Bands That I Have Seen Lately

I don't have the definitive list recorded anywhere but here are the bands that I have seen from 2005 until the present:

Blues Traveller, Foo Fighters, Buddy Guy, Heart, Gary Clark Jr. (twice), The Avett Brothers (twice), The Rolling Stones (twice), The Beach Boys (three times), Paul McCartney (four times), John Mellencamp, St. Vincent, Beck, The GOASTT (six times plus Sean Lennon three times solo), Dwight Yoakam, Snoop Dogg, Fleetwood Mac, Umphrey's McGee, Lucinda Williams, Adrian Belew, Ian Anderson (twice once with Jethro Tull), Allmann Brothers Band (three times), Widespread Panic (four times), Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (four times), Wilco (three times), Willie Nelson (twice), Phil Lesh, Umphrey's McGee, String Cheese Incident, Crosby, Stills & Nash (twice), Jake Bugg, Hackensaw Boys (twice), Alice in Chains, Weezer (twice), Start Making Sense, Roger McGuinn, Joe Bonnamassa, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Charlie Daniels Band (twice), Alice Cooper (twice), Neutral Milk Hotel, The Meat Puppets, Deltron 3030, Kid Koala, The Flaming Lips (three times), Tame Impala, Sigur Ros (twice), The xx, LOCKN' Festival (Widespread Panic, Furthur, Govt. Mule, Warren Haynes, Black Crowes, Trey Antastasio, Jimmy Cliff, Grace Potter, John Fogerty (twice), Dirty Dozen Brass Band and 15 others), Bob Dylan (six times), My Morning Jacket, Yes (twice), Marilyn Manson (twice), Jimmy Thackery (twice), Hot Tuna (twice), Primus, Government Mule (twice), ZZ Top (twice), Rush (twice), Robert Cray, Fleetwood Mac, Green Day (twice), Dave Matthews Band (four times), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Deerhoof, Grace Potter, Phil Vassar (four times), Bret Michaels, Jack White, Garbage, Mickey Hart Band, Umphrey's McGee, Rufus Wainwright (twice), Tuneyards, Dar Williams, Steve Aoki, Red Hot Chili Peppers (twice), Experience Hendrix Tour (Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Robert Randolph, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dweezil Zappa, Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, Slide Brothers, Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Eric Gales, and Mato Nanji of Indigenous), Fuel, 3 Doors Down, Theory of a Deadman (twice), The Monkees, The Doobie Brothers (twice), Prince (twice), Elton John (three times), Jeff Tweedy, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Roger Waters (four times, twice with Pink Floyd), Liza Minnelli, Lady Gaga, Devo, The Doors (three times), Jorma Kaukonen & David Bromberg, Ben Harper, Goo Goo Dolls, John Mayer (four times), Jerry Seinfeld, Cheap Trick, Jimmy Buffett (four times), Paramore (twice), U2, Chevelle, Virgin Mobile Free Fest (Weezer, Blink 182, Franz Ferdinand, The National, Public Enemy, Jet, Mates of State, Taking Back Sunday, Wale, The Bravery, St. Vincent, The Hold Steady, & Girl Talk), No Doubt, Clapton/Winwood (three and twice), David Byrne (four times, three times with TH), Heart, Springsteen (three times), The Grateful Dead (six times), Phil Vassar (twice and dated his cousin for four years), Ani Difranco, NIN, Smashing Pumpkins, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen (three times), The Police, Elvis Costello (twice), Concert For Va. Tech (with Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Nas and Phil Vassar), Phil Lesh & Friends, Jefferson Airplane, Rod Stewart, Chicago, Billy Joel (twice), The Who (twice), Carlos Santana, John Mayer & Sheryl Crowe, Stephen Stills, Pearl Jam (twice, first time at Lollapalooza '92), Dwight Yoakam (twice), Nickleback, Queen with Paul Rodgers, Staind, Little Feat, George Thorogood, Delbert McClinton and Bonnaroo 2005 (with Dave Matthews Band, Gov't Mule, Jack Johnson, The Black Crowes, Allman Brothers, Bob Weir and Ratdog, Trey Anastasio, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Joss Stone, Widespread Panic, Bela Fleck, Drive-By Truckers, Earl Scruggs, Herbie Hancock with John Mayer, Mars Volta, Modest Mouse, John Prine, Toots and the Maytals, Kings of Leon, O.A.R and about 20-30 other bands I can't recall).

