Tahoe Onstage photos by Michael Smyth
Dave Matthews Band, jam rockers extraordinaire, put the cherry on a historic season for Harveys Outdoor Arena on the shores of Lake Tahoe on Friday, Sept. 7, capping a concert season of heavy-hitter acts unlike any other.
On what would have been founding member and saxophonist LeRoi Moore’s 57th birthday, the band played a tight and memorable show before a sold-out crowd on a perfect late-summer evening.
Known for its impromptu and sometimes raucus jams, DMB put forth a lock-step effort that was less wild and more controlled than a lot of its shows. With a week off, from their annual thee-day Gorge run, save for a TV appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, band members appeared relaxed and reflective, perhaps having spent time pre-show talking about their late friend, “Roi.”
LeRoi Moore died in 2008 following complications from an all-terrain vehicle accident. He often arranged music for songs that Matthews wrote and co-wrote a number of the band’s songs, including “Too Much” and “Stay.”
DMB busted out a clean take on the rare instrumental “#34,” a Moore composition, and Matthews dedicated it to him both before and after the tune was performed.
Dave Matthews Band shows tend to get classified by who the featured soloists are on a particular night. Friday would definitely fall into the “horn show” category as trumpeter Rashawn Ross and sax man Jeff Coffin deftly handled the majority of the solo spots.
Show highlights included fan favs “#41,” “Warehouse,” “Don’t Drink The Water” and Typical Situation.” The band’s punchy cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” which it has been covering the last five tours or so, pleased as well.
Even after a full-year hiatus from touring in 2017, DMB continues to pack them in. With the core of the band at 50 and over, the musicians are showing no signs of slowing down, and if their latest record, “Come Tomorrow,” is any indication, they have no intention of doing so.
Can’t wait to see what DMB and Harveys have in store for us in 2019 after a great summer season from both.
— Michael Smyth
- Dave Matthews Band
Harveys Outdoor Arena
Sept. 8, 2018 - 1 – Satelite
2 – That Girl Is You
3 – #41
4 – Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin)
5 – Louisiana Bayou
6 – Spaceman
7 – Don’t Drink the Water
8 – Again and Again
9 – Sledgehammer
10 – #34
11 – Can’t Stop
12 – Jimi Thing
13 – Sexy M.F.
14 – Come On Come On
15 – Warehouse
16 – Typical Situation
17 – You & Me
18 – She
19 – Ants Marching
Encore
20 – Why I Am
21 – Pentala Naga Pampa
22 – Rapunzel
