Christine
Summerfest is a damn fine place to see a show. Tonight's show started early, 'cause it was the first night of the Fest, so there was a fireworks extravaganza scheduled for 10:30. Los Lobos started pretty promptly (as I remember), and I hate to say it, but I wasn't all that impressed. They just don't do it for me. I do have to say that I was very surprised to hear them play La Bamba -- a very long, much slower tempo (or so it sounded from the Greenpeace booth where we were hanging out) version. They closed their set with it. The DMB set started around 7:45 or so (I don't own a watch, so I'm taking the word of whomever was standing near me at the time) =), and ended around 9:50, I think. Short! (but oh-so-sweet for certain! Sure, that was cheesy to say, but I don't care.) =) Okay, let's get to song comments, and then maybe a few more in-general type comments about the show... OSW: I am a happy girl. I absolutely adore this song, and it's so "sweet" (yeah, I'm still cheesy -- so??) as an opener. I knew it would be a good night, after listening to the unbelievably *long* instrumental intro. *sigh* Nice Roi presence in this song (but I'll get to him later...). Davespeak: "this is an afternoon show, so we can all enjoy the fireworks later....swimming." I just threw this in here 'cause I didn't get it. I swear he said, "swimming," but I don't know why. Maybe 'cause the fireworks were being shot off over the lake? Hmm. =) LIOG: I just have 5 words for y'all: "And then we dance away!!" Uh huh. Like I said, I had this feeling that it would be a good night....great jamming, and just a damn fine song, even though we were expecting it. It's so hard not to groove to this one! Evidently, Dave was a mite excited after this song, 'cause he started to climb up the front of Carter's drum kit (or whatever the hell is in front of it) after it ended. Maybe he couldn't hear him, I don't know. We were just worried he'd fall! =) Recently: Damnit, what happened to Pretty Girl??! Heather and I *really* wanted to hear this. Ah well. We did get a great 1-2-3-4 Jam (I don't know what else to call it, but I *know* that y'all know what I mean), though. "And I'm looking forward to much more, little bay, little baby!" I love that. Dave did that jumping thing after this one. He was a jumping fool tonight, now that I think about it. After this song, he shook his CTS hand out. TSTJL: Wahoo! Marc hadn't ever heard this one live, so he can now officially cross it off of his list. =) I liked the lights on this one (or at least, I think I did -- I wrote down the word, "lights," in my notebook, yet I didn't explain it 'cause I was busy bustin' a move). =) Great jamming in the beginning -- you know the part I mean -- where Dave could start singing any number of times, yet holds back. Nice Boyd jam into a Roi jam. Two Step: Stefan!! He's so "scruffy yet lovable," in the words of Doughty. It's true -- and, it's nice to see him shine. We got that extra intro verse, and lots o' Davedance as well. The crowd went mental over this song. Great response. Wailing at the end. I love this song to pieces, and this was a pretty solid version. #41: At this point, I think to myself, "Dang. His voice sounds great!" Remember how we used to worry that he'd sound like Joe Cocker? Not a problem tonight. I think that with the exception of DIDO (see below), the band was ON tonight! You could definitely hear it in this song. Roi...what can I say? He's da man. =) SG: Uh huh. Segue to SG, via a "buckass" (that's for you, Julia) Carter solo. We were treated to some Jumbotron Carter close-ups at that time, and in the midst of this raging solo, he's sitting back there, blowing bubbles with his chewing gum. =) Roi (again??) had a nice flute jam in the beginning. I thought this was a pretty long intro, but then again, I didn't have a watch, and I could have been just that wrapped up in the music. =) So, this is my favorite song, and I do have to say that Dave didn't disappoint me at all. I've been lamenting the fact that the lyrics seem fairly stagnant lately -- that the crowd can sing along with this song, and that I didn't like it. Well, we were treated to quite a few lyric changes tonight. Since it's summer, he sang (and has been singing), "it's warm outside," instead of, "the snow (storm) outside." As another nice twist on the Crash lyrics, he sang, "it's a rogue thrill, but a thrill nonetheless." DIDO: Hmm. I actually liked hearing this song live, except for one tiny thing. It really sounded a bit off -- as if one of the guys was playing it a little slowly or something. I can't quite put my finger on what was wrong, but something just