...or a curve ball, however you want to look at it. Dave Matthew Band played new song, "Beach Ball" last night in Alpharetta, GA. "Beach Ball" was just announced days ago as one of four songs that would appear on the Bonus Disc available with the purchase of the "Super Deluxe" Package of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.
Since the start of the Spring Tour, DMB have been playing new songs: "Funny The Way It Is", "Why I Am" and "Spaceman" from the new studio album. While it is not too surprising that DMB would only debut a few new songs prior to the albums release (June 2nd), it was probably more than unexpected to see a "b-side" or bonus track from the album performed live!
Download Audio of "Beach Ball" (Lyrics)
UPDATE 04/26/09: According to amazon.com, the 4 Bonus Tracks offered in the Super Deluxe Package of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King will be:
1. #27
2. Beach Ball
3. Little Red Bird
4. Write a Song
Rumors have been circulating that songs like Shotgun and Cornbread were recorded and would end up on some form of a bonus disc/EP...that does not seem to be the case at this time. Stay tuned...more news to follow.
Dave Matthews Band 7th Studio album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is now available for pre-order through the official DMB website.
Fans who pre-order the CD at the bands website will receive a FREE copy of Live Trax: Volume 15. This Live Trax was named as August 9th, 2008 show at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI, one of the most fan-requested shows for release from last year's summer tour according to DMB's management.
Big Whiskey is available to purchase in three versions and a fourth on vinyl
Standard - CD – 13 tracks ($14.99) or Digital Download ($9.99)
Deluxe - CD and documentary DVD entitled Scenes from Big Whiskey ($19.99)
Super Deluxe - In a special box which includes the CD – 13 tracks + 2nd CD with 4 extra tracks; DVD, 40-page Photo book, 14 Lithographs featuring the drawings/artwork by Dave Matthews and a 24-page photo booklet Free copy of Live Trax Vol. 15: Alpine Valley included! ($59.99)
Big Whiskey on Vinyl - Big Whiskey on Vinyl! Double gatefold 180 gram 2 discs ($17.99)
There will also be various bundle that will include a t-shirt, available with any of the above options. Click here to view all Pre-order options.
Enter the DBTP.org Contest to win a copy of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
While in New York just over a week ago where Dave Matthews Band kicked off the 2009 Spring Tour, the band took some time to do interviews around the city. Just this past week MTV News posted 5 short video clips from an interview with Dave Matthews and Carter Beauford.
During the interview Dave explained the story of "Big Whiskey" and how the name came about during a photo shoot in New Orleans. He tells the story of a man stumbling by during the photo shoot shouting “I need a big whiskey.” Dave graciously gave the man a 20 dollar bill and was on his way, to which Rashawn said..."Big Whiskey that’s a good name for a record".
Grux which is now known to be a nickname for LeRoi Moore, is also the first song/intro to the new album and was further explained in more detail by Carter Beauford. Carter say's that "Grux" or "Groo Grux" was a term used many years ago when he would jam with LeRoi in parks and would come up with "wild sounding rhythms and wild sounding grooves and tunes". Not knowing what to call the style of music they were playing, they simply called it "GrooGrux".
On April 14th, Dave Matthews Band fans got their first official taste of Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, with the radio release of the first new single, “Funny the Way it is.” Both Dave and Stefan posted the link to the free download on twitter. The song features an upbeat rhythm with lyrics depicting some of life's paradoxes:
Funny the way it is,
if you think about it.
One kid walks ten miles to school,
another's dropping out.
Funny the way it is,
not right or wrong.
On a soldier's last breath,
a baby is being born.
UPDATE 04/13/09: Check out dmband.com!
Put the puzzle pieces together and see the full album cover!
UPDATE 04/10/09: More artwork has made it's way on to the DMB page, entitled "whiskey 2", however even more art work leaked and now it seems we have all but 1 image that will make up the album cover for "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King". For now this is what was intended to be seen.
UPDATE 04/09/09: Another piece of artwork made it's way on to DMB's official website. Maybe another piece of the puzzle? Could there be multiple album covers for the new album, "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King"?
04/08/09
Could this be the new album cover art for Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King?
This image was posted both on Dave Matthews Band official website as well as their Facebook page, yet there is currently no other info provided at this time.
It is very likely that this is the new album cover. Dave Matthews twittered a couple weeks ago: "I'm scribbling the cover art", although it is unknown how much of it is actually Dave's work.
The image has a very New Orleans feel to it. DMB spent a few months in NOLA finishing up the new album at Piety Street Studios.
With this image on the official DMB website we are sure to find out if this is truly the new album cover and likely more news to follow...
See Previous artwork
When Summer tour dates were announced in February, there were a couple to be announced (TBA) dates on that list. Fenway Park was the first TBA date to be confirmed for May 29-30th. The other TBA date is San Francisco, CA on August 29th.
The artist lineup for San Fransico's Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival was announced today and multiple sources confirm Dave Matthews Band as one the headliners to perform at the festival.
This is the second year for the Outside Lands festival and will include other additional artists Pearl Jam and The Beastie Boys headlining as well as Modest Mouse, the Mars Volta, Black Eyed Peas, Ween, Thievery Corporation, Incubus and Jason Mraz.
The festival will take place from August 28-30th at Golden Gate Park. Dave Matthews Band will headline the festival on August 29th.