Utah Show Gets Glowing Review

The Salt Lake Tribune today reviews last night's Dave Matthews Band show at Usana Amphitheater in West Valley City, Utah, calling it the band's "most energetic set in memory." The article also features a funny picture of Dave looking like he's passing a kidney stone as he sings during a song.

Food Drives at September Concerts

Dave Matthews Band will host food drives on the last leg of its summer tour, beginning Sept. 1 at the Gorge in George, Wash. Fans who donate $5 or five cans of food -- preferably of the healthy and low-sodium varieties -- will receive entry into a raffle to win DMB posters and other signed merchandise. DMB will run the food drives with Conscious Alliance; all food will go to America’s Second Harvest Food Share Affiliates and all money will benefit poor Indian reservations.

Newspaper Reviews Dallas Show

Today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a review of Saturday's Dave Matthews Band show in Dallas. The review compares the hot weather to "standing downwind from Satan's breath" and gives love to the new song "Break Free." And, of course, it wouldn't be a DMB newspaper review without referencing the cargo shorts, T-shirts and beer cups prevalent at the parking lot tailgate.

Internet Archives Recovered

DMBAlmanac has recovered the Minarets mailing list, the first-ever Dave Matthews Band online discussion forum. Minarets was the precursor to the Nancies mailing list, which became popular fan site nancies.org. Staff at DMBAlmanac are reviewing the archives now and will incorporate their set lists, trivia and other information into the site. Then DMBAlmanac plans to release the archives to the public.

Randolph to Appear on Next DMB Album

"One or two" songs featuring Robert Randolph will appear on the next Dave Matthews Band studio album, Randolph told Billboard this week. Dave and Leroi Moore are performing on "Love is the Only Way," a song on Robert Randolph and the Family Band's upcoming "Colorblind" album. While recording that track, Randolph says, "me and Dave got into a whole other array of songs, and one or two of those will be on his record."

DMB has been playing new songs on its summer tour, but there is no estimated release date for a new studio CD. Robert Randolph and the Family Band will open for DMB on the final leg of the tour, starting Sept. 6 in West Sacramento, Calif.

DMB Brings Back 'Dreamgirl'

"Dreamgirl" made its return at tonight's Dave Matthews Band concert in Atlanta. Jeff Coffin, saxophone player for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, joined DMB on stage for "Dreamgirl" and several other songs. Bela Fleck and Futureman, the Flecktones' percussionist, also jammed with DMB and Coffin on "#41."

DMB had not played "Dreamgirl" since Dec. 12, 2005 in Manchester, N.H.

Greatest Hits CD Has Name

Dave Matthews Band's greatest hits CD will be called, not surprisingly, "The Best of What's Around," according to RCA Records. As previously reported, the band is asking fans for suggestions as to what songs to include on the compilation, which will be in stores Oct. 17. The album will include live and studio tracks, the band has said.

Fan Killed on Way to Randall's Island

Natalie Smead, an 18-year-old Minnesota woman, died Saturday when she fell onto the tracks at a Queens train station and a train struck her, according to the New York Daily News. Smead was on her way to Dave Matthews Band's Island Getaway festival on Randall's Island, and the trip was a high school graduation gift, the Daily News said.

DMB has not issued a statement about the tragic accident, and most fan message boards do not have any related discussions (except for this thread on the Warehouse). I'll post more information as it becomes available, or feel free to post comments here.

'You Might Die Trying' Returns

Dave Matthews Band played "You Might Die Trying" for the first time in nearly a year at tonight's show in Tampa, Fla. The song joins the ranks of "The Last Stop," "Raven," "Sleep to Dream Her" and several other tunes that had been on the shelf for a long time before re-emerging this tour. Its last appearance prior to tonight was Sept. 7, 2005 in Bonner Springs, Kansas. DMB's summer tour continues Friday night in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Katrina Benefit DVD Due

"From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans," will be released on DVD on Aug. 22. The DVD captures the Sept. 20, 2005 benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina at Madison Square Garden, including a duet between Dave Matthews and Jimmy Buffett on Neil Young's "Heart of Gold." The DVD does not include the Radio City Music Hall portion of the concert, which featured a solo set by Dave.

Another Rolling Stones Show Added

Dave Matthews Band will open for the Rolling Stones at their Oct. 17 concert in Seattle, according to KMTT radio and the Qwest Field Web site. This date is in addition to DMB's previously reported opening act at the Stones' show in El Paso, Texas. The Rolling Stones Web site confirms the El Paso date but not the Seattle appearance as of yet. Dave Matthews Band's Web site has not confirmed the Seattle date either.

Saturday Show to be Broadcast on Web, Radio

AOL and XM Satellite Radio will broadcast Dave Matthews Band's show in West Palm Beach, Fla. live on Saturday, the band announced today. The broadcast begins at 9:30 p.m., which is about an hour later than DMB's usual on-stage time, so it is unclear if AOL and XM will feature the entire concert or join it in progress.

DMB has Webcast several shows, with the most recent being last year's concert at the Roseland Ballroom in New York. The West Palm Beach Webcast will be available live and archived at AOLMusic.com, and the XM broadcast will be on channel XYZ.

Greatest Hits CD Due Oct. 17

Dave Matthews Band's recently announced greatest hits album will be in stores Oct. 17, according to the music blog Coolfer. The band plans to include a mix of studio and live songs on the album, and is looking for fans' suggestions on songs to include.

DMB's management apparently put a lot of thought into the release date, strategically scheduling the CD to come out a week before the highly anticipated "My World" by NBA star/head case Ron Artest.

Fenton Interviewed Again

Fenton Williams' world press tour continues today, as the Long Island Press has an article with the longtime Dave Matthews Band lighting director. Fenton talks about the differences between touring small clubs in a van to playing huge stadiums and parks. The story is in advance of this weekend's second annual Island Getaway festival on Randall's Island in New York.

Greatest Hits CD on the Way

Dave Matthews Band plans to release a greatest hits CD and is asking for fans' help to select the track list. According to an announcement on the Warehouse, DMB is putting out the album to fulfill a contractual obligation with its record label. The album will feature a combination of live and studio tracks, the announcement said. There is no word yet on when the album will be out, but some time before the holiday shopping season is a good guess.

DMB to Open for Stones

Dave Matthews Band will be the opening act for the Rolling Stones' show in El Paso, Texas on Oct. 20, according to this article in the El Paso Times. DMB last opened for the Stones in 1998, and Dave's guest performance on the Stones' "Memory Motel" during that tour was released on the live album "No Security."

Suit: Hartford Cops Beat 2 DMB Fans

Two brothers have sued the city of Hartford, claiming that police beat them after the July 17, 2004 Dave Matthews Band show. Here's what the law suit says happened:

As police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into a crowded parking lot, Philip and Christopher Faiella hid behind a car to stay safe. Hartford police then found the two and attacked them, knocking Phillip unconcious. An officer spit in Christopher's face, and police taunted the brothers with ethnic slurs.

The Faiella brothers were college students in their 20s at the time of the concert, the suit says. I'll get more information on the law suit -- how much money the brothers are seeking, etc. -- as it becomes available. I'm sure this will become more widely reported as the day moves on.

DMB Helps Amphitheater Recycle

Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio is starting a new recycling program at Wednesday's Dave Matthews Band concert, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Staff will give DMB T-shirts to fans who recycle plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard. The program is supposed to reduce trash at Blossom by 160 tons and save the amphitheater $6,600 annually.