Real David H.

This has been a long time coming: ranking all of my Dave Matthews Band (and two Dave & Tim) shows. I actually started doing this years ago on a now-defunct blog, but after LeRoi Moore died, I had a hard time putting my concert experiences in some sort of order.

This list has some core concert memories for me that still feel like they just happened yesterday. Then there are some very fuzzy memories that I can barely hang on to. But yes, I do remember something from every single show.

I’ve got a lot more to say about this list and my concert stats that I’ll save for some other posts.

For now, though, here’s a look at nearly 30 years of DMB experiences that includes concerts in FOUR DIFFERENT DECADES (the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s)!

#32
May 22, 1999
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia, PA

Veterans Stadium will very likely go down in history as the worst venue ever for anything. The acoustics were terrible there. I was also disappointed by a one-song encore. Carlos Santana, Bela Fleck and the Lovely Ladies were all guests, but that didn’t make up for everything else. I had zero desire to do an NFL stadium for a concert after this, and I’m glad DMB didn’t stick to that type of touring for long. On paper, however, this was a solid show and probably would’ve been awesome with better seating. 

#31
April 29, 2001
Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Raleigh, NC

For a long time, I’ve had this show at the bottom of my list, but I moved it up one spot recently after looking at the setlist. It was my own fault for having a terrible spot on the lawn, which led to me avoiding lawns as much as possible after this. I’m still forever disappointed with the encore songs that I didn’t know at the time (“Angel from Montgomery” and “JTR.”) 

#30
April 18, 1998
Victory Stadium
Roanoke, VA

Ah, 1998. What an awesome year. On paper, this show looks AMAZING. All those “Before These Crowded Streets”?!? The reality? It was an incredibly weird being during the day, there was a very pushy crowd (all GA), and it had all these new songs no one knew since BTCS wasn’t released yet. Those songs of course would later become all-time favorites. It wasn’t necessarily a bad show – it just was kind of disappointing being that it was my first full band show. Of course, it was good enough to make me want so much more.

#29
Sept. 12, 1999
Nissan Pavilion
Bristow, VA

Farm Aid! I debated whether or not to include this as a full-band show to include in my rankings, but YES. Yes I am putting this in. It was a great day of music, highlighted by DMB. That was the main reason I was there with a group of college friends. We got treated to a “Watchtower” featuring Neil Young. It’s only on the list this far down because it wasn’t a complete set.

#28
June 25, 2005
Hershey Park Stadium
Hershey, PA

This was my first show of my first ever back-to-back concerts as I went to Bristow the following night. It was also the first of a handful of shows as part of the “Stand Up” tour that year. Everything about this show just felt OK to me. I think the seating had a lot to do with this, which I made sure was resolved when I returned to the venue the next year. That show is MUCH higher on my list. 

#27
July 13, 2002
Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
Virginia Beach, VA

This was the first show that my now-wife and I attended together. The main reason it’s here is because we got a one-song encore … and you can see from my bottom show that I’m not a big fan of that. This show had some relatively unknowns at the time since it came just a few days before the “Busted Stuff” album and I hadn’t totally familiarized myself with the Lillywhite Sessions at the time.

#26
Feb. 6, 1997
Burruss Auditorium – Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA

My first Dave Matthews experience! When I look back at the setlist, I really don’t remember that much about this show. I remember being there with some great friends, getting up with “Jimi Thing” started and drifting closer, then Dave telling everyone to sit down. It’s kind of tough to rank this anywhere, but this is where it fell when I started moving things around. 

#25
Dec. 15, 2012
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

I find myself in the “Shake Me Like a Monkey” shouldn’t be a closer crowd, so that among other things prevented this show from moving higher in my list. I enjoyed the quiet “Proudest Monkey > Satellite” open and “Best of What’s Around” run to start the show. For a “home” show it just felt like there could’ve been more. That’s a common theme for several Virginia shows. 

#24
July 21, 2018
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre
Virginia Beach, VA

There’s really nothing bad about this show, but it just felt like it never really peaked. The flow with the newer songs at the time felt a little off the whole time – almost like some of them like “Come On Come On” felt a little forced by the band.  

#23
Jan. 19, 1999
Landmark Theatre
Richmond, VA

This show falls under that category of having some really fuzzy memories. I had great seats. It was better than my first Dave & Tim show. The “Before These Crowded Streets” songs were pretty cool acoustically. I think I needed to experience more D&T to accurately capture my thoughts.

