Show Reviews |
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Dave Matthews Band July 11, 2008 Cruzan Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, FL Ants Rating: |
Show Reviews
User: 123Franklin!
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Opening up with seek up and proudest monkey, it seemed as though it was going to be a usual chill, friday summer night in WPB, which wouldve been fine...but that didnt last for long. They didnt stop all night long. Tim and Jeff brought this band back up to 6th gear from cruise control.
User: 420mark420
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Loved the show! Tim Rocks!
User: AbSoLuT DMB
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AmAzInG...What a show..The band was on fire...I was blown away by the energy and the set list was stellar...first #41 for me and first in wpb in a while..DiDo was cool to hear as well...Cant wait for Sat..Finally WPB represents with a classic show
User: amclay41
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Amazing
User: amy264
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This show was pure FIRE! Boyd is the MAN!
User: ash819
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one of the best Dave concerts I've been to out of probably 12, amazing setlist and crowd energy, and my only regret is not going the second night!!
User: awake304
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This show was amazing! #41 was the highlight, it was the first time I've heard it live. This set was one of the best DMB has ever played
User: bhicks99
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Solid set - third time seeing Cornbread and it keeps getting better. Love the Sledgehammer.
User: bknapp4dave
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All night- good overall show!
User: blades255
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Great set but the end left me wanting more
User: Blu-Monkey
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One of the best shows at west palm, can't wait for tonight
User: CARTER B jr
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All I can say is the show was absolutely AMAZING!!!
User: chase 321
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Wow, the boys brought the thunder back to West Palm with a big bang, if you thought SPAC night two had it, then WPB night one head every thing and then some. one of the best sets of the summer, the energy was amazing all the way through the entire show (some people where sitting down for Out of My Hand and at the end of Sugar Will) that really pisses me of that people don't respect the amazing talent that DMB brings to there fans every night they play, so fuckem if ya know what i mean. i really don't know how there going to top night one, maybe play a little Shotgun, Break Free, Dreaming Tree, Warehouse, could you even dare to ask for Sweet Up And Down again, what ever the boys put together for a set tomorrow night, i hope they try there best to make it a weekend for the record books, bring back those sweet guitar licks Tim and Jeff just keep freekin out on that sax, night 2's got my heart beatin already. Amazing show guys bring it back for one more night.
User: Chouille
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Excellent Excellent Excellent!
User: cjvignie
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The show was fantastic, just lots of great songs and tons of energy on this night. I say it every year and I don't know what it is, but the band just LOVES West Palm Beach and we love DMB back!
User: coveredinrain
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This was my very first show. I've been a long time fan and had never been until this and I was blown away to say the least. I loved it!!
User: dania93
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loved it. Nice and mello in the lawn. Hit old and new favorites all night. Tim rocked!
User: DannyGreyStreet
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Amazing. Sledgehammer blew my mind. Thank God to Jeff Coffin for steppin' up.
User: debhorst
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I was excited to hear Proudest Monkey, which I don't think I have ever heard in concert before. Grey Street is also one of my favorites. They jammed a lot. They seem to bring more energy to the West Palm shows than the Tampa show.
User: DIAce1
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great show all around, great opener of seek up and two step came out of no where, drive in drive out and sugar hill were really great, and just a terrific show all around
User: DMB4Lifer
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Excellent Show!! Any show that opens with Seek Up is awesome 4 me but to hear P Monkey, Satellite, Sugar Will... Great energy!!
User: DMBDMB4ever
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First show with my girlfriend (1st DMB show) for her,that became my wife,10 feet from stage!!!!
User: DMBFLRoadBugs
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Awsome!!!!
User: dmbnut36
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My favorite song as an opener...how could this show not be a 5? My first Proudest Monkey! The most incredible # 41 I have ever heard. Coffin is so dynamic. I was enthralled by him. Incredible energy on stage. Top 5 for me.
User: Dmbvols
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Great show, with a setlist that was amazing and also showed off each of the guys talents. Seek Up, Proudest, Sugar Will, 41, Jimi, and Two Step all in one show, that right there makes an awesome show and you still had all the other songs. I have seen some awesome Two Steps but this one stole the prize. So Damn Lucky was also good and I was glad to hear Drive in Drive Out. Cant wait for night two.