sounded odd. Anyway, still cool, and of course, that "make up our own rules and have a tea party of our own" line is fun. The lights were pretty cool on this one, as well -- especially at the end of the song -- the only lights left on were the white lights on the floor -- very dramatic ending that meshed well with the power of the song, I thought. The best part of this song, however, was due to the fans. In the...third(?) or so row, two people were holding signs. One said, "DRIVE," and the other said, "IN," on one side, and "OUT," on the other. As David would sing, "drive in, drive out," the fans would hold up the correct sign. It looked pretty neat from our bleacher seats. =) Jimi: This started off with that "sweetleaf" D&T 97 intro, but without the words -- it was abbreviated 'cause Dave felt the need to jerk his pants up, which was caught for us all to see, in a nice, tight camera shot on the Jumbotron. Maybe someone should loan him a belt -- he did it quite a few other times tonight. =) The crowd, when they figured out what song this was, went *wild*. That is the greatest thing to see. You're excited, 'cause you know what's coming, but that moment when you see everyone else realize it, and you know that they are as excited as you are, is just unbelievable. This song was so damn long! And so damn good. Roi freaked us out, 'cause the Jumbotron gave us a close-up of him *without* his sunglasses on!! =) Great Jimi Jam, even if it wasn't the traditional jam. I, contrary to quite a few other people, really dig the fact that Dave was trying to mix it up a little bit, though it is startling to hear single notes coming from him! =) He did a fantastic job, and Boyd and Roi had some sick jams as well, which turned into a nasty full band jam. I have to say that I am really enjoying this tour for the experimentation factor. Jimi is still evolving after all this time, and it just gets better and better. Boyd became a dancing *fool*. The lights at the end of this one were pretty nifty, too -- all white, but this time, instead of just the floor lights, the white spots were on as well. Greenpeace plug with a twist: Dave gives his standard GP plug -- "we've got some friends out here -- besides y'all -- we got a lot of friends!" He does the donate a dollar and you'll go to heaven bit, ending with, "even if you drank before you were 21." Heh. I think he remembered we were in Milwaukee tonight. *Lots* of drinkin' going on. BOWA: What can I say? The night got better with that wicked Jimi, and then...BOWA. It's never quite perfect hearing this song without my favorite DMB pal Stella, but tonight's version was about as close as it gets. I liked the lighting for this one, too, and normally, I really could care less about the lights (not like I am trying to dis Fenton and the crew, but...as long as I can see the band, I don't often think about the spots). However, this show has really changed my mind about that. Lighting throughout the night was incredible. David ended this one on a jump, too. Roi went completely wild again. =) Crash: Hmm. I like this song. You know why I still like it? 'Cause I turn it, every time I hear it on the radio -- that way I'm not sick of it yet. =) PHENOMENAL crowd response. I didn't realize that so many people smoked -- there were enough lighters in the Marcus to start one nasty prairie fire. =) Lighting...wow. The way that starry night background lights up on the chimes is just heart-stopping. My breath caught in my throat, and I was in awe. It made me see the song in a whole new light, no pun intended. And those "Craaaasssshh"'s were perfect. I wasn't kidding earlier when I said that Dave's voice sounded beautiful tonight. From wailing to growling, he and his voice box were in effect. No shortened, radio edit version for us! After this one, Dave again shakes out his CTS hand. SMTS-->Too Much: Hello! Could the crowd *get* much more excited than when they heard Crash? Evidently, yes they can. I am loving the Anyone Seen the Bridge? jam, especially now that it's longer. Fun stuff. I have to say that these are not two of my favorite DMB songs, but when you stick them together like this, with that insane breakdown, well, I can dig it. =) So can Dave, 'cause he jumps again. Was it just me, or did it sound like he was singing/yelling, "f*ck it up," instead of "suck it up?" heh. Billies: Nope, SMTS/Too Much wasn't the end of the show. Nice strumming (there seemed to be a lot of that, all night long) intro. Most everyone was clueless about this song until Dave got farther into it, and then...watch out, 'cause the crowd goes wild again! We were treated to quite a Davedance