2010 ... And Then A Break?

Two weeks from now I will have woken up in a field in middle Indiana. I'll brush my teeth, and change my clothes, and then I'll prepare for the second night of Dave Matthews Band's two night stand in Noblesville. Judging from the set lists thus far, it looks to be a solid, if not totally spectacular, weekend. Thus far we are seeing the majority portion of the songs still coming from Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, with an increase in the number of songs from Bush League albums such as Everyday and especially Stand Up. A typical concert, according to antsmarching, is showing a wide variety of songs, from the three aforementioned albums as well as Busted Stuff, Under the Table and Dreaming, Before These Crowded Streets, Some Devil, and Crush. It seems that DMB is interested in giving a total overview of their discography this summer.

Perhaps most exciting is the fact that the band has busted out a few hits that haven't been heard in years: "Big Eyed Fish" (not heard since 2006), "Kit Kat Jam" (on the bench since 2003), "JTR" (out since 2006), "Sweet Up and Down" (rarely since 2007), and "So Right" (out since 2006) have all made returns to the set list with some frequency this year. "JTR" and "Sweet Up and Down", in particular, are exciting as they are two members of the legendary Lillywhite Sessions group, and two of the group which did not make the jump to Busted Stuff. Throw in the fact that night two seems to be consistently getting a final encore of "All Along The Watchtower," and let's put me down as cautiously optimistic.

And I say "cautiously optimistic" rather than fully excited because mixed in with all of these throwback songs, and the full arsenal of albums at their disposal, has come the news that DMB will take 2011 off from touring. If you know anything about the group you'll know why this is such shocking news: the group has toured during the summer every year for the past twenty years, without break. Even when the band was in trouble, even through the death of LeRoi Moore, even when Dave was on the verge of quitting ... DMB toured. It is one of the main things that has made them such a phenomena, and it has helped the band to remain unique in the music industry. They were the throwback to the old days of concerts, when groups toured because they loved playing together, rather than just to pimp a new album.

And, to that end, one has to wonder if there isn't something else going on underneath the announced "we need a break" message. Perhaps it's as simple as the group getting older; it's hard to believe it's been twenty years since this group first started. Maybe it's as potentially exciting as the fact that they want some more time in the studio to make another album (which will hopefully be as good as the last one). Or maybe the fire is starting to go out (who could blame them?). Either way, I'm not taking for granted that 2012 will see another tour, with newly invigorated band members and maybe even new material. We've already seen one band member tragically die before his time, and more tragedy could strike. Or the band could just realize that they've made so much money that they don't need the hassle of giving up half of their year (at least) to criss-cross the country. I don't know the answers, but needless to say I'll be ready for both shows this year, and I will cherish them. And next summer the group will be missed by quite a few people. Because, from experience, so few bands can even come close to being in the same ballpark as DMB in terms of a live experience, and having that void will only serve to highlight that difference.