Maybe it is just cause whenever I think of them, I think of environmental yuppies with their khaki's and smart cars, who sort their garbage and shop at the GAP. Which seems to be the core audience.

Oh, I get ya there. Their fans are ****ing grade-a obnoxious. Theres nothing more awful than a pothead who wants to tell you about their philosophies. Its ****ing torture.

"its like...you know if we just gave the poor ****ing good paying jobs man, no one would starve you know? And its just like...why don't you just do that man?"

Really? What school of economics is that from? Do you have any idea how business works? What skill set do poor folks universally have that could create something the wealthy would buy? How about I increase the worlds food supplies by just strangling you to death right here so theres more ****ing Bertucci's Rolls and Ramen Noodles for everyone?

I love Dave Matthews Band!

Well, that's an overstatement. But I do like them. I grew up with them, thanks to my brother. Well, not just them but also Counting Crows and Deftones. I don't listen to Counting Crows much anymore (as in their newer material), but DMB and Deftones are still great in my book.

I'm going to the Deftones tonight. And I think the CC are freakin phenomenal.
DMB took a long time to grow on me because, as was mentioned above, their fans kill me.

I'm kind of wondering why a DMB thread is in the "Indie" section...

How was the Deftones show? Do they still have the same shitty mix engineer that puts ridiculous echo on Chino's vocals so that every word he says is like deja vu?

As far as DMB.. I won't lie, they're very talented. I just find it hard to get excited about them. I'm not sure I could ever bring myself to buying a ticket to one of their shows, although that's probably the better way to experience them in the first place.

I am just a recent convert to DMB music and was quite excited when they news came out that they were going back on tour. Not gonna be able to see much if any. :(

See much what?



yes, yes that engineer did. Though they mixed in a portion of Katy Perry's Firework, which I thought was incredible.

Yessss...Kelli found it and now I'm here to spam it.

I have so much to respond to on this thread but it's all so old. First I'd just like to clarify that sterotyping the fans as pot-smoking bros or yuppies or khaki-wearing GAP patrons is really, really unfair. There might be (or have been) some at live shows back in the day, and they may still be hanging around (probably not), but the reality is that's only one side of them. The band appeals across generations, continents, demographics, and social strata. And that is one thing that makes them exciting.

As a straightedge kid from a low-income family in the woods of Maine, DMB was the first album I ever bought on CD (Before These Crowded Streets), at the age of 10. And I can also tell you that my earliest and happiest memories are of my single mom rocking out to "what would you say" or occasionally "typical situation" on tape in our car. Sweet times. So it could also be a childhood thing, and that also makes it cool. Three or four of my third grade friends also loved DMB. Maybe we were weirdos. Anyway I was happy.

Another great thing about the band is their kickass drummer, Carter. If you haven't seen him play, you really don't know what you're missing. If you've seen/heard his live drumming skills (or even studio versions), and you still don't get it, I'm not going to argue with you. But I think musicians can appreciate his musicianship. The same goes for the violinist, and the oft-overlooked bassist, who has been with the band since he was like 16 or 17.

Grew up with these guys. I guess when I'm 30 or whatever, this will be my Led Zeppelin or Rolling Stones (bands my age and music tastes just inexplicably block me from understanding).

Anyway I mainly wanted to say that the stereotypes are lame about the fans. I don't think that's fair. Every type of music has some ratio of annoying fans. Of course DMB is no exception!!

I guess I'll reply to this thread too, haha. I've never been a HUGE fan of DMB but I've always really liked them in general, and I've listened to all (and own a few) of their albums at some point or another in my life. They're one of those groups I grew up hearing on the radio and were always really popular where I live.

Same here! In elementary school I loved a lot of what I guess you could call late 90s alternative/soft rock bands. DMB, Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty, etc. That's what I grew up hearing. Even if liking them lessens my music credibility or whatever, screw it, I like what I like. Here's their first song I ever heard. This ended up being one of the first cds I bought and still remember listening to this song to fall asleep at night..


Dave Matthews Band - Satellite - YouTube

Also, listened to the '09 album earlier today and the one song that always sticks out to me is Funny the Way it Is. Not their best song musically, but I've always thought the lyrics were fantastic. Just thought I'd mention that one.

Good stuff.

my sentiments exactly. i've met so many metalheads that seem like their heads are completely empty, but i don't go blaming that on pantera. and i'm not saying this because i like DMB (which i do), i'm saying this because it's kinda ridic to knock a band because of its fans and then blanket the entire demographic with harsh - yet witty - generalizations. no offense, but that makes me want to answer the question "do you listen to music" with "no. snobs like that sh*t."

aside from that little rant, i dig dave cuz he's pretty talented (try learning the vocal and guitar parts to crash and try to tell me dave isn't musically gifted) and carter beauford is an awesome, AWESOME drummer who smiles and chews gum while he pulls off non-stop amazing sh*t on the traps. and rhythmically speaking, they are probably one of the most dynamic and cohesive bands on the planet, IMO. they blend complexity and imagination in such a way that the listener can make a decision about whether or not they want to become cerebrally provoked or just listen and smile cuz some dudes are having a good time with words, rhythms and sounds. they're playful and light-hearted... and dave's pretty sarcastic too. i like it.

