On paper, the Dave Matthews Band, which sold out its Saturday show at the United Center in minutes, seemsan unlikely candidate for superstardom. Its music is based on folk roots and jazz, the instrumentation is mostly acoustic, easily half of the group’s tunes are slow ballads, and most of the band members are considerably older than their fans. The band’s considerable appeal lies in its impeccable musicianship, distinctive instrumentation and arrangements, and Matthews’ catchy tunes and passionate, clenched vocals.
Saturday’s show was the final date of a year of lengthy tours for the band, and it led off, appropriately, with an energized version of “The Last Stop.” As with many of the band’s tunes, there were rapid shifts in tempo, subtly and masterfully orchestrated by veteran drummer Carter Beauford and the fluid, unobtrusive lines of electric bassist Stefan Lessard. A visibly weary Matthews was the visual and emotional centerpiece as he drove the band with his impeccable rhythm guitar, kept time with his entire body, and repeatedly took his unmistakable voice from a slippery falsetto to a throaty growl.
The band’s unique instrumental sound owes considerable debt to two members. Classically trained electric violinist Boyd Tinsley either kept time with choppy rhythmic riffs or went off into acrobatic, echo-and-delay-enhanced solos. Saxophonist Leroi Moore contributes much of the muscle to the band’s sound. Mostly standing stock still, Moore similarly alternated between short, breathy punctuations and long, expressive improvisations.
The band’s sound was filled out by longtime Matthews associate Tim Reynolds on electric guitar, who mostly added texture in the background but took one, dramatic, Robert Fripp-style lead break on an extended version of “Jimi Thing.” Flecktones bassist Victor Wooton joined in on two tunes, including a long, dreamy cover of Daniel Lanois’ “The Maker,” and veteran saxophonist Maceo Parker, who opened the show with a short set of classic rhythm and blues, contributed to a driving version of “What Would You Say?”
The audience at Saturday’s show was one of the most polite groups of young people I’ve ever seen at a stadium show. They mostly obeyed the United Center’s smoking ban, imbibed minimally, and happily bobbed and sung along with virtually every song. Unlikely stars or not, the Dave Matthews Band has succeeded by blending hard work, top drawer musicianship and a variety of musical pedigrees to forge a unique sound that defies ready categorization.
