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Posts in 2007
Dave looks to the other side

newsicon.jpgDecember 31st, 2007

By Helen Herimbi

Hollywood film releases are not something you'd associate with Dave Matthews. The 40-year-old South African native is rather better known for his musical exploits - enjoying the not-to-be-sniffed-at status of being the lead singer of America's biggest touring act.

Yes, that's right. More people attend his Grammy Award-winning band's concerts every year than say, a slick Justin Timberlake, rap mogul Jay Z, or even, heaven forbid, the newly reformed Spice Girls.

Together with Jonathan Dorfman and a few friends, his latest exploit is as a movie producer for the psychological thriller Joshua. Matthews was in Joburg last week to promote the film.

Joshua, which according to Matthews "was the first film where all the pieces just fell together", follows the life of a precocious 9-year-old whose world is shattered when a new child enters the household. His jealousy takes sibling rivalry to a new level as a series of fatal events raise unanswered questions and leave a dark cloud over the family. On top of being one of the producers, Matthews contributed a poignant ditty to the film.

In high spirits, Matthews - who was born and attended St Stithians High School in Johannesburg - explains that in the original script there was meant to be a song in the final scene where the boy would reveal that he is he puppet master of the whole thing.

"The scriptwriters hadn't written the song. So they asked if I knew anyone who would do it . So I said 'well, give me a chance'.

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2007, articles, moviesdbtp
Cadets win 'Pep Rally' prize - Dave Matthews Band

newsicon.jpg October 25th, 2007

By Alexa James



cadets.jpgWest Point — "Go Army! Beat Navy!" It's the unofficial mantra of the U.S. Military Academy, and it extends to all things on post.

When cadets walk by officers, they salute and murmur, "Go Army," and officers bark back, "Beat Navy."

There are four flower boxes on the superintendent's front porch. "Go Army," says one pair. The other pair? You guessed it.

At the nation's bastion for Army excellence, young men and women are trained to win wars and football games.

So when West Point Cadet Jeff Caslen heard about a contest for the "World's Loudest Pep Rally," he knew what to do:

"Stick it to the other academies!" he said.

The competition, sponsored by AT&T, challenged 120 NCAA schools, including West Point and the Naval and Air Force academies, to vote online to win a free, live concerts by the Dave Matthews Band.

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2007, articlesdbtp
Live Earth Heading To CD/DVD In November

newsicon.jpgOctober 16th, 2007

Aimee Rawlins, N.Y.

liveearth.gifJuly's worldwide Live Earth concerts will be encapsulated as a 1-CD/2-DVD package due Nov. 20 via Warner Bros.

"Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis" includes performances by Madonna, Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Beastie Boys and Rihanna, among many others. The first single from the release will be Linkin Park's "Bleed It Out," which was performed at Maduhari Messe in Japan.

The digital version of the album will be available Nov. 6, and John Mayer's version of "Waiting on the World To Change" will serve as an exclusive track for those who pre-order from iTunes.

The event, organized by Al Gore and Kevin Wall, brought together more than 150 artists in New York, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Rio de Janiro, Johannesburg, and Hamburg to raise awareness for the climate crisis. An estimated 2 billion people tuned in to the live broadcast.

Proceeds from the CD/DVD will benefit the Alliance for Climate Protection, which works to persuade the public of the urgency of developing solutions for the climate crisis.

Track Lists for CD and DVD:

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2007, articlesdbtp
Stand Up Producer Mark Baston: Interview

microphone.jpgOctober 3rd, 2007

Mindy Longanecker

batson.jpg Music producer Mark Batson has come a long way from the Brooklyn projects where he was raised. Over the past several years, he has worked both as a producer and contributing musician (he plays just about every instrument known to man) with an eclectic group of artists ranging from G-Unit to India.Arie to Beyoncé to Anthony Hamilton to Seal to The Game to Gwen Stefani to Eminem to Rachel Yamagata to Talib Kweli.

Batson gained national stature with India.Arie's 2001 release Acoustic Soul, on which Batson co-wrote and co-produced several songs. The album garnered seven Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year.

His latest project is Dave Matthews Band's Stand Up, out May 10. Tableau recently chatted with Batson about his personal and professional background and his production experience, as well as his work with DMB.

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2007, interviewsdbtp
Matthews battles to get it right on the stage and in life

concertreviewicon.jpgSeptember 28th, 2007

UNION-TRIBUNE POP MUSIC CRITIC

 
a092807.jpgThere are two good reasons why Dave Matthews, one of the most consistently uncompromising artists in or out of rock, rarely submits to interviews. He doesn't need to and doesn't like to, so why bother?

