Austin S.
Saturday night was beautiful. The sun had set through the smog and the smoke from the brush fires by the time the band took the stage. Irvine Meadows is a very steep venue, with no screens, so being on the lawn, I felt very far away from the action. The sound was excellent, though. The only problem was that the bass drums were loud and muffled, and tended to drown everything else out at times. I was hoping for a Seek Up opener, but we got Two step instead. Stefan on the slide in the beginning, and a really long, powerful ending. Carter was kicking ass. After Two Step, Dave teased me with what sounded like the first few notes to Seek Up. But, we got BOWA instead. It was a good, bouncy version, with Leroi definately on at the ending jam. Lie In Our Graves was nice-with Boyd soloing in the middle instead of playing the drone he played last year. Dave also attempted a bit of soloing. Just a side note about Boyd-he was HOT! Not only was he jamming like crazy, but he was perfectly on key and on beat. 41 seemed kind of emotionless until the jam at the end, when Leroi blew everything away. Say Goodbye was nothing special. I was excited to finally here a good jam with Jimi Thing. Wow, wow, and wow again. The jam is about the same as the one I heard in November, which is a bit different from what they had been playing for a while. I really dig it. Nancies showcased Boyd as always, and Warehouse had the stop time intro. Leroi was blowing like crazy for Warehouse. Dave's mouth sounds intro to Minarets was cool, and both Minarets and TS were long and hot. God, Leroi is the man on the flute. I was disappointed to here the opening chords to SMTS, because I knew that meant that the end was near. The bridge was nothing special, besides the fact that Leroi played a bit during it. Too Much rocked. Instead of closing with Too Much, Dave decided to discuss with the other members, and then play the most incredible Tripping Billies I have ever heard. Leave Me Praying was beautiful, and very long. This song has lots of potential. It still has lots of room to develop. I loved the extended Boyd solo at the end of Ants. Whew! All in all, this was a good show. It was better than the last two times I have seen the band (July and November '96), but I have seen better shows. The good news is that the band seems to be out of that stagnant state that they seemed to be in last year. Now for some new songs, please! I was disappointed to not hear Seek Up or Recently, but other than that I was pleased with the setlist.

Robert G.
I first saw Dave Matthews on 11/96 in Los Angeles and was not overly impressed with their show that night. What a differance eight months can make. The band was totally awesome tonight. Maybe my 3rd row center seats helped, but there was a definite improvement in the bands performance. For those who showed up early Dave came out and introduced the opening act Los Lobos and they played a good short set with no encore. Dave Matthews opened at 9:10 p.m. to a packed "sold out" ampitheatre with Two Step. Even the lawn area was sold out making attendance around 16,500. I would say that the L.A. crowd was very up for tonights show. Dave and company played a very strong set. Every number spun it's own style of magic on this warm summer night. The highlight's for me included: My favorite (#41) The melodies of this song "lift me up" every time I hear it, and Leroi's (Sax To The Max Solo) was a knockout!! Carter Beauford's drumming was very solid all night and he obviously creates a strong anchor to the sound. Boyd did his thing on Jimi Thing and together he and Dave roared at center stage much of the night. For the most part Stefan lays low and plays his bass seeking no attention. Tonight's show was a stellar performance of musicianship and showmanship. Dave was G-R-E-A-T!!! They ended at 11:35 p.m. playing a very satisfying two hours and twenty five minutes. This band is going places. Don't miss their next show.

Sean W.
I didn't see Los Lobos because traffoc was a bitch. But I saw Dave. It was my first Dave concert. Let me tell you, he kicked ass. The whole band did, but most incredible was Boyd on the violin. SMTS was cool until I fell on my ass and baet up my arm, but the coolest three were Two Step, Crash Into Me and Tripping Billies. Honorable Mention goes to Ants Marching. Crash Into me just kicked ass. I've heard it 1,000 times but I never heard it until I heard this version, if you know what I mean. Basically, everything kicked ass, and the only three disappointments were that (1) they played Minarets, instead of playing (2) Recently and (3) Rhyme and Reason. Carter Beauford kicked ass, too, but the most kicking of the proverbial ass was done by Dave himself He seemed hopped up all night, and he really got into Tripping Billies and his solo on I Forget Which Song. On a scale of 1-10, this concert gets a 9.7, with .1 deductions for putting Minarets in, leaving Rhyme and Reason out, and leaving Recently out.