Dave Matthews and long-time collaborator and guitar maestro Tim Reynolds graced the Wang Theater with their presence this past Friday night. The theater itself was both aesthetically and acoustically delightful, a rare treat for the crowd as Dave Matthews Band has long performed shows in the confines of highly impersonal sheds and arenas. For this event, the recommended theater dress code of "business casual" was replaced by the Dave Matthews Band tour T-shirt and the occasional backwards hat. The show was the duo's first of a three-night stand of dates in the Northeast, a reprieve from normal duties with the Dave Matthews Band and a chance for Mr. Matthews to display a lesser-known talent: his storytelling. The three-hour show featured plenty of music, including stripped-down versions of many old DMB standards. Matthews' awkwardly funny anecdotes and Reynolds' guitar exploits brought a welcomed freshness to many tunes that have lost their luster after years of touring and a lack of exploration. After the curtain receded to reveal two stools, Matthews and Reynolds, appearing as silhouettes under the subtle blue lights, eased their way into a stunning version of "Bartender." Dave introduced, Everyday's "When the World Ends" as a song that was chosen as a single shortly before Sept. 11, however, in fear that the message of the song would be misconstrued, the band decided it would be best to put it on the shelf. The crowd erupted into laughter when Dave admitted that it is "only a song about sex." The show featured many cuts from Matthews' solo album, Some Devil (2003). "Gravedigger," a realistically haunting tale of death, proved to be the most compelling and displayed Matthews' ability to add heavy emotions to his often-playful approach. It was only fitting that an entertaining story, including visuals, about a remedy for removing a "liquid filled cyst" with help from the Bible would precede this song: a terrible yet captivating segue. Naturally, the DMB classics received the largest applause. Heavy hitters such as "Crash Into Me," "Satellite," "Crush," "Lie in Our Graves," "#41," and "Jimi Thing" were all given the nod. Tim's out-of-this-world technique may be striking, and sometimes over-the-top, yet his ability to serve the song, using even the most indirect methods, is his true talent. Reynolds approaches his instrument as more than just a six-stringed means to produce fills for his counterpart. The songs may lack the thick sound that defines Dave Matthews Band, but Reynolds possesses a band at his fingertips. His rhythms add a percussive heartbeat to Matthews' already unique guitar style, which is sometimes lost when playing with the full lineup. At one point, Matthews left the stage for what he called his "favorite part of the show" to allow Tim to let loose. The uneducated fan found this to be a perfect opportunity to hit the restrooms or grab a beer. What transpired, however, was a face-melting ascent into the clouds, pushing the limits of both human imagination and musicianship, well-deserving of the first standing ovation of the night. The main set ended with a rousing version of "Dancing Nancies" that featured a guitar race to the finish. Shortly after, the duo returned with a familiar guitar twang, a cover of Neil Young's "Down by the River." Matthews' vocals were spot-on, and Reynolds delivered some tasty slide licks on the low end. After years of touring, Matthews' voice has aged into a raspy baritone, sometimes limiting his range, but on this night, his voice was as playful as it was on his only official release with Reynolds, Live at Luther College (1999). "Two Step" was a fitting closer, sending all 3,600 in attendance home feeling grateful for the opportunity to see a musical icon in such an intimate atmosphere. A-
Matthews, Reynolds team up for rare band-less show
Published: Thursday, April 26, 2007
Updated: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Be the first to comment on this article!