Sometime last summer, I was discussing my fantasy Dave Matthews Band set-list with my husband. Predictably, I listed many of my usual favorites including “Bartender,” “One Sweet World,” “#41,” “Pig,” and “Granny,” (although I noted that “Pig,” and “Granny,” aren’t typically played on the same night). But hey, this wasn’t about probability, it was about desire, so I went all out and said, “And ‘Captain,‘ I would be SO happy if they played ‘Captain.‘ But they won’t, I mean they haven’t since 2004, and that was only once...” Apparently, I forgot which band I was talking about, because with DMB all things are possible.
Alright, I’ll admit it. A few months ago, when I found out that someone other than myself was writing a book about the Dave Matthews’ Band, I felt a little panicky. You see, I was also working on such a piece, at least until a little thing like a baby happened. And even though I still plan on resuming my project at some point, after reading Nikki Van Noy’s “So Much to Say,” I can honestly say that I am entirely grateful to her for the hard work that she clearly dedicated in the name of the best band on Earth. Her well-written compilation contains an amazing amount of research and information that DMB aficionados will surely find fascinating. And best of all, much of what Ms. Van Noy included in her creation comes straight from the fans themselves.
Today was a very big day for me. My 15 month old toddler spent 4 and a half hours away from home for the first time in her life. Although I hoped that she would be fine, I really didn’t know how I was going to do, but miraculously, I managed to use my time wisely and enjoy myself, even if I did wonder about her frequently, (approximately every 1.6 seconds).
Sometimes, the ideas for these articles bang around inside me like unlit fireworks until I finally get the opportunity to set them free. Even though I feel like I’m about to burst, I love it when that happens. Other times, like today, I have to do some digging around in the dirt, (i.e. the internet), to find my way. And what I witness in “the cloud” never ceases to amaze me.
UPDATE: Thank you for entering in the giveaway! 5 winners will be contacted sometime next week and stay tuned for another contest and more exclusive content from "So Much To Say" on May 31st.
On June 7th, 2011 you will be able to get your hands on a new DMB book entitled, "So Much To Say: Dave Matthews Band - 20 Years on the Road", written by journalist and DMB fan Nikki Van Noy.
"The book looks at the DMB phenomenon from all perspectives—including interviews with the band, Charlottesville insiders who knew them in the early days, and, of course, the DMB fans who witnessed it all."
Copies of this book can be pre-ordered a number of ways for a very low price. The book will be available on paperback as well as iBooks, Kindle and Nook.
Yesterday, I watched a fantastic flick called, “Listen to Your Heart,” directed by Matt Thompson. Without giving anything away, I’ll just tell you that the piece centered around a “struggling” musician, who, despite his limited income, lived an extremely rich and generous life. To give you an example, the hero in this picture would do things like buy incomplete newspapers from a homeless man on the street, in order to support the wanderer’s industriousness. The story follows the main character as he falls in love with a deaf woman, who, up until now, existed in the shadows of her over-controlling mother. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out what happens, (and there are surprises!), but I bring this up here because I was amazed at how closely this film mirrors some of the major themes inherent in the music of the Dave Matthews Band.