User: dmb_lover33
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My 27th show!! And what a solid, SOLID show it was!! Besides it being HOT as BALLS in the pavillion, it was a fantastic night! For one of the first times in my life, I didn't care that I was pouring sweat! Definitely one of the best shows I have ever been to. It was sort of bittersweet because it was my first show with Leroi gone (he passed about 2 months later) but hearing them play "Sledgehammer" nearly knocked me off my feet!!! Wow! Spectacular!
User: dodowd71
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More long jams than I remember in my past few shows, a good thing!
User: DrewD55
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My second show of the summer. It was a lot like my first in Raleigh, only better. I can only think of 1 or 2 missteps the band took all night. It was an old school show from the start, and anyone who’s been wanting a little less “Stand Up” in their shows couldn’t have much cause for complaint last night.
Seek Up - This is the fourth time in the past two weeks they’ve opened with this. Any other song with that many openings in such a short time, and I might have been disappointed, but it’d take a lot for me to get tired of this one. Coffin’s really starting to come into his own with the soprano sax part, and he and Rashawn stretched out the intro a lot, similar to the Australian and European shows from last spring. A strong start.
Proudest Monkey - A first for me, and it the band actually gave it the attention it deserved. Instead of simply serving as a glorified intro to Satellite, the band pushed this one the way it is on “Crash,” building up the crescendo towards the end with great solos by Rashawn and Tim and Carter hammering away on the cymbals.
Satellite - By this point, I was starting to think I was at Red Rocks in ‘95--the 3 opening songs there are the same as they were here. Another first for me (I don’t know how it happened that in 9 years of shows, I’d never heard it before, but there it is), and Dave hit it out of the park on the vocals. The falsetto’s in great shape this summer.
Corn Bread - You’d think the band would get tired of this one after playing it in 62 straight shows, or however many it is, but they still put everything into it. Timmy was really on with his solo tonight.
Sledgehammer - Pretty much the same as it was for me last week. A good, solid cover.
Stay (Wasting Time) - This surprised the hell out of me. Not just that it was a tour debut, but that it showed up mid-set, which I think is actually a great placement for it. It’s never worked for me as a closer. I have kind of a love-hate relationship with this song. It’s never one I want to hear, but it doesn’t fail that whenever it turns up, I’m somehow into it.
Out of My Hands - Another first for me. It’s very similar to Radio City, which I completely dig. Before starting, Dave suggested that anyone who wasn’t down with a quiet song might be better off going to take a piss, and wish more people had taken him up on his suggestion. People, just because you can converse for five minutes without yelling over the music doesn’t mean that you should. Shut the flying fuck up once in awhile. Probably the only time the audience irritated me. Otherwise, it was a great, enthusiastic crowd.
YMDT - I’ve never been a fan of this one, and tonight didn’t do much to improve my opinion of it. It’s kind of a slight tune, but Tim and Jeff’s solos saved it from being a clunker.
Drive In Drive Out - Had a feeling this one might show up, what with all the soundchecks in recent weeks. It still needs a bit of work, particularly the horn section, which flubbed one of the interludes, prompting Dave to improv a bit as a cover. Still a solid song. I hope they keep it around. It can only get better.
Sugar Will - Not nearly as tight it was in Tampa on Wednesday. Halfway through, it sounded like the song might completely collapse on itself, but they held it together, and Rashawn and Tim’s solos pulled it back up by the end. This was a major sit-down song for the fans in the pavilion, which is pretty much what I anticipated. People either don’t remember it or had never heard it before.
#41 - Coffin is really starting to hit the ball out of the park with this one. It’s interesting to hear his take on it, as compared to ‘Roi’s approach, which is much more laid back. There were a fair number of ants in my section, and it was nice to be around folks that recognized the Sojourn interpolation and were appropriately excited by it being played. A fantastic version, once again stained by that stupid “Everyday” chant.
Everyday - This following the chant flows a little better than when they don’t appear back to back. Nothing much out of the ordinary here.
Jimi Thing - I had always thought that one of the fringe benefits of not having Butch on tour was that I wouldn’t have to hear him, but Tim played most of this song with an effect on his guitar that sounded like Butch’s Fender Rhodes. I could have done without that. This song still goes too long for my taste, but it got the crowd going a lot. If Dave had let us sing instead of himself, the noise would have been deafening. Boyd pulled off two solos with a huge damn smile, and the absence of Butch‘s organ/vocal scat solo was noticeable in the best possible way. The crowd completely failed to pick up on the “For What It’s Worth” chant at the end, which was fine by me.
