Dave Matthews Singing All Along the Watchtower, Central Park, Manhattan
Tonight was the free Dave Matthews Band concert, raising money for public schools, at Central Park. Despite the fact that it was sponsored by AOL (bleh!) and that I haven’t really been “in to” DMB for a few years (I actually used to trade tapes back in the day!), I went and had a great time.
Pretty Colored Lights, Dave Matthews Band, Central Park, Manhattan
We had to stand in line for about two hours and when we finally got to the Great Lawn at about 7:45, the concert had already started. We settled in about 3/4 way to the back and enjoyed about 2 more hours of music. During the first encore.. or was it the second? there were a few, Lisa and I made our way closer to one of the video screens where we had a great view for the last song of the encore, All Along the Watchtower. I assumed that the show was then over because DMB has played that song last at each of the 3 previous shows I’d attended over the years. No one was moving so we hung out for a while.. finally deciding the show must be over we started to head towards the back to leave. Just then the lights went down and the band was back on stage. Lisa and I quickly made our way towards the stage, up as close as we could go until we got to the barrier that divided us from the VIP section. There we enjoyed the final encore.
Closer to the Stage, Dave Matthews Band, Central Park, Manhattan
Hippie Pot Smoke?, Dave Matthews Band, Central Park, Manhattan
I was really happy that the band decided to play many old songs.. many before their 1996 album, Crash. Those are my favorites - Granny, Ants Marching, Jimi Thing, One Sweet World, What Would You Say. I thought a great tribute would have been if they played a cover they do of Long Black Veil by Johnny Cash, but no dice. Still, the show was great and brought back many fond memories of my past obsession with the band, concerts I’ve been to and those I’ve attended with.
Big thanks to Dennis, Willow & Lisa for getting the tickets. Dennis isn’t very fluent in Davespeak. I was translating for him in between songs. He mentioned earlier in the day that he was looking forward to seeing All Along the Watchtower, but then had to leave before the song was played so I took these two clips for him:
� All Along the Watchtower 1 (mov, 376kb)
� All Along the Watchtower 2 (mov, 572kb)
17 responses so far ↓
1 tien // Sep 25, 2003 at 1:04 am
does your back hurt now? my back totally hurts. and a post-show quest for food didn’t go so well. damn all those concert atendees.
2 rachelle // Sep 25, 2003 at 3:23 am
My back? No. Lisa & I raided this cart on 72nd and Columbus. I twas slim pickin’s though. We got something to drink, 2 packs of linden cookies and a slice of banana poundcake to share. nice dinner, huh?
3 tien // Sep 25, 2003 at 7:41 am
yeah, your back. from standing the whole time. bending over was very hard.
that sounds like a great dinner.
4 rachelle // Sep 25, 2003 at 8:31 am
my head hurts more than anything
5 lili // Sep 25, 2003 at 9:27 am
wow…i would of loved to have seen dave in central park…i’m so jealous, i wish i lived in nyc :-\
the first time i saw dmb was in ‘96 in tampa at the usf stadium in the blood nose section….ahh those college years!
6 tien mao's little read book... // Sep 25, 2003 at 9:38 am
dmb in the park
the stage from last the dave matthews band concert in central park. wednesday night brought the dave matthews band to central park as part of aol’s concert for schools. the concert benefited new york city schools, with aol and…
7 tien // Sep 25, 2003 at 11:41 am
head hurts? did you go to the post show party to hang out with dave at the soho house? or just regular out on a wednesday night.
8 rachelle // Sep 25, 2003 at 12:03 pm
he was at the soho house? figures. i didnt go out at all after the show. i dont know what the deal is. my head still hurts. i think it’s my allergies. maybe.
9 Richard // Sep 25, 2003 at 1:01 pm
RE: Davespeak
Is this from the concert you and I went to?:
05/30/98, Alpine Valley, Troy, WI—-(upon kicking a beach ball and hitting some guy in the second row in the head) …”I’m truly sorry, I meant to kick it way up there, but fuck I never played soccer.”….”I don’t know about you all, but this has been one fuckin remerebal night for me.”
10 Lisa T // Sep 25, 2003 at 2:27 pm
I had a fabulous time at the show! I’m so glad you all were able to go (Rachelle, Jess, Suzzane, Dennis, Willow, Chad & his friend). Another great NY memory…except my nose is all stuffy today, must be from all that “stuff” in the air. I’m sure those cops baracading the VIP section were enjoying it…maybe their noses are stuffy too.
11 chris // Sep 25, 2003 at 3:44 pm
I saw DMB at Shoreline Amphitheatre here in California. That was the best concert I’ve ever seen (which doesn’t say much since I haven’t seen many.) I went with two ex friends and half of the time I had one of them on my shoulders. Good times, bad friends.
12 tien // Sep 25, 2003 at 5:43 pm
does it say 666 next to dave’s head in that first picture? was that actually there rachelle or are you trying to send us a message?
13 rachelle // Sep 25, 2003 at 6:08 pm
Here’s the setlist from last night
Richard - I think that the 1998 concert in East Troy, WI was the one I went with Kelly to. I think you and I went to the 1999 concert at that same venue. And then in 2000 I saw them play at Coors Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, CA. That was after I moved to San Diego. That’s pretty funny about the beachball, though. I don’t remember that.
Lisa - How hilarious was it that the VIP section was like border crossing with the cops walking up and down it and people ducking and jumping the fence as soon as they weren’t looking..
Chris - The Shoreline.. that’s in the Bay area? Too bad about the ex-friends… I’m sure there’s some kind of crazy story there! (yes, as a matter of fact, i do always want the story)
Tien- I think you’re possessed. It did cross our minds that they may have been sending us subliminal AOL messages in the flashing lights. .. AOL is evil.. so maybe those are 3 sixes.
14 tien // Sep 26, 2003 at 12:22 am
there was a vip section? i noticed that it was divided east side/west side (so gang like), and then there were additional barriers that ran from east to west, essentially dividing the field into 6 sections. we actually walked passed the first ones to get to the middle part and towards the end just walked into the front part. i don’t think that was a vip section, but just for the people that got there really really realy early. i could be wrong though.
15 anon // Oct 23, 2003 at 12:33 am
no its not hippie pot smoke i was right up front, there were lots of smoke machines
also, those are light fixtures not 666
16 Mike // Oct 23, 2003 at 9:41 am
Darn!!!!
17 Mike L. // Mar 23, 2004 at 12:57 am
Yea, i was sitting or more so standing front row. And it was my 27th DMB show, and by far the best. the tranny from so Much to Say to Too Much ( or was it Too Much to So much to say, cant remember) was sweet X2. keep the good site going