This weekend Concert Panther and I embarked on two separate journeys to go see one of our favorites, Dave Matthews Band. Here are each night’s set list with my personal review. I have bolded the songs that are extra special to me.

Cruzan Amphitheater
West Palm Beach, FL
July 11, 2008

Seek Up
Proudest Monkey
Satellite
Corn Bread
Sledgehammer Peter Gabriel Cover
Stay (Wasting Time)
Out Of My Hands Dave on Piano
You Might Die Trying
Drive In Drive Out
Sugar Will
#41 includes crowd lead into Everyday
Everyday
Jimi Thing
Grey Street
Ants Marching

Encore:
So Damn Lucky
Two Step

Our seats were not the best for this show. We were in section 6, row fuck all so I had very little room to see since I’m 5′3″ and everyone else is gigantic. Not to mention, a douche next to me spent most of the show being drunk off of his ass and dancing erratically in front of me. I actually had to forcefully push him away so that I could get past him to get to the bathroom when all he wanted to do was dance with me. You would think that all of these factors would upset the experience for me. On the contrary, this is probably one of the best shows I have been to. As you see, most everything on that set list was bolded for me. I heard a lot of favorites and being so far back allowed us to get a full stage perspective, which includes a fantastic light show and video artistry. Even when we had to sit down (I got a little dehydrated), we couldn’t see anything obviously since everyone else was standing, but we could appreciate the sound of it on a completely different level. It was kind of like Dave was singing just for us behind a curtain of hippies.

We went home satisfied with our experience, albeit broker after wasting our money on $8 beers and a $7 cup of wine, not to mention $4 waters. Regardless, we were excited to come back the next day to see what the band had in store for us.

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Cruzan Amphitheater
West Palm Beach, FL
July 12, 2008

Don’t Drink the Water
Dreaming Tree
One Sweet World
Rhyme And Reason
Crash Into Me
Help Myself
Money Pink Floyd Cover
Money (Thats What I Want) Beatles Cover
Pay For What You Get
Crush
Old Dirt Hill
Louisiana Bayou
Gravedigger
Eh Hee
So Much To Say
Anyone Seen The Bridge
Too Much
Tripping Billies

Encore:
Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) Sly & The Family Stone Cover

Now not as much is bolded on this one, but I think the atmosphere around this certainly overshadows the last. Once we arrived it immediately began a torrential down pour. Oddly, I did not seem to mind and only wondered how they would incorporate the rain into the show if it continued like they have done in the past. We got to our seats, soaked but ok while we listened to the band Gomez for the end of their opening set. Our seats were MUCH better. They were identical to the seats we had last year, section 3, row U (I think?). AKA - We were just feet away from the stage. I could see perfectly, no one was in my way and I didn’t even need the screens. Plus, being soaking wet helped with any sort of heat exhaustion I could’ve potentially experienced! Pneumonia saves the day again!

The rain stopped just before DMB hit the stage. I’m so grateful to have the seats that we did since we could now get a more up close and personal view of the happenings on stage. The light show did not have as much of an effect on us, but what I did enjoy was seeing the band interact with each other throughout the night. Every time they would smile at one another acknowledging the rights, wrongs, good jobs or whatever of the night was ours to share with them. I especially enjoyed seeing Dave and Carter fist bump after almost every drum solo. I want to say Carter was having some sort of malfunction with his set up yet he was remarkable in his playing. Still smiling, laughing and blowing bubbles with his gum all the while.

Obviously this show has a special place in my heart since it’s the first time I heard my favorite song, Crush live. It did not disappoint and included great solos from everyone. I’m pleased that I got to hear it last night as opposed to Friday since we had better seats.

Crush - Dave Matthews Band (Live in West Palm Beach, FL. 07/12/08)

Also - last night appeared to be the night of cover songs and they had some great ones. The “Money Medley” was a particular favorite of mine and “Thank You” was great as it included audience participation, with the cameras turned onto us singing the chorus. It was a great way to close the show.

The two concerts made for a very memorable weekend for me. Props go to my #1 concert buddy, Concert Panther for sharing it with me!