It's D(MB) Day! - UPDATE

It is summertime, and my hometown girlfriends and I are gearing up for the one event that has kept us together for many years as we have become increasingly busy and out-of-touch with our youth: Dave Matthews Band Concert Day. I have never been disappointed by this concert in the 10+ times I have seen it, and I expect a sublime evening tonight as well. Rather than overanalyze with words, I will simply direct you here to experience the goodness for yourself. Also, as you can see, the sheer joy depicted in the photo speaks for itself. "Eat, drink, and be merry," people. "Life is short, but sweet for certain."

UPDATE: Alas, we were a (wo)man down at this year's show, as a migraine kept one of the faithful from making the pilgrimmage, but the other two of us soldiered on. There was drama when the third amiga lost her ticket somewhere between the car and the gate, but thankfully she was able to squeeze the box office for a replacement because she had her receipt, credit card, and photo ID. There might have also been promises to the box office boy of "favors" after the show (the third amiga does love Dave THAT much), but I can't be sure.

The band played quite a bit from their new album, Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King, which is incidentally quite good. I particularly enjoyed "Shake Me Like A Monkey," partly because of the amusing song title, and partly because of the song's dynamic melody and energetic hook. There were also some good classics mixed in, my favorite of which included "Crush" and "Dancing Nancies." Sadly, I was in line for the restroom for the majority of the latter, but from what I could hear from behind the amphitheater, it was a great rendition. The fiance was thrilled (and I dare say impressed) when the band played a rockin' cover of the Talking Heads' "Burnin' Down The House." The encore ended with an extended version of "Two Step" in the pouring rain, and we were satisfied and spent from all the dancing, singing, and general merry-making from the previous few hours.

Stay tuned in September for round 2 from a DMB show, when the fiance and I travel to Camden, NJ, to see DMB and Robert Randolph together!