He is really good at cross tempos/rhythms with his singing and guitar playing. The guitar playing in "crash" isn't terribly difficult, there's a pretty big stretch across the board, but its a different story when you sing along.

Saw them live at bonnaroo a few years back. Wasn't a big fan until then. They did some epic covers of "stairway to heaven", "needle and the damage done" and "all along the watchtower". Very talented band.

Hey Kelli, I like Funny the Way It Is, also. But I think the best song on Big Whiskey is "Time Bomb," if not for the very eerie and haunting beginning, the way it connects to the murder of Dave's sister in South Africa.

Very cool and creepy song, especially in light of recent disasters with violence. The guy the song is about could be anyone, really.

no one would ever know....not until I blew up...



if martians fell from the sky...what would that do to God? would we put the weapon down, or aim it up at the sky?

that's exactly what i meant. his hands and his voice are completely separated from each other rhythmically, and as a drummer that's a quality i have a lot of respect for.

It took me til after his debut album to really grasp what a talent he has. Certainly one of the better jam bands you can see live. I gravitate more towards his ballads for some reason, I think he has a real knack for songwriting. There is just something beautiful that comes out in his songs that really hits me at times. I'm kind of in and out listening to him, but he certainly has a gift for songwriting and his band as a foundation is pretty incredible in both studio and live format.

i'm not trying to change your mind or anything by saying this. i totally respect a honed appreciation like that. but have you listened to groo grux king? i like his ballads too, but the orchestration on some tracks on GGK is so perfectly explosive.... ugh. and i'm with you.. i don't listen to dmb all the time... very on and off. but when i do i f*cking love it.

annnnd i'm gonna go throw on GGK and dance like i'm autistic and probably play some air drums.:beer:

I feel a little less guilty about dragging this topic up again now.

By the way, do any of you DMB appreciators have a thing for "Spoon" like me? I can't explain how the violin and banjo parts of that song make me feel. Maybe someone else can...:)

The things he does rhythmically on the guitar is very interesting. Very interesting chord work.

I got all my metal head mates into DMB. When they first heard it they were like 'it's gay' now they deny that I got them into it as they are big fans! people are funny!!

I guess I should have stated i enjoy all of his music. I gravitate more towards his ballads, but I also enjoy his jam/rock music. GGK is an outstanding song indeed. I normally pop on DMB when i'm cooking or on a slow Sunday where I just wanna kick back and write a little bit on the computer.

i was actually talking about the whole album, but that song in particular is pretty swell!

I always forget that song is called Why I Am. I love the emotion he conveys in the vocals.

My fave DMB song is more darker one of theirs #9 on their album 'Before These Crowded Streets, called "The Dreaming Tree"

I ****ing love that song, love the feeling/mood of it and the way it tells a story

as did i, apparently!

haha!

i like in that song how during the actual "why i am" part they stretch the phrase out three time... gets me every time. so creative and succinct.

EDIT: @trogdor, Dreaming Tree is great! 7/8 time too!

Dreaming Tree was certainly one of the better songs on the album. I tend to enjoy bands that play in 7/8ths also, quite jazzy and perfect for the actual dynamics of the song.

Dreaming Tree is really good.

I happened to put in Big Whiskey & the GruGrux King after finding it in my GF's car. Some songs were pretty much phoned in, but one that stood out for me was Squirm.

definitely my fave track on the album. what do you mean by "phoned in"?

Poppy, formulaic songwriting. Like "Shake Me Like A Monkey". Dave probably had some pressure from his label to make another radio hit. "Funny The Way It Is", "Lying in The Hands Of God", and "Squirm" are stand-outs on that album for me.

i see what you mean. i disagree, but i understand where you're coming from. i only say that i disagree because i can imagine being on a stage playing that song and it would probably be fun as hell.

I think hes not ego driven enough to expect a radio friendly hit, but there are instances where I can hear that in some of his music. I prefer to think of it as Dave just trying a different avenue then the jam stuff which is so prevalent among his music. Either way I agree with Squirm being a standout song.

I never gave Squirm a proper listen, I have to admit. Really great actually. Thanks for posting it, Plankton.

So no other "Time Bomb" or "Spoon" lovers here? :) I also like Dreaming Tree but I pretty much think that every DMB song can be loved at different stages of life and in different moods. There's a time and place for every track, honestly. For example, I prefer Dreaming Tree when I'm feeling optimistic (the sound, not the lyrics), and "The Stone" when I want something darker, like what trogdor suggested.

How about ya'lls favorite songs from "Crash"?

For me and for Boyd, hands down and without a doubt #41. "Two Step" comes in close second, though.

I can't listen to DMB and be in a bad mood. It's impossible.

any other bands that are similar to DMB? as good and have interesting timings like 7/8?

I'm with you on that one. #41 for sure.

Also a fan of So Much to Say and Two Step.

Solid album, though. One of their best. :D

Fantastic band. Never bern to a show but my sister just went a few werks ago and said it was great.

Ditto about cooking. I can cook up a freaking storm when listening to Dave. I'm all about that. I also put it on when I need some kind of inspiration, or while doing, for example...a puzzle. :)

Crush is my favorite, I love it!! Ants Marching is good too!

I considered listening to their "Crash Into Me" but I guess the chance to do so will never come soon :(