Tell me if you feel the same way...

[Muscles34]

I don't post on here much and I don't really comment that much but when the mood strikes me, I feel the urge to speak; I buy tickets from the Ticket Exchange forum and casually read threads in all forums. I've been to 5 DMB shows and I've enjoyed them all.

I was thinking today as I was listening to a live DMB show on my Ipod that I needed to just get out how I feel when I go to a show and if you ever experience the same thing, or feel the same way...and WHY we should all appreciate that...

I usually have my tickets months in advance and am counting down the days til the week of the show. I only get to 1 or 2 shows per summer because of ticket prices so it makes me really appreciate each and every show I go to. The day begins with that slow, bubbling excitement, the packing of food, drinks, music and friends and the drive to the venue begins.

Most of the times I've seen them have been at Montage and it's the best venue I've ever been to, period, to see ANY band perform. The atmosphere is amazing: the slight summer breeze on the mountain, the beautiful view from anywhere in the arena and it feels like a very quiet and private concert all to yourself sometimes, at least to me.

The party begins in the parking lot with the tailgating aspect; not getting crazy drunk or high or anything like that, but indulging in some beverages and listening to good music (usually not DMB pre-show) and having a great time with friends. At right about start time for the opening band, we make our walk down the hill to the arena. We get in our seats and watch the opening band perform, knowing that sometime soon, one of my favorite bands of all time will be on that same stage, playing to 10,000 screaming fans for one night this summer...

The opening band finishes and everyone applauds (somewhat hurrying the opening band away in hopes that DMB will come out sooner) their performance, some half-heartedly. The wait then begins...you know it's going to be at least 30-45 minutes and you've got nothing but excitement going through your mind: what songs are they going to open the show with, what rarities are going to come out, what new songs are going to have a cool, added jam on them, all those kinds of thoughts.

Finally, after what SEEMS an eternity, right about when it's dark, the lights go out completely on the stage and the crowd roars. That is the first time the hair stands up on my arms and neck. There is a tension and buzz in the air as we wait for the band to slowly mosey onto stage and do a few laps around their instruments and settle into place, as if letting the crowd fill them up with their energy before they start playing.

Whatever song begins the night, I'm filled with the feeling that I'm here for a DMB show on a summer night in a beautiful venue with friends and good people. The music sounds different in your ears live than it ever does on a CD or an Ipod or anything like that; you notice different things in your ears, like the subtleties of Carter's drumming or that fancy bass-line in the background. You feel a part of something special for 3 hours on that one night. And when YOUR favorite song comes up, or when a lyric that you really BELIEVE in hits you, it gives you goosebumps because only YOU can explain how that makes you feel and that is all yours for one night in the presence of the band that WROTE that lyric that moves you or makes you believe in something...

You're as high as kite from excitement the whole show and when you start to realize they're on the other side of the setlist, you start to feel just a bit depressed, if not because this is the main event of your summer or because a great show is coming to an end...the final note finishes and the crowd shows their appreciation by applauding and screaming and almost instantly pounding those plastic chairs and screaming for an encore WELL before the band even leaves the stage...

The pounding and yelling continues until you usually see Dave walk out first and mosey around for a minute and take in the crowd and just see that they are here to play for all of these people; they feed off of our good vibes and it gets them excited. I will never complain about one show that I'll ever see them perform because one day they WON'T be performing and I'll take the worst show they'd ever played if they would just play one more night...I understand the fact that the casual fan only goes to 1 or 2 shows per year (maybe) and that new songs and crowd favorites (not necessarily yours) are expected...I know that I'm not going to hear all of my favorites, but I'm going to enjoy what I do hear and make the best of it, because they obviously like playing the music and it IS about them because they are who we are coming to see...I will never criticize a setlist because I know that it was written for a reason that night and that it might never be that setlist ever again, and I can say that I was at that very unique show...

