While thousands of fans were braving the rain around Rockefeller Center last Friday, in anticipation of the Dave Matthews Band's first ever morning television performance, Dave was sitting down with Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram of The NY Rock Experience. Dave talked with the radio hosts for over 40 minutes before graciously apologizing that he had to run, as if he was on the way to get his dry cleaning rather than entertain on national television! The interview spanned the making of “Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King,” including the creative process of the band, the terrible loss of LeRoi Moore, and several insights into individual songs. Listening to this for yourself is a must, but in the meantime here are some highlights from the broadcast.
Dave starts off declaring “Big Whiskey” as “one of the best records we've ever made.” He openly admits that the “weird, unique and...accessible” energy that the group transmitted up until and around the time of “Before These Crowded Streets” was missing in the last two albums, noting that this one is “sort of like the fourth record.” Dave joyfully recounts the way that the men fell back in love with making music and with each other under the focused but spontaneous guidance of producer Rob Cavallo. Starting in their Charlottesville studio, and continuing in Seattle and New Orleans, the musicians found themselves working in ways, and conditions, that were reminiscent of their earliest days.
Fans who ordered the Super Deluxe version of “Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King” received, among other goodies, a bonus disc containing four songs: “#27,” “Beach Ball,” “Little Red Bird,” and “Write a Song.” None of these songs have been previously released as a studio track, although listeners might recognize “#27” and “Beachball” from their live recordings. The bluesy “#27” debuted live on 7/28/07 (too bad it wasn't one day earlier on the 27th!) and was played three times during the Spring 2009 tour. “Beach Ball” was first performed live on 4/29/09 and presented once more last Spring. “Little Red Bird,” and “Write a Song,” have yet to be introduced on stage.Many DMB fans stood out the rain for Dave Matthews Band to take (smaller stage) as they performed a few songs on the Today Show this morning in New York City! "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King" was released in stores on June 2nd and the band has had quite a busy week promoting the new album.
DMB continues the summer tour tonight in Hartford, CT. Visit the dbtp.org chat room for set list discussion at 8pm EST.
Watch the Today Show Performances
Anytime a world renowned band releases a new album, a plethora of reviews is sure to follow. Every opinion from the good, to the bad and ugly will be expressed. Some neophytes expose their lack of knowledge about the band by misquoting lyrics or mistaking the number of albums produced, or worse yet, making it clear that they've never experienced a live show. In many ways, critical analyses tell far more about the assessor than the assessed. That being said, here's a summary of what the journalistic world is saying about “Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King.”There are a few key points that most writers are articulating in their descriptions of the new creation.
Dave Matthews Band will be featured on CBS News Sunday Morning, this Sunday, May 31st at (9:00-10:30 AM, EST). Anchored by Charles Osgood, the Dave Matthews Band makes its morning television debut, opening up to correspondent Anthony Mason about the sudden death of saxophonist LeRoi Moore and why the group almost broke up.
This is the first of a few interviews coming up within the next week as DMB promotes their new album "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King", which is in stores June 2nd.
UPDATE: 05/31/09 - Watch the Broadcast
Dave Matthews was right when he described “Big Whiskey” as a record that “doesn't apologize.” With this effort, the band held no bars and left no stone unturned. The album boasts incredibly diverse sounds, representing everything from the back streets of New Orleans in “Alligator Pie,” to an almost Jimi Hendrix-like feel in “Seven.” The fact that one production successfully merged such divergent musical genres is a stunning accomplishment, even for the Dave Matthews Band.