Date: Friday July 11, and Saturday July 12, 2008 @ 7:00
City: West Palm Beach, FL
Venue: Cruzan Amphitheatre
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gFly and myself made it down to West Palm early enough to go in and see Gomez perform. Dave came on stage right at 7:00 to introduce the band. He spoke of how he had seen a dolphin penis earlier, and how it was magical. Funny guy that Dave. Gomez were good. I had only given their Split the Difference album a quick listen a year or two ago, but I remember liking it. gFly said one of the singers sounded like David Grey, and I could kind of hear that too. Dave came on much earlier that i expected, 8:20. Hearing the opening notes to “Seek Up” filled me with such joy. I hadn’t heard it since my forst show back in 1998. After hearing “Proudest Money” go into “Satellite,” it made me feel like i was seeing Red Rocks live (the same 3 songs opened that famous 1995 set too). Very cool. I always enjoy seeing them tour without a new album so they don’t feel obligated to play the new stuff (not that new stuff is bad, it’s nice to hear songs you normally wouldn’t get to hear). “Corn Bread” was next, accompanied by a drunken concert goer who slid into our row, dancing like a fool and getting all up in our space. I don’t mind people having fun, but leave me and the people I’m with alone, please. Kind of ruined the set for us for a little while. But he eventually got caught trying to get closer and thus was forced to leave us in peace. GO SECURITY! “Sledgehammer” was excellent. Dave’s voice sounded a lot like Peter Gabriel’s, so much so in fact that it left me hoping that they may cover “Solsbury Hill” someday. I think they would do the song justice. Dave brought out a tiny piano for “Out of My Hands,” and spoke how that was where he kept his dead monkey. “He doesn’t smell any more but he did for a little while. He was a good monkey.” Then instructed the crowd that this was going to be a “slow song, and that if you only like the loud ones to go take a piddle, make a wee.” Finally, after 10 DMB shows, I got to hear “#41.” It was all I could have hoped for and more, thanks mostly to Jeff Coffin who was filling in for an injured Leroi on saxophone. I was curious to see how Coffin would fit into the band, whether he would just sit back and fill Leroi’s spot unnoticed… but to my pleasant surprise he was quite an active participant, taking the songs and putting his own spin on them. He was awesome. He, along with Tim Reynolds, seemed to breathe new life into the band. Coffin’s solo during “#41″ was phenomenal. Every song from “#41″ to the end of the set were songs I love. It was an amazing run. gFly sat down near the beginning of “Jimi Thing.” I thought she was just tired, but when her head went into her hands I got concerned. After a quick jaunt to get some expensive water and some free ice, she was feeling better. It’s very important to me that the person I’m with is enjoying themselves. After she was feeling better, I was able to relax and enjoy the show with her even while staying seated. It was cool to experience the show without really being able to see it. It felt much smaller to be sitting down and listening rather than standing and seeing a vast sea of people around you. “So Damn Lucky” is a song that I’ve maybe listened to once, but I really fell in love with the song after hearing it live. Timmy’s guitar during the extended outro almost brought tears to my eyes. So damn beautiful. Looking at the time after the song, it was past 11:00, past curfew, but that didn’t stop them as they launched into a 16+ minute version of “Two Step.” All-in-all, a 2 hour, 50 minute show. Incredible. This show ranks right up there with some of the best I’ve ever been to, certainly the best Dave show I’ve witnessed. I was worried night 2 just couldn’t compare…

…luckily i was wrong. Night 2 we were a LOT closer, in fact in the exact same seats we were in the year before. After getting soaked by the rain on the walk to the Amphitheatre, we caught the end of Gomez’s set again. Dave came on stage around the same time, 8:20. They started off with 5 old songs, always a good start. Then came another song I was really hoping to hear this tour, Pink Floyd’s “Money” followed by “Money (Thats What I Want).” Both lived up to expectations. After “Pay for What You Get,” Stefan pulled out his black bass. “OK,” I thought to myself, “That’s a good sign for ‘Crush,’ chances of hearing it up to 20%.” Stefan began a solo, “OK, very good sign, chances now up to 50%.” Stefan begins the slappy first few notes of “Crush,” then goes back to jamming out, “OK, 90% chance, it could still just be a tease.” Finally, he launched into it. This made the whole weekend for me. Not only did I finally hear “#41,” but gFly had been hoping to hear her favorite DMB song for so many shows now too. It was an amazing version. Again, Timmy and Coffin stole the show. They met at center stage going into dueling solo’s including a call and response, trying to outdo one another. It was out of this world. After that, I really didn’t care what they played, I was happy and had gotten my money’s worth. Turns out they had another treat for us that went to both shows: no repeats between the two sets. It was the first full-band show with no repeats from the previous night since 9.3.06, and made this the first 2-night stand with no repeats since 7.1.06 and 7.2.06. They closed out the set with the Sly & the Family Stone cover, “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” letting the crowd sing the chorus over and over at the end while Dave danced like a fool on stage. 19 songs in total for night 2 (actually 21 including “Anyone Seen the Bridge” and “Pantala Naga Pampa”, as well as a “Lover Lay Down” tease), 2 hours and 41 minutes. 38 unique songs between the 2 nights, 5 hours 30 minutes… These two show would make an EXCELLENT “Live Trax” album. *i hope*i hope*i hope*

For the full setlist’s and another excellent review, see gFly’s post here: gFly Review: Weekend of Dave Matthews Band