Grey Street - Called this the minute I saw the 12-string, even though they played it on Wednesday in Tampa. A good, serviceable version, brought up a little further by the new sax solo that Coffin’s added towards the ending. I give the guy credit; he’s not resting on simply filling LeRoi’s space on stage. He’s making his own mark on the songs.
Ants - Would have loved to have heard the version the band was playing in June, that started with just Dave and Tim on the first verse, but this was a pretty lengthy version just the same. While we didn’t get to sing a verse on Jimi Thing earlier, the crowd did get the chance to sing the “People in every direction” line, and it was louder than any crowd participation I’ve heard before.
So Damn Lucky - Pretty much the same as it’s been all summer. It surprised me that the song landed in the E1 slot. I don’t think I’d heard it there before.
Two Step - Tim tore it up on his solo, as did Carter, who got in about three minutes of hitting those drums like a freaking jackhammer. The guy plays the double bass pedals as well as a thrash metal drummer. A good, long ending to a good, long show.
Props to the band for coming on a little early to get more songs in before the curfew that Cruzan apparently has, but which I’d never noticed before. It didn’t feel like anything got rushed or dropped from the setlist. Screw Live Nation and their new parking policy at Cruzan. Until yesterday, I have never paid to park there, but apparently, if you want to tailgate prior to 4 pm, it’ll cost you another $20.00 to park. Bastards. I won’t get into whether this was better or worse than SPAC N2 or anywhere else, but suffice it to say, it was a strong show. While a few things need tightening, I’m still left to guess as to how they’re going to top this on Night 2.
User: drporsche930
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Sledgehammer was amazing
User: everydaymaynard
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I enjoyed the show but I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't gone to the Tampa show on Wednesday. Only seven songs in the set were not played in Tampa.
Hearing Proudest Monkey and Drive In Drive Out for the first time was amazing. I was glad that Bayou didn't get played again and I would have enjoyed Jimi Thing but just as the song started the girl behind me puked beer all over the back of my legs.
I miss Leroi Moore and I think he does a wonderful job but Jeff Coffin adds an incredible amount of energy to the show. I would love to see him make a few guest appearances even after Leroi returns.
User: fishguts621
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Great.
User: Friedberg
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On the eleventh and twelfth of July Dave Matthews Band displayed why they could be named the greatest live show to be playing these days. The sounds that occupied the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach not only pleased your ears but your soul. With a new personal including guitar guru and close friend of the band Tim Reynolds adding echoing compliments to the band’s melodies and what one concertgoer exclaimed “the sting” the band has been missing the past few tours. Reynolds who played with the band on its album Before the Crowded Streets, has become the fan favorite of the tour so far. His abilities have erased almost all memories of Butch Taylor, the Band’s touring keyboardist who is not playing with the Band for the first time since 1998.
Trumpet player Rashawn Ross and Saxophonist Jeff Coffin were simply phenomenal whenever called upon belting out riffs that will get stuck in your head for days. Coffin, the regular saxophonist from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones is no stranger to Dave Matthews and his band, regularly sitting in with the band to create some memorable moment such as epic half hour long renditions of #41 and though not as long great performances of Lie in Our Graves and Jimi Thing. But this weekend Coffin was filling in for DMB’s regular sax player Leori Moore who is ailing from an ATV accident that will sideline him for the rest of the summer tour. Lets be clear, Coffin was no fill in well but rather a perfect fit within the band’s unique horn section. He not only covered all of Moore’s former parts and solos but rather went above and beyond anything that Moore has ever done in a live performance that I have seen. Coffin not only had musical chemistry with the other performers but also stage chemistry, interacting with Reynolds, Matthews, and Beauford throughout the night, something that Moore never does. Ross, who has been playing trumpet with DMB since the winter 2005 tour has been outstanding since his debut increasing his load with the band steadily. Ross along with Coffin creates a completely unique sound that I have never heard at any of the other seven DMB shows that I have attended. Coffin throughout the weekend seems to have worn out Ross into submission. Coffin’s talent has raised Rashawn’s performance to the point where it can go no higher and simply, stamina-wise, cannot play any longer.
