"What About Dave?"

Before 1994, the only bands I listened to which contained a members name in the title were Steve Miller Band, Edgar Winter Group, and oh lets see... I am not counting Rap Artist at all here, or any of those 80's one hit wonders---->J.Giles Band, Im looking at you. Then on September 27th, 1994 a album entitled "Under The Table and Dreaming" was released by a group which at that time was still widely unknown not counting the cult underground college following they were starting to obtain. Actually DMB formed back in 1991, and their success came mainly the same way Phishs came about; constant touring of small venues, college campuses, basically anywhere in the country willing to put them up. Once again the Word Of Mouth Machine tm. proved to be one of the best buildups a band can have.

Needless to say, the first time I heard "What Would You Say", complete with John Popper cameo I was hooked to Dave. With "Ants Marching" and "Satellite" following, "UTTaD" quickly became one of the staples in my record collection. It was at this point in my life that I gave up such Rap groups such as Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, and put the edgier punk rock of Goldfinger NOFX on the backburner, eventually to forget the existed. Even the newer music I started to listen to that very year was put on haitus: Green Day, Offspring, Butthole Surfers etc, all forgotten about. Besides Dave, the only other new albums I was listening to were "Weezer" by Weezer, and "Defiantly Maybe" by Oasis.

It was something amazing in my mind, what DMB had going on. They had a sound that just wasn't heard in the mainstream really up to that point. With Boyd Tinsley on Violin and Leroi Moore on the Sax these two insturments that you almost NEVER would have heard on MTV or your popular radio station were suddenly represented wonderfuly. Thats not to mention the insane stylings of Carter Beauford on the drums (shout it x4). Stefan Lessard plays the bass, and Dave Matthews rounded out the quintet on the guitar.

My first concert experience was going to the Warner Theater in Erie Pa to see Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds do an accoustic show back in February '97. After all the concerts I have seen since then that still holds a special place in my heart and more so, it was one of the more awe inspiring shows I have attended. The second time I saw Dave it was in full tow of the Band down at Star Lake Ampitheater in Burgettstown PA in August '98. This show was great as well, but dwarfed by (in my opinion) the Phish show I would see one week later at Vernon Downs outside Albany NY.

Which brings my to my final point. The bands I listen to now are as follows: Phish, String Cheese Incident, Primus, Moe., Govt. Mule, Blues Traveler, John Butler Trio, Bela Fleck and the Fleck Tones, Guster, The Tragically Hip, Great Big Sea, Bare Naked Ladies, Moxy Fruvous, Dispatch, O.A.R., and much more of this simalar style and tone. Also on the prog Rock side of things I listen to Spocks Beard, OSI, Transatlantic, Dream Theater, King Crimson, Liquid Tension Experiment...on and on the list goes. Understand I became a much huger fan of Phish than I ever was or will ever be of DMB, and it was really Phish that got me into the other bands (Well it was Rush that got me into the prog rock, but I started listening to Rush off a tip of a fellow Phish fan). But at the end of the day, I wouldn't have given Phish a chance if I had not started listening to Dave Matthews Band.

Just think I might be listening to some strange Rapper making Music for Shorties or something, but my musical life was saved by Dave Matthews band.

So, one request before we leave. If you know of anyone with extra tickets (that wouldnt mind waiting a couple of weeks to a month or two for payment) to the Darien Lake Show this weekend, PLEASE let me know. And make them aware of me. I am going to need some sunshine and music (and beer) in my life this weekend following my DWI Trial this Thursday.

That was shameless.

~Oz