“Generally, it's along the lines of 'What's your favorite color?' or 'What brings you to Boston?' ” he said from a tour stop last week in North Carolina with his group, the Dave Matthews Band (or DMB for short).

“Because of what it is, 'rock journalism,' like much of the other mainstream media, is an attempt to sell an oversimplified, nicely packaged vision of the world that will be palatable and easy to travel, when the truth is far more confusing. I can assure anyone that gets their news from the mainstream media that there's a far more inspirational, complex and breathtaking world out there than the one portrayed to us in general by the purveyors of information.”

The inspiration and confusion of everyday life make Matthews thrive, on and off stage. His success as the leader of one of the few bands anywhere that can consistently fill stadiums and large outdoor venues like Coors Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, where they perform tonight, has made it even less necessary for him to speak to the press.

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp
Dave Matthews Band delivers too much, too much

concertreviewicon.jpgSeptember 27th, 2007

The Orange County Register
 

dmb2.jpgA lot of the Dave Matthews Band goes a long way – three hours long if you were at Irvine's Verizon Wireless Amphitheater for an almost-sold out show on Wednesday night.

And from the ecstatic reactions of the fans, that's a good thing. Maybe not even enough of a good thing, judging by the two young women standing nearby who shouted in vain all night for Dave to play "Two Step."

So the tricky thing to figure becomes this: If 15,000 fans are having such a great time, why didn't this show move me as much as it seemed to be moving so many others?

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp
Dave Matthews Band delivers crowd-pleasing show

concertreviewicon.jpgSeptember 25th, 2007

John Schreiber

 
crowdpleaser.jpgIf you weren't in Fort Worth Saturday night watching a certain football game, chances are you were at the Dave Matthews Band concert at the Smirnoff Music Centre in Fair Park.

In front of a sold-out crowd of over 20,000, Matthews and his band played a crowd-pleasing, three-hour set filled with a mix of old favorites, a few new, unreleased songs and a whole lot of energetic jams.

With a crowd ranging from teenagers to mothers of teenagers, the Dave Matthews Band had the unique challenge of appeasing its wide scope of fans. The band, which has been touring almost every year since its formation in the early '90s, undertakes this task masterfully.

The band started things off slowly with the new tune "A Dream So Real," a darker song characteristic of the band's older albums. Although a decent song, it failed to start off the concert with enough energy. However, the tempo picked up a bit as the band jammed out to a 20-minute version of "Seek Up," complete with lively solos from violinist Boyd Tinsley and trumpet player Rashawn Ross (of Robert Randolph & the Family Band).

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp
Starbucks to distribute iTunes "Song of the day" cards

newsicon.jpgSeptember 24th, 2007

Dave Caolo

starbucksitunes.jpgWhen the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks launches in New York and Seattle on Tuesday, October 2nd, the coffee giant will be armed with promotions.

First of all, they'll distribute 1.5 million "Song of the day" cards across 10,000 locations. Each card will provide a free single from artists like Bob Dylan (Of course - Steve loves Dylan. In fact, Dylan's "Joker Man" will be the first giveaway), Paul McCartney and Dave Matthews via iTunes (US). They'll be valid until the end of 2007.

Also, select Starbucks locations will sell "iTunes Digital Release Cards," which allow customers to download music and bonus materials (like music videos and digital booklets) from artists like KT Tunstall and Eddie Vedder. These must be activated at Starbucks before use in the iTunes Store (US).

Finally, they'll also be selling the "Starbucks Card Plus Two"; a re-chargable coffee card that includes two free downloads from iTunes (US).

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2007, articlesdbtp
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Duo possesses undeniable chemistry in live album

newsicon.jpgSeptember 20th, 2007

by Mark Manley,

dtradiocity1.jpgIntricate, eclectic and smooth, the latest Dave Matthews album, "Live at Radio City Music Hall," could be one of the best albums you buy this year.

Matthews pairs up again with Tim Reynolds in his latest solo release for a very distinctive listen. Reynolds accounts for much of this undeniably different touch through his virtuoso guitar accompaniment and rambling forays into ambient sounds.

He sometimes strays from the bounds of the typical tonal music that most people are accustomed to and enters into a strange experimental zone - leaving the listener a little perplexed and uncomfortable. Thankfully these moments don't last long, but they leave a lasting impression.

The great chemistry between Matthews and Reynolds is impressive. Matthews gives a great vocal performance, nailing both falsettos and screams in well-known songs like "Crash Into Me" and "Don't Drink the Water." Meanwhile, Reynolds keeps up a subtle, ornate background - an accompaniment that pleases but does not distract.