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2009-05-05 Bruce Springsteen John Paul Jones Arena Charlottesville, VA

Springsteen is unique in that his ability to literally, physically connect with his audience is unmatched for anyone even remotely close to his age. He touched and was touched by literally dozens of his fans throughout the show by throwing himself into the crowds right at the front of the stage.

At one point he went out into the crowd and collected signs with the names of songs that people wanted to hear and laid about 20 of them next to the drum kit, played by Max Weinberg's son Jay, and used them to choose the set list for the next three songs, which were 'You Really Got Me' (Kinks), 'Gyspy Biker' (for an Iraqi vet) and 'Spirit in the Night'. Due to the fact that he took about 5-10 minutes trying to figure out the chords to 'Spirit', I am certain this was unrehearsed. I had several orgasms during the finale 'Born To Run', drank a few beers then headed home for more frolicking. Great show.

Badlands Adam Raised A Cain Outlaw Pete Candy's Room Working On A Dream Seeds Johnny 99 Roulette The Ghost Of Tom Joad Raise Your Hand You Really Got Me Spirit In The Night Gypsy Biker Waiting On A Sunny Day The Promised Land The Wrestler Kingdom Of Days Radio Nowhere Lonesome Day The Rising Born To Run

ENCORE:

Hard Times Thunder Road Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out Land Of Hope And Dreams American Land Detroit Medley

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2009-04-15 The Dead John Paul Jones Arena Charlottesville VA

How many bands play three four-hour shows to open their tour and don't repeat a single song on any of the three nights? I have seen the Dead six times in the past 30 years starting on May 4, 1979 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton as well as every decade since, but last night had to be one of the more satisfying concerts I have seen in my 34 years of concert going. They were billed as The Dead and the former Government Mule/Allman Brothers guitarist, Warren Haynes, took the place of legendary guitarist Jerry Garcia, who passed into the ozone in 1995, but by the time the show was over everyone knew they couldn't have picked anyone else to take Jerry's place.

After examining the set lists from the first two shows of the tour in Greensboro, NC and Washington, DC I was struck by the fact they didn't repeat a single song and was trying to determine which tunes had not been played yet. The Dead could play the entire tour without a repeat and still each show would have plenty of crowd favorites.

They dug deep into the Dead songbook last night and played classics such as 'Doin' That Rag' ("Hipsters, Tripsters, real cool chicksters, everyone's doin' that rag") from 1969's Aoxomoxoa, 'New Speedway Boogie' ("One way or another this darkness got to give") and 'High Time' ("We could have us a high time, living the good life, well I know") from 1970's Workingman's Dead and 'Bertha' and 'Big Boss Man', which was last performed in 1995, from 1971's Skull and Roses. They even dug all the way back to 'Mason's Children', which was performed less than 20 times by the Grateful Dead between December 1969 and February 1970 and which featured an extended guitar solo from Haynes that ripped my eyeballs out. The first set ended promptly at 9pm, one hour after they started playing, with the anti-war ballad 'Standing on the Moon' ("Standing on the moon, With nothing left to do, A lovely view of heaven, But I'd rather be with you").

If the first set was tightly woven songs with recognizable beginnings and ends the second set was more reminiscent of the Tripper's Ball with long extended guitar jams, drum solos and keyboard space outs. It started harmlessly enough with an abbreviated version of the classic 'Playing in the Band', from Skull and Roses, followed by a jaw-dropping 'Crazy Fingers' from 1975's Blues For Allah, one of my personal favorites. The crowd mostly went for chips and beer during the extended space-out sequence that came next, but when the band launched into 'St. Stephen' ("Saint Stephen with a rose, in and out of the garden he goes, Country garden in the wind and the rain, Wherever he goes the people all complain"), a concert rarity, the entire joint lit up...so to speak.

