Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 3.5/5 Released: December 6, 2005 Reviewer: David Coats |
Another year, another live Dave Matthews Band record. While always known for doing their best work on stage, it must be said that releasing at least one live record every year is unnecessary at best, especially since it is unlikely DMB will ever match the impact of their 1997 Red Rocks release. DMB’s 2005 tour ended with a return to the famed Colorado amphitheatre for four performances, and this two-CD-one-DVD package is the first live record to feature material from 2005’s studio release, Stand Up.
Most songs translate quite well, particularly ‘Dreamgirl’ (though it’s DVD only), and ‘Louisiana Bayou’, the DVD version of which features the pedal steel of Robert Randolph, reenergizing the band and absolutely bringing the house down in the process. Conversely, ‘American Baby’ sounds dreadful, mostly on account of a very poor vocal performance. A fantastic inclusion, though, is a faithful cover of the Zombies’ hit ‘Time of the Season’, featuring psychedelic organ solos from Butch Taylor. Old reliables such as ‘The Stone’ and ‘Bartender’ still sound strong and are more efficient than they are on previous DMB live releases, and also included are live rarities such as ‘Don’t Burn the Pig’ and ‘Say Goodbye’. Including yet another version of ‘Jimi Thing’, however, does nothing to excite.
DMB fans remain some of the most loyal and passionate of any band, and the interaction between the band and the audience is a highlight of this package. The musicianship remains for the most part excellent, and if you’re a DMB fan, there is enough quality new material here to warrant getting this package, but the first Red Rocks still remains the definitive DMB live record. For those wondering how much live DMB is too much, this will again leave you wondering where to draw the line.
