Yes, yesterday was a busy day. After driving down to Long Island from Boston starting at 9:30 and getting in at 3:30, I jumped on the LIRR to MSG to go see Dave Matthews. I almost backed out due to being so tired from the drive and the CD release party the night before, but then remembered the tickets were at will call and there was no way else for anyone to pick them up. So, my sister and I headed in to the city, met up with her boss and his brother, each of their wives and my sister's boyfriend (yeah, odd man out I was). We had some dinner and then headed in. I was hoping to catch the opening band, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, but only caught the last 5 mins or so of his set. In the end, it didn't matter.
Dave came out playing some of the big stuff, as well as some oldies, but goodies. He did a kick ass version of All Along the Watchtower with a great jam in it, way early on in the set (about an hour in) and I was rather confused. I felt that would have been an awesome way to end the night and I knew he wasn't going to stop that early. He did 2 more songs and then called out Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. They did So Much to Say right in to Too Much, both sounding awesome. Then the strangest thing I think could ever happen at a Dave show happened. He uttered the words, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Godfather of Soul, JAMES BROWN!". I was floored. Out come James and friends and they bust in to a 15 minute jam of Sex Machine, which included both a Carter and Karl solo, and James and Dave dancing together. Ridiculous stuff. I don't think I have ever heard an arena so loud. Right at the end a bunch of cannons go off and shoot white confetti in to the air, so it looked like it was snowing. Amazing stuff. The band comes back after about 5 minutes for an Encore. They all put on Santa hats, tease Christmas Song and then bust out in to Halloween. Of course, being a show of this magnitude, they finished off with Ants Marching. Overall, an amazing freakin show. Most definitely the best Dave show I have ever seen. The set list was as follows:
Drive In Drive Out *
Granny *
Christmas Time Is Here (tease) *
Dont Burn The Pig *
What Would You Say *
Grey Street *
Fool To Think *
Loving Wings (tease) *
Where Are You Going *
Seek Up *
Digging a Ditch *
Watchtower *
Grace Is Gone *
The Space Between *
So Much To Say *+ -->
Anyone Seen the Bridge? -->
Too Much *+ -->
Sex Machine *+~
Encore
Halloween * -->
Ants Marching *
* with Butch Taylor on keys
+ Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
~ James Brown and Friends
Wow, good way to start Christmas week. And yes, the tired feeling I had was gone about 2 songs in.