display, and Boyd...well, he was a wild man. =) He was all over that freaky violin-playing-yet-dancing groove thing. I was afraid he'd trip. =) Again, Dave jumps at the end. He's a jumping maniac. =) LMP/New Song/Whatever: I don't care what in the hell we call this song -- all I care is that it is established as just beautiful. This was my first experience hearing outside of a D&T setting, and I was not in the least bit disappointed. I could see a few spots where I thought Boyd and Roi could really pack a punch...maybe at some point down the road, they'll be invited to play this incredible piece of music. Crowd reaction to this one was wonderful (in my section, anyway). Everyone was puzzled for about halfway through, but Stefan's sick work in the beginning, along with Carter's always beyond cool performance, and Dave's lyrical mastery won them all over. Once the girl in front of me who was doing the Phish dance (you know the one) decided she liked it, she managed to win the rest of our section over. Everyone was clapping along (which, while I am normally aggravated by, I thought was a nice show of support for the new stuff). These lyrics just get better and better. Ants: We knew it was coming, and we thought, "but they didn't play Granny!" =) However, I am happy to report that it was a god damned *great* Ants. Roi was in full effect on this one. This new ending that they're doing (I'm not going to bother to explain it, 'cause I won't be able to) is beyond excellent. The crowd went completely nuts over it (and so did I). I have always loved this song, as I firmly believe that it is actually physically impossible not to smile when you hear it live. Those little chills you get up and down your spine as 20,000+ people sing along is fabulous. Talk about your feel-good hit...Again, Dave jumps at the end of the song. What an ending to the night. Okay, now that this is so damn long all ready, I'll add another one or two comments, and then shut up. =) Roi: Man, he is back!!! A lot of us felt that he was missing from the last tour. I noticed that he liked to leave the stage fairly often, and when he was on stage, he was just hanging in the back. Well, I am pleased to report that while he did still leave the stage at least twice, when Roi is on stage, Roi is *on*. Wow. I mean it. Just great. However, there was a slight problem tonight -- he was definitely a good deal louder than everyone else, so some of the songs sounded a little unbalanced. The Jumbotron (I love those things!) caught David giving Roi this, "Daaaaaammmnn!" look once or twice, because he was just so hot tonight. The rest of the band looked as if they were in a happy frame of mind, as well. It's so cool to see a band that is just having a splendid time playing. It makes the night so much more enjoyable when you know that the band is going all out, and having a ball. Except for the super-drunk 6'3" guy in front of me, the crowd at the Marcus was awesome. This is a pretty cool venue to be at, and if any of you live in the area, you should really check it out. Besides, you really can't beat 15 bucks for a DMB ticket. For those of you that are of an economic frame of mind, that works out to a little under a dollar for each song tonight. I'd say that it was worth it. =)

Annie G.
Setlist-- One Sweet World--good opener and very surprised to hear it. Long intro, very nice. Lie In Our Graves--Dave messed up the words at the start and looked at Stefan and Carter and laughed and started over. With "til we dance away" at the end. Recently--Normal stuff, no intros or outros Song that Jane Likes--Normal stuff again with opening, "I have a sister named Jane . . . " Two Step--Stefan jam at the start, new intro. It seemed to be the same music as late last year, but with different words. Maybe a new outro, I am not sure on that one. #41--long Roi flute jam at end and then the sax jam.--> Say Goodbye--"warm outside and the tide is high" some different words and some the same. Drive In Drive Out--(see my story down below) maybe a new outro. Jimi Thing--LONG--Long Roi jam Greenpeace stuff--> Best of What's Around--Roi!!!! Crash Into Me--Same old stuff So Much To Say--> Lil Baby Jam--> Too Much-- all the same stuff, nothing really new. Tripping Billies--Long jam without Roi and then with Roi. Weight of the World--Different words than what I expected. Dave said, at the end "That song is called . . . ." I don't have a clue as to what he said. My friend thought he said something with thunder and I thought that he said something with dead in it. Maybe both. If someone has a tape, I did see only one stand, maybe they know. Ants Marching--Boyd was awesome.