WHERE: Usana Amphitheatre, West Valley City
WHEN: Wednesday
THE BOTTOM LINE: With a rousing set that was its best in recent memory, the Dave Matthews Band proved why it is one of the top money-making tours in the nation.
WEST VALLEY CITY - Stoners, yuppies, lovers and dreamers, the Dave Matthews Band unites them all. You'd think that yearly visits from Dave and Co. would grow tiresome, especially on a tour like this, with no new album to support. But no, Wednesday's show was fantastic and the most energetic effort from the band in memory.
Things got rolling the same way as "Before These Crowded Streets," with the two-hit punch "Pantala Naga Pampa" and "Repunzel." Of the former, Dave set the atmosphere for the evening with lyrics that admonished the crowd to let all their worries flow away.
The set had some things for Dave Matthews fans of every ilk. For the casual fans, there were soaring renditions of "Crash Into Me" and "Satellite." Both tunes managed to warm the hearts even after a hundred listens each.
Jaded fans - i.e. fans who haven't dug Dave Matthews' last couple of overproduced albums - were reminded about the irreplaceability of live music. The band turned recorded charmless tunes such as "Louisiana Bayou" into electrifying, groovy bundles of joy.
And for the die-hards/jamphiles, lengthy gems like "Proudest Monkey," the funk-folk of "Everyday" and the unreleased material. Most of the time new material is boring because nobody knows it. "The Idea of You," however, was instantly delightful and would be right at home on "Busted Stuff."
Among the many transcendent moments was the mind-blowing rendition of "Bartender." Even Mother Nature was on Dave's side: Wind gusts accompanied his energetic vocal. Words really can't describe the passion. I'm talking goosebumps.
Show opener Robert Randolph played string guitar on "You Might Die Trying" and "Two Step," closing out the set. Both songs were equally epic, giving the thousands in attendance something to move, scream and smile along to.
As long as Dave and Friends keep playing shows with this level of energy and excitement they're welcome any time at any price.