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2007, album review, articlesdbtp
Green Concert Lives Up To Name

concertreviewicon.jpgSeptember 9th, 2007

Reported by: Duffie Dixon

greenconcert.jpgDave Matthews Band was the headline act for The Green Concert at Piedmont Park on Saturday, September 8, 2007. The event helped raise more than $1 million for the park's expansion, which is set to begin later this fall.

The special guest who joined Dave Matthews Band was Georgia's own The Allman Brothers Band, who last played in the Park more than 30 years ago with the Grateful Dead and Delaney & Bonnie. The sold out concert drew more than 50,000 fans and with absolutely no parking on-site or in surrounding neighborhoods, concert organizers urged everyone to take MARTA, walk or bike to get to the park.

The Green Concert for Piedmont Park was the latest in a series of special concerts Dave Matthews Band has played to benefit some of the United States' most treasured parks, including New York City's Central Park and San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

"As a band, we've always found playing in an historic park to be a remarkable experience," said Dave Matthews. "Given Piedmont Park's rich legacy of outdoor concerts, we're particularly honored to be chosen along with The Allman Brothers Band to help the Conservancy expand the park."

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp
Virginia Tech concert was more than music

concertreviewicon.jpgSeptember 7th, 2007

By Anna L. Mallory and Greg Esposito
 
The Roanoke Times

BLACKSBURG -- Making "good memories."

vt1.jpgDave Matthews had that goal in mind for the more than 50,000 people packed into Lane Stadium on Thursday night, and with the strumming of a guitar, a steady stadium "wave" and a few "Let's Go, Hokies" chants, it seemed he got his wish.

Matthews brought his band and joined John Mayer, Nas and Lynchburg native Phil Vassar in Blacksburg for "A Concert for Virginia Tech," a show aimed at bringing together the university community and helping it heal after the April 16 shootings.

"I figure memories are always good to have, and good ones are always the best," Matthews told the crowd at the opening of the show.

About 45,000 students, faculty, staff and first responders to the shootings received free tickets, as did 2007 graduates and victims' families. Late last week, the public was offered $65 tickets.

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp
Rockers provide much-needed escape

concertreviewicon.jpgSeptember 7th, 2007

By Ralph Berrier Jr.

dmb3.jpgBLACKSBURG -- So why was Bill O'Reilly so upset with Phil Vassar? He seems like a nice guy, so I don't get all the fuss over his lyrics.

What's that? Oh, it was Nas who was supposed to be the controversial guy? Well, Vassar, Nassar, whatever. Nobody was going to ruin this night for the Hokie Nation. Nobody was going to spoil this Concert for Virginia Tech.

Spearheaded by longtime Charlottesville resident and jam-band demigod Dave Matthews, the concert was about as chilled-out an affair as you could have with 50,000 of your closest orange and maroon clad buddies at Lane Stadium. From Vassar's just-happy-to-be-here kickoff to Nas and his defiant raps, from John Mayer's astounding blues-soaked set to the Dave Matthews Band's arena-sized singalongs, the concert provided just what a grieving campus needs -- a sense of peace and community.

"The world should be like this all the time," Mayer said during his 50-minute set.

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp
King of the road

microphone.jpgAugust 23, 2007

Ray Waddell

kingoftheroad.jpgNASHVILLE - From the humble beginnings of drummer Carter Beauford's mother's basement and a crucial Tuesday night residency at Trax in Charlottesville, Va., the Dave Matthews Band has become the biggest touring success story to emerge from the 1990s.

Riding and then surpassing a wave of success from a rejuvenated post-Grateful Dead jam band scene, DMB has become, quite simply, the top-drawing American band in the world. In fact, only one act -- the Rolling Stones -- sold more tickets than DMB did in the preceding decade.

Band founder Dave Matthews was a reluctant frontman as he made the switch from Charlottesville bartender. The band has not been dependent on radio airplay (though it has enjoyed some) or platinum record sales (which it has enjoyed as well). DMB is a touring band, one of the most successful that has ever hit the highway, and its connection with its fans is via the live-performance conduit from stage to audience.

Billboard spoke with Matthews in the downtime before a May show in Dublin, as the band was about to embark on yet another massive North American tour. Matthews was relaxed, thoughtful and humble as he discussed the past, present and future of DMB, and how important it is to "get it right."

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2007, interviewsdbtp
DMB plays steady and mellow Saturday night at Verizon

concertreviewicon.jpgAugust 20th, 2007

By Robert Herrington

c082007.jpgWhile Friday evening’s opener was a musical thrill ride which took the audience through tempo peaks and valleys, much of Saturday evening’s Dave Matthews Band show at Verizon Wireless Music Center proved more even keeled and predictable.

