Concert Reviews

“Better late than never…”  Dave Matthews, 7.29.18  Orange Beach, AL.    After a late May weather event forced the cancellation of the much anticipated Dave Matthews Band concert at The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, AL… the rescheduled concert fell on a clear night with a blood moon rising.  The #ComeTomorrow tour was the last stop for the band after a healthy tour schedule. Today they will begin enjoying a short break before heading to Colorado at the end of August and then a West coast tour.

For those who managed to rearrange their canceled May travel and lodging schedules to flood the I10 and I65 corridors to get to the rescheduled Sunday, July 29th show, it was worth the effort!  DMB fans, old and new, have been listening to and enjoying #SiriusXM dedicated #DMB channel for a month (channel 3, but extended until Labor Day on channel 30).

Last night’s performance was proof of what listeners have been hearing on the channel… this band has found a renewed energy and joy on the stage.  So fun to experience Buddy Strong live to hear him filling in songs and spaces with phenomenal keyboard skills.  This band is so tight and cohesive. Carter Beauford holding everything together to the delight of the almost sold out venue. I suspect that other brass fans like me were also brought to their feet more than once by Rashawn Ross (trumpet) and Jeff Coffin (saxophone).  Tim Reynolds was sporting a Samurai hairstyle without skipping a beat on guitar; I could have watched him all night long. Then there is Stefan Lessard who has to be one of the coolest bass musicians to watch… Dave Matthews took a little time on the mic, with plenty of “thank you’s” to the audience and to the traveling die-hard fans who have been to the past 3-10 shows. Talk about a road trip.

Dave was wearing about 4-6 bracelets on his left wrist and towards the end of the night, he explained that they were gifts from families/parents who lost loved ones in the horrific Feb. 2018 high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. #neveragain  Dave mentioned losing his sister (and brother-in-law) to gun violence (performed Sister in the encore) and how unthinkable it is to have to worry about our children’s safety in school.

It was one of those evenings that you wished the music would go on for another hour or so… even if there was an alarm set for work the next morning. Safe travels to those who came to the Alabama Gulf Coast for the show in our intimate Wharf Amphitheater.

Set List:

Dave Matthews Band

Jul 29 2018

The Wharf

Orange Beach, AL

One Sweet World

Stay or Leave

Satellite

Again & Again

Crush

Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin)

Lousiana Bayou

Sledgehammer

Come on, Come On

Don’t Drink the Water

Digging a Ditch

Warehouse

Can’t Stop

You Might Die Trying

Here on Out

Everyday

Funny The Way It Is

Ants Marching

——– ENCORE ——–

Sister / She

Stay / Shake Me