Randy F.
As Neil Young finished an incredible set they announced that the Dave Matthews Band would be on in a few minutes.  Actually, at the time I really didn't care for DMB, so I decied to phone my ride (a dumb move at the Shoreline, about 6 phones for 25,000 people).  As I was waiting in line I caught them on the big screen TV in the bar.  I didn't pay attention to the first couple songs, but I caught the end of So Much To Say only because I recognized the song from MTV.  I finished my call and headed back to my seat.  When I got back the ENTIRE audience was on their feet (somewhat odd for an acoustic concert that lasted about 10 hours).  They were playing Too much, which I had kind of liked on the radio, but it was awesome to hear it live.  The band easily had the most energy of all the bands there.  Then they played Two Step, which blew Too Much completely out of the water.  It lasted a good 8 or 9 minutes which suprised me.  After the song was over Neil Young walked out on stage and picked up a guitair.  I was still recovering from his soulful set.  Dave started playing the opening riff to a song that sounded like a Jimi Hendrix song, but it couldn't be All Along the Watchtower.  They started into the song slow with Neil singing backup, it was incredible.  The band then burst into a barrage of speed that about knocked me down.  Then Dave and Neil were trading off solos and jamming for about 15 minutes.  I kept thinking that that was just about the best song I've ever heard or will hear.  I knew after they were over that I had to get their albums and see them again.  I am writing this review about half a year late, but I still remember it as if it were yesterday.  I'm seeing DMB on May 17, '98 at the same venue. Highlights: -call me a moron but I thought the way Boyd played his violin like a guitair on Two Step was hilarious. -Dave had a stool to sit on as did all the other bands, he never used it though, I think at the end of a song he colapsed onto it and almost fell over. -The jam during Two Step was intsnse! At the end of the song Dave appologized for "getting too into it." -They blew away all of the other bands, even Metallica who I had come to see. -I'll be getting this show on tape soon! So I can see what it was like now that I'm a fan and familiar with their material.