Lyke2party@aol.com .
Dave Matthews playing an acoustic show in a church! IF that isn't saying enough, here's a review. Started with Everyday. About one minute into the song, his amps go out and the sound guys come back on. Dave keeps on strumming all the while. When they correct the problem, Dave keeps on playing, mentioning that this is the sound check. Very funny. Then he kicked right into Bartender. It is incredible how Dave manages to play rhythm and melody on his guitar at the same time. Where are You Going was next. What a beautiful song. The chorus "I do know where you are going, is where I want to be. So where are you going?" is more proof of Dave's amazing lyrical abilities. Before playing, Dave said "I been listening to a lot of Willie Nelson lately, and so this song sounds a little bit like Willie". Crash with the Dixie Chicken outro was amazing as always. Then the show really started to warm up. Grace is Gone is slowly taking over for Crash as the "Girls scream real loud" song. From me seat 3rd row center, I could see how difficult a song it is to play. Dave made it look easy. Then Dave told this great story about how Willie Nelson's "Crazy" was origionally titled Stupid, but that didn't sound right. He told this story all while playing the opening chords for Crush. This has got to be one of my all time favorite songs. To hear Dave preform it solo in Union Chapel is an experience that will never be forgotten. Then a beautiful Satalite, followed by the Space Between. It was really nice to here him play some of the Everday stuff on a good old Acoustic guitar. It really made the songs sound like something Dave would have written in the Lillywhite era. Then, as quitely as ever, Dave slowly strummed the beginning of Watchtower. Incredible acoustically. By the end of the song all 1,000 of us were on our feet singing and dancing. Dave walked off, and walked right back on and played Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away. HE gave credit to "Mr. Nelson" and said "I don't want to say his name again, or you all are going to think I've got a thing for him". I know I'm not the first one to say it, but Dave could have a pretty healthy career in the Comedy circuit. When the World Ends is one of my favorite songs off of Everyday, and I was happy he played it. I have never heard him play it in the encore before. After that, I heard the one song I have always wanted to hear in concert. The Stone. As the English say, it was absolutely brilliant. At the very end, while strumming the last few up beat chords, Dave sang " Wise men say, Only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you" and then played the last few harder chords. I was blown away. I can't give this show a place in my top 8 (This being my 8th show) because it is in a league of its own. The Union Chapel, being 150 years old, was such an excellent venue, and what an intimate setting to watch my favorite entertainer preform. Everyone that sat outside with me all afternoon were some of the coolest Dave fans I have ever met. I wish you all good luck. Tickets were incredibly difficult to get (I bought mine from a scalper), so I my apologies to the 6,000 people outside that didn't get in. Check out Tom MCrae, he was excellent. See you all on the Winter Tour (Knock on wood).