Ironically, it was at this very point in the concert my friends were accosted by two armed police officers for allegedly possessing some form of outlawed potpourri. Fortunately, no such substance was found; although, based on the air samples I took, it was abundant in nearly every part of the arena that night. Only a few of the more dedicated Deadheads recognized 'The Eleven' when it snuck up into our aural cavities, but everyone jumped up and started boogieing when 'Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo' was cranked up. That ran back into the 'Playing in the Band' reprise after an impromptu cover of 'Foxey Lady', which ended on the less-than-familiar 'Foolish Heart' from the Dead's final studio album 1989 'Built To Last'.

It was well after midnight when I walked erratically out of the arena and the Dead were still jamming. I hope they always will be.

Set 1: New Speedway Boogie Bertha High Time Mason’s Children Big Boss Man Doin’ That Rag Standing On The Moon

Set 2: Playing In The Band Crazy Fingers Drums Space St. Stephen The Eleven Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo Playing In The Band Foolish Heart Encore: G-L-O-R-I-A

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2009-04-17 Dave Matthews Band John Paul Jones Arena Charlottesville, VA

Well, Dave put on the same great show he always does with a few surprises. Old Crow Medicine Show opened up with a nice bluegrassy folk set similar to what I saw them do at Bonnaroo 2005, then Dave came out and did Pantala Naga Pampa, which seemed to sum up well what everyone has been feeling and needing lately ("Come and relax now, Put your troubles down, No need to bear the weight of your worries, Just let them all fall away") followed by a couple of classics 'Rapunzel' and 'Satellite'. 'When The World Ends' and 'You Might Die Trying also set a rather somber mood that was not relieved until Dave busted into The Talking Heads dance classic 'Burning Down The House', which had everyone from the floor to the rafters shaking it.

The only mention of Leroi Moore, their sax player who died of complications from injuries suffered in an ATV accident last summer, was when Dave said: "Our very good friend could not be with us tonight, but he was very happy with the progress of the [new] album as he left it," and then, afterwards: "It's nice to be home." The new album, 'Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King', is a tribute to Moore that will be released June 2. They performed three new songs from it, including the first single 'Funny the Way It Is'.

Banjo player Danny Barnes joined Dave for 'Spaceman' and slammed out a solo that had even the Dave awkwardly flat-footing along. This song led to an all out jam that was yet another highlight for guitarist Tim Reynolds who makes this year's shows much more rock and roll than previous tours. With guitarist Tim Reynolds and trumpeter Rashawn Ross also joining the four surviving co-founders (singer-guitarist Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, violinist Boyd Tinsley and drummer Carter Beauford), there was no shortage of soloing firepower. Of course, the big finish was 'All Along the Watchtower', which has been a concert staple for MB for quite awhile. I saw them do AATW with the Robert Randolph Band at Bonnaroo 2005 (they also performed wth Dave on the first two nights of this tour). Reynolds blasted out the guitar solo and I may have heard a snippet of 'Stairway to Heaven' at one point. his was an amazing concert and I had a great time, as I always do every time Dave comes to town.

Pantala Naga Pampa Rapunzel Satellite When The World Ends You Might Die Trying Funny The Way It Is (Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King) he big finish was 'All Along the Watchtower', which has been a concert staple for MB for quite awhile. I saw them do AATW with the Robert Randolph Band at Bonnaroo 2005 (they also performed wth Dave on the first two nights of this tour). Reynolds blasted out the guitar solo and I may have heard a snippet of 'Stairway to Heaven' at one point. his was an amazing concert and I had a great time, as I always do every time Dave comes to town.

Pantala Naga Pampa Rapunzel Satellite When The World Ends You Might Die Trying Funny The Way It Is (Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King) Burning Down The House (Talking Heads cover) Stay or Leave Raven Grey Street Spaceman (with Danny Barnes) (Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King) Cornbread (with Danny Barnes) #41 Why I Am (Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King) Ants Marching

Encore: Sister The Maker (Daniel Lanois cover) So Damn Lucky Stefan solo All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan cover)

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