Pass the Big Whiskey Please

I don't write music reviews. Or let me put it another way, I don't write good ones. Either I like something or I don't. It's tough for me to judge an album using words. As an editor and writer, it's kind of weird to say that, but that's the way I am. I am a big fan of all kinds of music, but actually writing about it has rarely appealed to me. Until now. Until "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King" came along. I haven't been moved by music in more than 10 years to have anything to say.

But remember, I don't write music reviews.

In one word, "Grux" is beautiful. What better way is there to pay tribute to the late LeRoi Moore than to have a solo from him as the first track on the new album? And just like a Dave Matthews Band concert, the album goes from a soft beautiful tune and rips into the powerful "Shake Me Like a Monkey." It's loud and it's proud; and each time I repeat the CD I turn this song up louder. I can't wait to hear how it translates live. It's a perfect opener in my opinion.

(I don't write music reviews.)

I like "Funny the Way It Is" more every time I listen to it. When I first heard it, I thought it was a good tune -- it has a nice catchy hook. DMB music has been missing that hook for a while. I'm not a hater of "Everyday" or "Stand Up" -- those CDs have some good moments -- but I have missed having a good radio-friendly song from the band. "Dreamgirl" didn't cut it for me. This is that song. Funny the way it is ... if you think about it.

The song "Lying in the Hands of God" can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be lyrically. Musically, it's a nice soft song that you can't help but listen to. It comes across to me as song written and played to just shut up and listen to.

"Why I Am" is amazing. It's amazing on the CD and it's a crazy-powerful-amazing song live too. For all the fans who cringed when Dave started playing the electric guitar on the "Everyday" album (and if you cringed like I did every concert "Louisiana Bayou" started playing), relax. This song makes it seem like he was just practicing, trying to get it right. He gets it right on this song, and he gets it right with the lyrics. It kinda makes me want to get drunk on water turned into wine.

(Did I tell you that I don't write music reviews.)

"Dive In" is a nice break from the heavy parts of the album. I'm very neutral toward this song right now. Don't like; don't hate it; haven't skipped over it yet, either.

"Spaceman" was bad in April in Charlottesville. It didn't work for me. I see it's potential though, and on Fuse the other night I saw how this song has grown. On the album though, I love it. I love the "All the freaks are on parade" lines. If you judge a song by the first 10 seconds, you're missing a real gem here. Danny Barnes is fantastic on banjo on this song as well.

The pace changes with "Squirm," yet another song about death. It's a dark, but powerful song. On my first listen, I didn't like this song for some reason, but like most of the songs on this album, I feel like I can't get enough of this song now. I just want to repeat it over and over. I could never say that about any "Stand Up" songs.

(I don't write music reviews.)

"Alligator Pie" is ... I don't know ... weird. I'm glad Stella is in a song, but I don't really get it. Not that's it's bad -- it's got some great music with Danny Barnes again and with Carter Beauford all over the place. The song is up, then it's down - it's wild. It's like a roller coaster ride, and when you get done listening you're not sure what you just heard. But it's very cool all at the same time.

Following "Alligator" is another weird one, "Seven." But I'm beginning to get it. And I love it.

"Time Bomb" is, well, what you might expect from a song called "Time Bomb" ... it starts slow, and then blows up. It's quiet, then it's loud. It's innocent, then it's raw and crazy. It's hard to describe. It'll make you try to believe in Jesus (if you don't already). (Like I said, I don't write music reviews.)

The album closes with two soft somewhat typical Dave songs -- "My Baby Blue" and "You And Me." "My Baby Blue" starts with the riff of "Sister," a well-known quiet Dave solo in concert. "You And Me" is just a nice quiet tune to close things off. I love how this album ends with these two songs - it's the opposite of the in-your-face songs on the album, which, I think, shows how unbelievably talented this band is to have this variety of music.

To end the album, there's a short break after "You And Me" to close things off with another LeRoi solo. A perfect ending to the almost perfect album.