After the finale, the band thanks the crowd and shows their appreciation; I hang around until the lights come up and then just stand and take it all in; the crew cleaning up the stage, the lights coming on, the background music that the crew listens to...I just soak it all up...I've been moved for 3 hours this evening and I can't ever change that...for those 3 hours I was in my own world, letting those lyrics hit me and move me...and not feeling anything in the world other than what that band is doing up there...

So in closing, if you agree with those same feelings, share them and just help others realize that this is a classic band and one of the greatest of all-time (IMO) and that they aren't going to be around forever and one day long after they've decided to retire, you WOULD go to a show that contained Bayou, Hunger, Dreamgirl, Angel and Crash all segued into one another...and don't lie...you would go...thanks for all those that finished reading this and I hope I got my point across...thanks.

[mcwyffe]

tl;dr

[bluesbrother41]

great post

[jakesomedevil41]

can't believe i read the whole thing...............nice post.

[andrewj063]

I get goosebumps reading that and thinking about my first show at Alpine this year. Couldn't have said it better.

[crashing4u02]

[Joyride40]

Nice,

[ProudestMonkE31]

Nice username, Muscles.

[kfpoling]

[smokew11]

real good post

[Muscles34]

Thank you.

[TheLastStop123]

I got goosebumps, it describes my experience perfectly, great job OP...

[Muscles34]

I'm just trying to get across what others might be feeling and I'm describing that we don't really care what they play ALL THE TIME, as long as they're playing.

[ComNDanceWithMe]

Really great post...im going to see only my second show later this summer and I am already getting the goosebumps you talked about...I could care less what they play becasue to have a chance to see this band perform one more time is all that matters.

[DJGeneral]

1. It is iPod, not Ipod.

2. How dare you put "Crash Into Me" in with songs like Bayou, Hunger, Dreamgirl, and Angel.

3. Otherwise, good post.

[Muscles34]

Haha, General, I've heard too much hate on "Crash" lately that I figured I would lump it into other non-favorites, as per some fans.

[Aurelie]

This hits pretty hard as I had to get rid of my Bethel tickets, and it was going to be my last show of the year. Bummer. But, really, fantastic post...it's a perfect summation of my feelings about the whole thing. There's really nothing like the week before a show and then the day of the concert itself.

[Gravedigger789]

Wow. Great post my man. That was a great read. Hope this reminds everyone here what it means to be a fan.

[DJGeneral]

No...just no.

[amphoofreak10]

perfectly put, muscles.

greatway of putting into words how i feel and probably most of us feel. the most shows ive been to in a summer is 2, such as this one. nissan in two weeks. cannot freaking wait!

[MistreatedLewis]

Anyone who groups the song "Crash Into Me" with Bayou, Hunger, Dreamgirl, and Angel instantly loses all of my respect.

[DmBand801]

well done

[bibby1044]

Montage is my home venue, where school district you from?

[jadedcynic]

Beautiful. Maybe my favorite post on this site. Reading this really makes me feel like I'm at a show for a few seconds.

[bbarterjr]

"Awesome! Friggin Awesome!"

I've been to 32 shows.... and the exact feelings you just described, have happened at EVERY SINGLE SHOW!!!!!!! It never gets old! It's like a drug my friend!!!! hahahahahahahaha

[BAHHHTIWaC]

this thread is what this negative forum needed right now.

[wildbill79]

Good shit! I feel the same way the night b4 its hard getting to sleep cuz ur so jacked up for tomorrows concert. I went to montage the first time he played there in 05 and the morning of me and my friends all found ourselves awake w anticipation @ 6 in the morning, the people out there were great the venue is beautiful and they always put on a good show up there. Minus the traffic leaving the venue its one of my fav places to c a show

[James C. Ayres]

Las Vegas '09 was my first show ever. That pretty much perfectly described it.

Except you missed the part where I actually reunited with a friend from school that I haven't seen in 3 years in the beer line.

Otherwise, awesome.

[27Ravens]

Finally an appreciative and positive post...true Ants feel the same way!

[BDJCL3]

nice post. I feel the same way for the most part.