For the past month or so, I’ve been texting one of my friends daily DMB facts to fuel her enthusiasm for our upcoming trip to see the band in Atlanta. Today’s tidbit read, “DMB in Argentina!” Normally, I choose entirely more obscure pieces like, “Stefan found a tape indicating that the first show wasn’t Earth Day, as was previously thought, but March 14th, 1991, instead!” or “Dave says they play ‘Seven’ all the time because he likes it!”, but it seems to me that when your favorite musicians are overseas, it deserves attention. I don't know if it's because my husband is from Argentina, and I have every intention of seeing the boys play there at some point, or possibly because I am hugely curious about the ambiance and logistics of South American shows, but regardless, part of my brain has been floating down the Amazon this week.For the past month or so, I’ve been texting one of my friends daily DMB facts to fuel her enthusiasm for our upcoming trip to see the band in Atlanta. Today’s tidbit read, “DMB in Argentina!” Normally, I choose entirely more obscure pieces like, “Stefan found a tape indicating that the first show wasn’t Earth Day, as was previously thought, but March 14th, 1991, instead!” or “Dave says they play ‘Seven’ all the time because he likes it!”, but it seems to me that when your favorite musicians are overseas, it deserves attention. I don't know if it's because my husband is from Argentina, and I have every intention of seeing the boys play there at some point, or possibly because I am hugely curious about the ambiance and logistics of South American shows, but regardless, part of my brain has been floating down the Amazon this week.
One of the things that I love about psychology is the fact that, as far as sciences go, it is a relatively young one. This means that many of the biggest pioneers in the field are still alive, and new findings are continually being introduced. One such discovery, is the idea that our brains are truly relational entities. Largely through the work of Dan Siegel, M.D., we are becoming aware of the influence that relationships have on our brains, as well as, the fact that these organs have the capacity to develop new pathways throughout our entire life-span. This translates to the potential to learn more flexible and balanced ways to approach formerly stressful situations. In discussing the concept of “mirror neurons,” Dr. Siegel has enlightened us to the way in which close proximity to one another encourages parts of our brains to function with interpersonal synchronicity. This is very exciting news, on many levels, but particularly for those of us who are in the healing arts.
The movie, “The Social Network,” which depicts the rise of the now infamous, “Facebook,” comes out this weekend, and it has many of us thinking about said website's extraordinarily speedy success rate. How is it that a college kid was able to find the right elements to put together a concept that would make him the youngest billionaire of his time? I have not seen the film, but I believe that what “Facebook’s” creator, Mark Zuckerberg, has capitalized on is a basic human need. The need for connection.
Today is a very special day. Not only is it the Autumnal Equinox, or one of two days in the year where the center of the sun is in the same plane as the Earth’s equator, but it is also the first time since 1991 that Fall will begin with a full -actually Harvest- moon. This is fascinating news since 1991 also marked the start of the Dave Matthews Band’s touring career, and 2011 will be their first summer off since that fateful annum. Events like this make one think of the natural cycle of things, and how interesting it is when personal decisions coincide with ecological occurrences. It makes us wonder whether astrological pulls could in some way affect our behaviors, perhaps unconsciously.
Every year, my Gorge envy gets worse, and this year is no exception. Arguably the best Dave Matthews Band venue, this outdoor arena draws somewhere around 30,000 fans for a three day festival of fresh air, spectacular music, starry nights, and a much-needed chance to commune with new and old friends alike. Looking over the set-lists from last weekend, I am astounded at the variety that Gorge-goers enjoyed, and I can just imagine the energy that the band poured into each performance. Anything goes at this amphitheater, which may explain how rarities like “Loving Wings,” “Fool to Think,” and “Sleep to Dream Her,” hit the stage. But what really tickles my jealousy bone is the idea of a “Last Stop” into “Dreaming Tree” intro on the first night of the series. 
Those of us who aren’t headed to the Gorge this weekend might be tempted to pass some time in front of our televisions. In fact, according to some studies, the average American spends four hours a day, or 28 hours a week, glued to the tube. But if we listen to the wise words of our favorite front-man, we may find that this seemingly innocuous hobby might be an unfortunate way to burn our days away.
Few people in this life attain rock-star status. Even fewer hold on to that title for twenty plus years. And only one, that I know of, has done this while maintaining a Buddha like humility about his success. In a recent article with the Denver Post, Dave Matthews was quoted saying, “The part that I do is to be terrified of not doing my best and having a right measure of shame and a right measure of good fortune...I can’t just go out there and sing my songs because people can hear that on the radio. People want to come and be transported and I also want to be transported.” In other words, Dave refuses to merely sit pretty on a bed of riches. It is not enough for him to have made it to the top, because from there it is a long way to fall. Instead, he offers himself completely to every show, knowing that each performance is another opportunity to create magic and change lives.
This tour is incendiary! Not since the early days of the Dave Matthews Band have we seen such variety and energy emanating from every inch of the group’s presence. We knew going in that there would be surprises, but this is insane! At about halfway through the summer series, we’ve already been treated to a plethora of rarities, including, “Minarets,” “Lover Lay Down,” “Blue Water,” “The Stone,” “What You Are,” “I’ll Back You Up,” “Halloween,” "The Last Stop," and, of course, “Sister,” which a certain spirited fan just happened to write about last week! And if we count partial songs and teases, we can add, “Spoon,” “Beach Ball,” “Write a Song,” “#40,” and “Water into Wine,” to our list of extraordinary shockers. 
The best kind of advice is honest, direct, and energizing. Luckily, Dave Matthew’s sister, Jane, must have known this when she strongly encouraged her brother to simply put down some lyrics after he complained to her of writer’s block. According to Dave, it was this suggestion that ultimately led to the song, “Sister,” which he commonly refers to as “the quietest thing in the room.” We already knew of Jane’s fabulous taste in music since she apparently prefers “The Song That Jane Likes,” and now we have her to thank for the inception of this beautiful arrangement as well.