Michael A Kazanjian
editor in chief
Outside of Miller’s Bar in Charlottesville, VA, stood a sea of people with their eyes fixated on a sign that read: Open at 3pm. 1:30 was quickly approaching as more and more people lined up like loyal servants outside of their majesty’s castle. Barmaids could be seen shuffling through the windows preparing for what has been leading up to be a very busy day. For the past week, the town of Charlottesville has been gearing up for the homecoming of The Dave Matthews Band.
Miller’s, a small, somewhat shabby bar in the heart of downtown Charlottesville, was where Dave Matthews tended bar for many years before selling out arenas, and fans were basking at the opportunity to stand where he once did.
For the days prior to the April 21 concert at Scott Stadium, Charlottesville was officially “Dave Land.” The town was turned on its head. The music of Dave Matthers could be heard on every radio station, in every store and out of every car that passed by. License plates went from Texas to Connecticut. This was more than just another concert for the die-hard fans that had driven hundreds of miles, this, was a happening.
Walking down the uneven streets of Charlottesville the rain was at a fine drizzle that was slowly soaking special edition newspapers that had Matthews’s face plastered on them. Hundreds of college students flooded the streets wearing the styles that seemingly every other college in America seemed to copy.
Scott Stadium began to fill while Neil Young and Crazy Horse were blazing through renditions of southern favorites. Neil Young in Virginia, nothing seemed more appropriate. By the time the sun finally finished setting and the house lights went on electricity could be felt streaming from the 50,000 plus fans at the stadium. Scott Stadium went dark, the crowd erupted and the guests of honor took the stage.
The once clean-shaven, frat boy face of Matthews was now covered by a beard that has yet to reach its full maturity. From that moment on, things were a bit different. The band started the show with a trio of classics from their 1996 smash album “Crash.” It seemed to be business as usual, but the songs were noticeably different in length. Being that this was the first show of the band’s tour, it would also be the first time that the new songs from their current album “Everyday” would be played on the road. Matthews strapped on his baritone electric guitar and ripped into the opening riff of “So Right.” The band followed perfectly as the audience was getting a first look at the “new” Dave Matthews Band. Eight of the twelve tracks from “Everyday” were performed, but all of them, with the exception of the title track, sounded like the band was playing along with the record. The almost endless jamming that has become their trademark was nowhere to be found.
One of the evening’s biggest highlights came when seasoned rocker Neil Young came up from back stage to assist the band on their staple cover of “All Along the Watchtower.” Young and Matthews traded verses while the band found their groove and as fans fumbled for cameras to snap a picture of the unlikely duo sharing the mic.
While the band gave a solid performance, one couldn’t help but the shake the feeling that their 20-minute jam sessions were behind them and that “Everyday” pop producer Glen Ballard’s influence was still streaming through their veins. The band’s impression on Charlottesville could still be felt the next day as radio DJ’s played a song every so often to remind the residents of the small town heroes who were there the night before. It took eight years for the Dave Matthews Band to return home, and, guessing by the reception that they received this time, things won’t be much different the next time their bus tickets are marked for Charlottesville, VA.