#22
Sept. 23, 2006
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

For the second night of a home show, I really was hoping for some other deeper cuts or some other rare runs of songs. Instead we got things like “Smooth Rider” and “Louisiana Bayou” to close out the regular set. They just couldn’t let go of the “Stand Up” songs at home. “The Last Stop” would’ve saved this show, but this was the infamous “Trench Coat Guy” show – some random just guy in a trench coat wandered out on to the stage, forcing Dave to change to “Stay” instead.

#20-21
Dec. 9 and 10, 2005
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

This was the farther we’ve traveled for a show and unlike some other two-night runs, I don’t have a reason to split these shows up. This was the third and fourth shows during the “Stand Up” tour and a handful of things were getting a bit old for me at the time – “Louisiana Bayou” and “Hunger for the Great Light” in particular were outplayed. We got that on both nights, although Robert Randolph guested the second night, giving in new life (but not too different from seeing him guest in the summer at a show ranked higher.)  A mid-set “Watchtower” on night one and then “Halloween” on night two were definitely unique at the time. “Christmas Song” was nice to finally get, but it also repeated. I found it odd to get so many repeats at the same venue and it make me wonder if there was something more going on with the band internally. 

#19
April 18, 2009
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

“Bartender,” “Pig” and “Granny” to open the show were spectacular. The show had some other great runs, but Charlottesville getting another “Stay” closer was quite disappointing. It’s one reason I’m putting the second 2006 show and this one so close to each other.

#18
Sept. 29, 2024
Ocean’s Calling Festival
Ocean City, MD

This closed out a full day of awesome music, including getting to see Rashawn Ross and Stefan Lessard play a few songs in the “OAR and Friends” setlist. DMB opening with “Ants Marching” was awesome. Certainly a rare treat. An encore and the feeling of a full set would’ve ranked this higher, but that’s just what happens at festivals. This was made more special by working our way close to the front of the stage – definitely the closest I’ve been for a show.

#17
June 26, 2005
Nissan Pavilion
Bristow, VA

Robert Randolph … just WOW! While “Stand Up” and “Louisiana Bayou” are among my least favorite songs (as you’ve seen in the lower ranked shows), Robert Randolph turned them into something amazing. It’s also amazing what better seating will do with some of my rankings. The seating and audience were so much better than the night before in Hershey. This also featured the liberation of “Say Goodbye.” 

#16
June 24, 2006
Nissan Pavilion
Bristow, VA

Getting “What Would You Say” as an opener on my birthday?!? That was “So Right” (song No. 3). While this had some repeats from the night before in Hershey, I still had a blast. I probably would rank this higher had the night before not been so amazing.

#15
May 7, 2016
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

This was the last show with Boyd Tinsley for me. The “Ants,” “Last Stop” and “Tripping Billies” encore was quite special. The “Sexy MF” closing of “Jimi Thing” was a fitting tribute to bust out as Prince had died just a few weeks before. The new songs were good to hear, but were a bit of a downer with the crowd. 

#14
Nov. 11, 2023
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

Trombone Shorty guesting for a second night in a row to close out the show with “Jimi Thing” and “Ants” was spectacular. The show pacing once again felt off for a home show though. “#27” just feels like it replaced “Hello Again.” “The Ocean and The Butterfly” is one of the most boring songs this band has played live. Getting “Ants” and “Two Step” as closers, again, is always special, but I wish they had split them up between night 1 and 2. 

#13
June 5, 2026
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Raleigh, NC

This was my first show with my middle child and the show that’s prompting me to get this list in order. This had the return of the violin for a few songs!! Finally hearing “You Never Know” was everything I hoped it would be. Closing with “Don’t Drink the Water,” made a usual opener for me a closer. It was a “weird” run of songs, but still fun. I would have rather gotten an older song vs. getting “Sledgehammer” or “Hunger For the Great Light.” 

#12
Nov. 10, 2023
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

This had a fun opener with “Busted Stuff.” Trombone Shorty on “Crush” was perhaps one of the best uses of a guest I’ve ever seen. The closing of “Lie In Our Graves,” “So Much To Say” and “Too Much” was a great run of songs.

People near us were song chasing and obviously mostly disappointed that a home show wasn’t getting rarer songs was quite annoying. While I want to hear rare songs too, openly complaining and staying on your phone the whole time isn’t the solution. As mentioned in my No. 14 show, this one deserved to get “Ants” or “Two Step,” which would’ve sent this higher. 

#11
July 16, 2025
Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
Richmond, VA

This was the first show in Richmond for me since Dave & Tim in 1999. Finally got “The Stone” again for the first time in many years. A mid-set “Ants Marching” and mid-set “Watchtower” were total surprises. “American Baby Intro” hit just right. What could’ve made it better and rank higher? Replace “Word Up” with a classic.