Some of the predictability came from DMB concert constants – the show was sold out and the audience was hanging on Matthews’ every guitar strum and vocal projection. The crowd was also treated to an old-fashion concert performance based on impeccable musicianship and not laser light shows and pyrotechnics.

Also, every musician on stage – including all five DMB members and guests Butch Taylor, keyboards, and Rashawn Ross, trumpet – had ample soloing time during the concert.

With DMB, one of the best aspects of its live shows are the different set lists each night – with no two concerts ever the same. While the energy was there on stage, the crowd seemed hit-and-miss with the song selection Saturday. In contrast to Friday’s musical rollercoaster, Saturday was steady and mellow. The band lacked the highs and lows that usually come in its live shows.

Despite playing the fan favorites “Ants Marching” as the set closer and “Two Step” as the encore closer, the crowd seemed too unemotional – with many in the lawn deciding to sit on the ground rather than dance on the hill – to really appreciate the attempt to salvage the show’s energy level.

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp
DMB and friends rock sold-out SPAC

concertreviewicon.jpgAugust 15th, 2007

By CE SKIDMORE

spac2007.jpgSARATOGA SPRINGS -- Dave Matthews and his namesake band open a show as if they were playing an encore. It’s high-energy and the kids love it.

The air was palpable, heavy with the scent of bug spray and body odor. When Matthews and company took the stage, the crowd moved as a single organism, larger than life and ebbing like the tide.

They loved him. He barely had to speak, as all his words were met with a shrill squeal of approval.

The Dave Matthews Band played to a sold-out crowd Tuesday night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Its music is a folky, jazzy, funky sort with an inexplicable pop star appeal.

Matthews’ hairline is receding. You can see the stubble darken his face as he sings.

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp
Dave Matthews teases, delivers

concertreviewicon.jpgAugust 6th, 2007

By DONNIE MOORHOUSE
Music writer

HARTFORD - It happens every summer, like traffic on the Cape, and still they come in droves.

The Dave Matthews Band played the Dodge Music Center in Hartford on Saturday night, the first of two sold-out shows at the venue.

Since 1994, when Matthews and his band earned critical and commercial success with their sophomore release "Under the Table and Dreaming," the Dave Matthews Band traveling show has been a staple at summer sheds like the Dodge.

It seems that the audience has eerily remained perpetually young, forever poised in that "last summer before (insert life-changing benchmark here)" of youth.

A nonchalant Matthews opened the show by easing the band into "Best of What's Around," then instantly picked up the pace with "When the World Ends."

He referred to the first several songs as "little love songs." They included "One Sweet World" and "Hunger for the Great Light."

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp
Starbucks and XM Radio team up to promote DMB "Live Trax"

newsicon.jpgAugust 5th, 2007

starbucks-1.jpgStarbucks and XM Radio have teamed up to promote the Dave Matthews Band’s new album “Live Trax” and celebrate the newly re-launched Starbucks music channel exclusively on XM, “Starbucks XM Café” (XM 45), which will feature songs from the new album and special DMB programming on the weekday music show "The Daily Grind." From July 31 through August 31, a Starbucks in-store sweepstakes will offer customers who sign up for a free trial of XM Radio Online, the chance to win tickets, passes and a meet and greet with Dave Matthews at The Hollywood Bowl on October 2, among other prizes.  Complete details will be available online (http://www.xmradio.com/dmb) beginning Tuesday, July 31.

 

XM Radio and Starbucks Team Up to Promote Release and Tour, Featuring In-Store Sweepstakes and Specialty Programming on Newly Re-Launched Starbucks XM Café Channel

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2007, articlesdbtp
Favorite Tunes, Freshly Done

concertreviewicon.jpgAugust 5th, 2007


dave1555.jpgTuesday night's Police show in East Hartford may have been this summer's local buzz event, but multi-night stands by the Dave Matthews Band in front of full houses at the Dodge Music Center in Hartford are the reliable centerpiece of the outdoor concert season in these parts.

Saturday night, the steadily appealing act that has been anchoring the season annually since the 1990s opened this year's stop in town with a fluid program stacked with favorite tunes, and took enough turns and liberties with the material to keep it fresh for an adoring sellout crowd.

The seven-piece band's manner is that of a jam band for listeners with relatively short attentions spans, as it dips and swerves through tunes while avoiding lengthy detours. An opener of "Best of What's Around" was typical of the method, a generally compact delivery of a song in which Matthews' rhythm acoustic guitar-playing and the crisp drum presence of Carter Beauford gave the song's eclectic bob a backbone.

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2007, concert reviewsdbtp