews Band (otherwise known as "Dave"). And this weekend is one I start looking forward to the day after the second show!
This is the second year my sidekick, Sara, and I pointed the car due north and headed to lovely Indianapolis. Why do we go to Indy, you might ask? Well, Dave and the boys play only a few two-night stands every summer. They are almost always great sets and the crowds tend to be more on the die-hard side than the "going just to say you're going" group. I specifically picked Deer Creek not only because it's the closest of the two-nighters for us, but because you can camp AT the venue. No driving. No parking. Walk half a mile to and from. Priceless.
Last year we met a group of folks that do this every year and they invited us to camp with them this year (we are sooooo special). They arrived Thursday night and got us a good, off-the-beaten-path site. We got there around 2:00 on Friday (ok, we got a tad lost after we got off the highway.....the jury is still out on who's fault THAT was). We got the tent set up and then joined the group for a little eating, drinking and being merry. These guys are very chill....we're all "older" (meaning we are not members of the high school/college set). We all just sit around the campfire and relax....there is no drunken, obnoxious, loud, passing out partying. Just my speed!
Night 1 was, in a word, amazing. This was show #18 for me....I am no longer a neophyte and I know what I like and don't like. I will say this to get it out of the way....the encore left me a little tepid. But the main set got better and better as time went on. Just when I thought they were done with the "biggies" (Two Step, Proudest Monkey, Dancing Nancies), they'd break into another one. I got to hear Dreaming Tree for the first time. God, I love that song! By the time they got to the jam in #41, I was near tears. Seriously. It was THAT good! Normally, for a two-nighter, you expect Night 2 to be the better of the two. I was having a hard time believing they could beat this show. It could honestly be the best one I've seen yet.
Saturday was another day of chilling, drinking, and relaxing. We walked over to Hippieville (a line of booths selling jewelry, crystals, clothes, food, and....ummmmm....pretty glass pipes you can display on your mantle (*ahem*). I took a shower which did a lot of good for, I'd say, 2 1/2 minutes. But, man, did that ice cold water feel good! I was anxious for the show but also aware that that was it for another year....always a little sad :(
Sara and I are ready for Night 2!Night 2 did not disappoint. I am usually not a fan of opening a show with a slower song.....but hearing the first notes of Seek Up set the tone for a great set! Granny and Grey Street back-to-back are two songs I can never hear enough of. And Crush was above and beyond the best I've ever heard. They ended the night with Sly and the Family Stone's Thank You. They let the crowd sing....Dave danced like a crazy man...it was the perfect way to end the night!
But all good things must come to an end. We rolled out of bed at 9:00 the next morning and started packing up. I hated for the weekend to end, but must say I was looking forward to a real bed and a very long shower. As is tradition, we started making notes for next year! (must bring this, don't need to bother with that). Now that I'm back in the real world, I have downloaded both shows and have listened to them ad nauseum. This is another thing I love about this band....they allow tapers at the shows and you can download them for free. Thanks Dave!!
Oh, and in case the Penguin faithful are tuning in.....Sidney Penguin had a great time, despite the fact that penguins generally are not very fond of the heat.....
Sidney P. catches a few Zzzzz's before the show...
3 comments:
Sounds like fun...
It reminded me of fun I've had. While I'm not a Dave fan, (I don't dislike...just not as hooked as you) I am a fan of the road trip and enjoy every one. I've seen Buffett 25 times and now I'm a NASCAR fan. (I know ...redneck-y...but still good times and fun camping... We do Homestead every year for a week). Enjoy it while you can! I've grown away from the Buffett tours for the same reasons you've alluded to. Too many high schoolers and "there for the party" fans not to mention the fact that he's become a sellout. You'd never catch him allowing tapers! One of my biggest regrets is not becoming a Dead fan until after Jerry was gone and missing the Dead tours. I had tickets for the last Philly show at JFK and missed it for work (wtf was I THINKING!!!).
I'm glad you're enjoying your summer and I'm enjoying following along.
I saw Buffett once....I must admit I only know the hits (worn out "Songs You Know By Heart"). It was fun and I would go see him again. Unfortunately, we no longer have an outdoor venue here, so he probably won't stop in Nashville again.
I not only regret not getting on board with the Grateful Dead, but Phish as well. I have yet to experience a Widespread Panic show, but they are on my radar. It's just so hard when Bonnaroo has become many bands idea of their Nashville stop. I may have to suck it up and go one year...
I could be talked into that!
I've definitely grown disillusioned with Buffett. How can a man who made all his fame riding the anti-corporate train suddenly decide to pump out his own brand of tequila, mixers, frozen appetizers, beer, chain restaurants, and the same crappy CD of remakes every year?
I actually have decided I like smaller unknown bands and venues. No crowds, better music, and the ability to actually SEE and HEAR the music. My last big venue was seeing Springsteen at Giants Stadium with 70,000 people. It was pouring rain and the tix were $100/ea. We sat in the nosebleeds where you needed binoculars to see the giant TV screen...
No thanks.
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