An Incomplete but Unforgettable Show

In Memory Of LeRoi Moore, 1961-2008, DMB, originally uploaded by phlyersphan.

I can't believe it's been a year already since my last DMB post but here I am again writing about my most favorite day of the year... I believe this to be my 15th show, though admittedly I have only been able to log 13 because a couple of the shows were so long ago I can't remember the dates and the ticket stubs have been long missing.

Attending this year's show held greater importance for me as founding member and saxiphonest, LeRoi Moore passed away unexpected on Tuesday from complications stemming from an ATV accident. I didn't see it coming as I had heard he was on the mend and found out early Wednesday when I logged into my email at work finding several emails from friends who figured I hadn't heard the news. Personally, I didn't think the show would go on but am sure I'm not alone when I say it was a communal healing experience for the band and all the old time fans.

Speaking of old timers, I have to admit this years crowed was better then it has been in years. Maybe because I had just been complaining to Denise at work about how the crowed just doesn't "get it" like they used to. Well they got it this year as everyone around me was feeling the vibe, singing and dancing in unison.

This years show, though incomplete without Roi, ranks in my top 3 of all time for its mix of somber notes, heart stopping classics, out-of-control covers and sheer goofy Dave moments. The seats we had were phenomenal too, probably the best in the last 5 or 6 years. (Shout out to Lauren for the ticket hook-up!)

This year I brought my friend Vero with me as she has never seen DMB before and actually told me this was her first American concert. She said she had a really good time as was impressed with the band's instrumentals. (Basically my reason for bringing newbies every year is to show off their talents in a live setting... the way it's meant to be enjoyed.) I always find it interesting to know which songs people like when they have never heard the band before. I've listened to each song a thosand times so I hear them differently then someone listening for the first time. Vero was especially fond of Dreaming Tree and Don't Drink the Water... Vero happens to have very good taste.

My favorite part of the show was... well there were two. No 1. When Dave broke into Burning Down the House. Words can not explain how cool and totally unexpected that was. Bob Lefsetz described the band performing Burning Down the House better than I can...

And just like a modern jet, everything was working. It has to in order to move. And boy was the band moving. Musically. There were no dance steps, everybody was almost rigid in his place. But Carter's arms were churning, Dave was spitting into the mic like he was seventeen, and he needed to show the bullies, who he was, where he was coming from.

(That link is to a candid article about Roi's last day. Very touching if you're a fan reading this.) I can't find a video from last night so I'm grabbing one from the performance at Alpine Valley.



The No. 2 favorite moment was Dave's silly dance onstage to Danny Barnes playing the banjo during Corn Bread. I'll post a YouTube video but I can't guarantee how long it will be up on this site before it's removed from YT.



Here's the set list from last night

Friday Aug 22 2008
Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre


Bartender *
Old Dirt Hill *
Eh Hee *
Water Into Wine *
Sledgehammer *
So Damn Lucky *
Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd
Crush *
Sugar Will *
Everyday *
Ants Marching *
Dreaming Tree *
Burning Down The House *
Lover Lay Down *
Corn Bread *+
Two Step *
__________________

Louisiana Bayou *
Don’t Drink the Water *


Show Notes:
Send good thoughts for LeRoi
* Jeff Coffin
+ Danny Barnes

Here's a short tribute video to LeRoi.

Warning: Drunken Shopping May Be Hazardous to Your Wallet

i D o l a t r y, originally uploaded by js wright.

Ok, I admit it. I’ve been terrible about keeping up my blog but I’m starting anew! So for those few of you who are interested in the goings on of Jeff and myself here in San Diego you can once again get your fix. :P Yesterday I got a call from my friend (and coworker) Vero who in a sad sad voice pleaded with me not to be mad at her. I couldn’t imagine what she might do to upset me. She’s not one to be intentionally hurtful and I’m not one who allows things to bother me. Then she told me that she bought me a new Macintosh laptop (I’ll call it a “MacTop” for short.) Well, didn’t buy it FOR me so much as bought it while establishing a new no-interest line of credit though the International Bank of Veronica. Otherwise, she bought it for me with the caveat that I could pay her back as I can afford it. You may wonder what may provoke someone to do this sort of thing.

Well, I have been using a hand-me-down desktop Mac that I bought off my old company in what was probably 2001. It’s old and slow and I, evidently, had been singing the praises of the MacBook Pro so-much lately that Vero had offered to buy it for me a few weeks ago on her no-interest credit card so I could have it and not have to worry about paying it back right away. It was very thoughtful but with several trips coming up for me in the next year I knew I really needed to focus on saving. Even so, I guess I talked about this MacTop quite a bit and maybe even had a certain sparkle in my eye as I envisioned myself at Starbucks sipping my Iced-grande non-fat soy latte and updating my numerous weekly blogs. I politely declined her offer and then thought about just buying it for myself. Online, I selected the computer, the free iPod that it comes with and all the software that I needed and then totally choked at the payment screen. I decided to leave the page open and to go eat lunch. If I still wanted the computer after lunch I would buy it. This was about 3 or 4 weeks ago.

On a full stomach I had a reality check and bailed on the computer. I told Vero about my moment of weakness and I suppose it stuck in her head because over the weekend, in a shopping haze brought on by one too many tequilas Vero went online and bought one… A really REALLY nice one. A day or so later, in her version of buyer’s remorse, I got the call from her. She sounded sick and even a little fearful. But honestly, how could I ever be mad? I get the computer I’ve been coveting for months and without all the guilt associated with making a large purchase for myself. It’s great!

So, the bottom line is, if anyone wants to buy me something that I really really want without my knowing about it, I won’t be mad, I promise. Just give me another 6 to 8 months so I have time to pay off my MacTop.