#10
July 24, 2018
PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

This was my first show with my longtime friend David from college, which was his first show. The set list had some ups and downs, but seeing someone else experience a DMB show for the first time has this higher on my list. It was also an odd “back to back” show having seen them in Virginia Beach the weekend prior. This set list was a lot more fun.

#9
Sept. 22, 2006
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

This show was the opening for JPJ and surely didn’t disappoint. This was also a very last minute purchase as some tickets were added the day of the show. It featured a wide variety from their entire catalogue, almost making it feel like a “greatest hits” compilation, including getting “Two Step” to close the main set and “Ants Marching” in the encore. It was so good that I think it hurt night 2, which ranked much lower for me. John D’earth guesting (and becoming a regular guest in Charlottesville) was a great addition, as was getting Joe Lawler on “Rhyme and Reason.”

#8
June 28, 2008
Nissan Pavilion
Bristow, VA

This was what ended up being LeRoi Moore’s final show, which was released as Live Trax Vol. 18. It’s always been special because of that. I listen to this concert at least once a year. I had really good seats for this show, which helped a ton.

This show also featured the debut of “Sledgehammer” and the return of “The Space Between.” “Thank You” was a lot of fun to close things out. 

#7
July 8, 2015
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

This show ended an almost three-year gap between shows for me and my wife. The DMB two sets tour was such an awesome idea that didn’t stick around long enough. This show had a run in the acoustic set that I still think about – “Two Step,” “Typical Situdation,” “Raven” and “Tripping Billies” was awesome. Then we got the Lovely Ladies to help open with “Granny” for the electric set. The only downfall to this was too much “Lovely Ladies” with “You And Me.” Also, “Shake Me Like A Monkey” just isn’t fun to close a main set. But solidly a top 10 show for me. 

#6
Sept. 14, 2003
Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
Virginia Beach, VA

A year after my lowest ranked Virginia Beach show, things got back to feeling normal. This was the show that I felt like I finally got over the disappointment of the “Everyday” album and appreciated those songs much more. I also love that the “Spoon” played in the encore was part of the bonus disc to the “Live in Central Park” release. 

#5
July 22, 1998
Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
Virginia Beach, VA

Weird note about this show – the day before I went to the Lilith Fair with a group of college friends Then I managed to get lawn seats as close as possible with a friend of mine the next day. This was THE show that got me hooked for more – “Two Step” opener, “#41,” “Last Stop” … I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time at how awesome it was. It’s fallen in the rankings a little bit over the years, but it remains a truly special show for me. 

#4
Aug. 28, 2021
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre
Virginia Beach, VA

This was our first show in three years and first show post-COVID. Opening with “Tripping Billies” kicked off a very special evening including getting the songs I really wanted to hear for some reason – “Grey Street” and “Grace is Gone.” No complaints from me after a three-year gap. Definitely my favorite show with this version of the band with Buddy Strong.

#3
Jun 23, 2006
Hershey Park Stadium
Hershey, PA

I’ve moved this show around between No. 2 and No. 5 in my made-up list for a long time. But now it’s for real, and I’ve settled on it being No. 3.  It kicked off with “Best of What’s Around,” then we got “Pig,” “Say Goodbye” and “Don’t Drink the Water.” I think getting “Hunger for the Great Light” again and a “Louisiana Bayou” closer are why it’s not in my top spot. The “JTR” and “Ants” encore prevented this from slipping.  

#2
Nov 20, 2010
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

There was a point in time that I thought this was going to be the last show ever from DMB. After announcing that they were taking a break from touring in summer 2011, I knew I had to be there. This was the longest concert I’ve seen, coming in at just under 3 hours of play time. The encore was THE best ever – “Some Devil,” “Granny,” a short “#40,” and “The Last Stop.” As the band was leaving, the crowd erupted into “one more song” chants and we got a fake “Too Much > Anyone Seen the Bridge > fake Too Much > Ants Marching.” I was also really surprised to get a liberation of “Long Black Veil.” I could go on and on about how special this show was. Check out my Facebook memories about it:

#1
Nov 28, 1998
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, NC

My first indoor show with the full band was the game changer for me. 1998 will likely go down as their greatest year ever and I was glad to be a part of it three times (and oddly enough having that year have one of bottom shows as you saw earlier). The group of college friends were all huge DMB fans and we were able to stay the night for free somewhere close. Oh … and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones? Amazing opener and amazing guests. This show set that bar so high for me that it just sits on a totally different level than all the other shows I’ve been to.