I don't write music reviews, but this CD did something to me to make me write about it. It's too early to analyze how this fits in with DMB's recordings from the 1990s, but I will say this -- it's about time ...

The start of another tour ...

... and I don't have tickets for any summer shows!! I'd love to go to Virginia Beach or the Nissan Pavilion in Northern Virginia or even Hershey (with floor seats), but it's not looking good this year. I'll survive ... maybe. :-)

June 25, 2005: Not so sweet in Hershey

And just like that, it's been three months since I've posted to this blog. And it's been since August since I actually posted an entry with what this blog was going to be about -- my Dave Matthews Band concert experiences. Since that time I've seen another show, so No. 17 is really No. 18 and No. 16 is No. 17. So now I'm on No. 15, which is really No. 16. And just to remind you, this is my ranking of DMB concerts I've seen, starting with the "worst" and working my way to the best. So, here we go...

On some message boards, people will have you believe June 25, 2005, is one of the worst DMB shows in recent years. Well ... I don't disagree. And in hindsight, my opinion hasn't changed. That's why this show at Hersheypark is so far down on my list. The next night, though, ranks much higher -- maybe I'll get to that in a couple of years. (I kid, I kid ...)

Here's a look at the setlist:

Hunger For The Great Light
Dream Girl
Hello Again
Granny
Crash
Bartender
American Baby
When The World Ends
Louisiana Bayou
Lover Lay Down
Smooth Rider
Stand Up
Dancing Nancies
Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd
Tripping Billies
_________________
You Might Die Trying
What You Are

The fact that this show was heavy in "Stand Up" material doesn't bother me. It was to be expected. But starting the show with three new songs like that were disappointing, especially with the "Hunger" opening -- far and away my least favorite opening ever. Part of what made this show disappointing for me was the venue. Hersheypark in the football stands is not a good place to see a show. (The show the next year in the "floor" seating area is a completely different story for a later time.)

This show had some highlights -- "Granny" did get the crowd going, but things just seemed too up and down the whole night. It was nice to hear "Lover Lay Down," and it's sad to see that song such a rarity these days. And I'm certainly not complaining about "Nancies" or "Tripping Billies."

The encore was a bit blah. "YMDT" at that time was weak -- fortunately that song has evolved into a pretty good live song and finds itself usually early on in a set. "What You Are" is an excellent closer if, and only if, the rest of the set is solid. I'll take it if the rest of the show is above average. But this show wasn't ...

This show was the first night of two concerts two nights in a row for me -- the first time I had done that. And I'm so glad I did. The next night was at Nissan Pavilion in Northern Virginia and ranks in my top 10. Like I said, I'll get to that show eventually. Next up, and only slightly better than this Hershey show, a weird night at the now-defunct Veterans Stadium.

Tweet All About It

As most DMB fans are aware, Dave is on Twitter. For those unfamiliar with Twitter, I'm not even going to try and explain it. :-) Anyway, after hearing of a delay in the new album, but concert dates already scheduled, I asked him this question on Twitter: "Will you play new songs at Cville or wait til the album comes out. A short yes or no PLEASE!?!?!?!"

And to my surprise he responded with a "Probably" answer. Pretty cool, huh?

Anyway, I'm disappointed to hear the CD is delayed, but I'm still looking forward to Charlottesville night two at John Paul Jones Arena in April. This time let's hope no trench coat man comes out at the end. I think DMB owes us a "Last Stop."

Also, I plan to get back to the point of this blog very soon ... I promise!

LeRoi, You're Not Forgotten

As a general fan of music, I was pretty livid to find out that the Grammys didn't recognize LeRoi Moore during the annual tribute section. (Click here for details.)

Fortunately fans have message boards to honor LeRoi, but it's a sad state of affairs that the Grammys forgot about him. There doesn't seem to be a good explanation of it either. Afterall, DMB has won a Grammy before and been nominated more than once. LeRoi is a well-known musician in the music world. It also goes to show how awful the Grammys really are. I couldn't watch much after watching Whitney Houston's antics.