As the mugginess and heat filled the amphitheatre, the band took the stage with Seek Up, a quiet yet powerful way to open the show. Matthew’s never ending main riff lay the foundation for Reynolds, Coffin, and the rest of the band to show their skill straight from the beginning. Coffin and Rashawn traded solos after every measure or so, or simply soloed on top of each other to create a stunning sound for four minutes before Matthews quiet and simply guitar riff was the only thing left to accompany his vocal entrance to the show. The exit jam, which unsuccessfully tried to hide under Matthew’s screams, was a textbook DMB solo that featured violinist’s Boyd Tinsley steering the song to new heights with smooth and flowing playing. Proudest Monkey segued into Satellite kept the mood to a relaxed and chilled state while yet energizing the crowd. Proudest Monkey appealed to longtime fans while Satellite connected with the more “radio” fans. Reynolds added his first large solo of the evening during Monkey.
Ditching the slower songs behind, Cornbread, a cover of Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer, and a tour debut of Stay (Wasting Time) raised the tempo and provided the band to showcase the wide variety of their talents. Cornbread, which is on its second summer tour, is quickly becoming a fan favorite. With a southern sound, Beauford’s beats are overshadowed by Dave’s relentless scatting, rapping, and quite ridiculous yet memorable dancing while Reynolds continues to wail through the verse and solo. Sledgehammer did not sound like a cover but rather a track of a vintage DMB album while Stay got the crowd involved especially during the outro with Matthews, Beauford, and Ross all singing together. It is always hard to point out a weak spot in DMB’s sets but Matthew’s piano ballad Out of My Hands was clearly the low point if you were to dare call it that.
With Out of My Hands behind them, the band began one of the most classic runs ever preformed this tour. You Might Die Trying featuring a Reynolds, and horn solo should expel all negative thoughts about the song because of what album it was released on. The unfair bias placed on this song because it was on the disappointing Stand Up album is ridiculous and judging by the amount of fun the band had playing this song on stage, it does make you smile. The quiet opening chords of Drive in Drive Out were answered by monstrous and bolstering sounds from all members of the band in a rusty but successful attempt to bring the song back from 751 day hiatus. Dave’s lyrics including “
I’m about to make up a new god and have a funky tea party of my own” demonstrates the powerful tones while displaying his comfort about singing about important issues such as religion. Sugar Will, another song “liberated” was recently played for the first time in over 1000 days demonstrates the musical diversity of the band.
The highlight of the night is awarded to a magnificent performance of #41. The band displayed its ability to out due them. You go to concerts and hope to leave with a moment as special as this one. Coffin and Ross included a Soujourn of Arjuna interpolation and along with every member of the band created a symphony that you wish you could hear over and over again. Instead of playing the usual Everyday outro that goes along with #41 the band segued straight into Everyday. The crowd felt the energy and joined the band singing the famous “Honey Honey come and dance with me” during the intro. Jimi Thing followed and kept the energy high as each performer took their time to solo. Another unusual segue of Grey Street into Ants Marching ended the main set.
So Damn Lucky, normally played as Dave and Tim song, featured the whole band and a lengthy Reynolds solo outro. The audience was blessed with a perfect Two Step and Beauford solo to end the night. A great setlist, and energy from the band provided a memorable night for Dave fans.
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User: germain101
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Great show...Loved #41 and Grey St
User: groton
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seat lawn with some great ants.
User: gtop5092
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Could not have asked for a better set list. Tim was awesome!
User: hazeman
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Hot
User: HefWood
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Awesome!
User: hellsnake08
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When they played #41 and everyday......I had chills going down my spine.
User: hopegood
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I think that this may have been one of the best DMB shows ever, and I have seen a few!
User: housepet1
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Awesome! As any Dave show is. but last year was hands down phenomenal!!!
User: I Subliminal I
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Great first night. Awesome to have DIDO and #41. Both were great. And Two Step was phenomenal! Carter is... beyond words...
User: jadedpalm
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Dave's voice wasn't at it's best and at times I thought the instruments intentionally compensated for it. But the music was great.
User: janiedana820
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My 1st DMB show, tix comped courtesy of Rashawn. His brother is my dear friend's best friend!
User: jenglish
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Very very nice, Highlights, drive in drive out, proudest monkey, #41 into everyday sort-of answered the crowds singing of everyday.
User: JimiVertigo
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Next time I get lawn seats in West Palm Beach, I'm getting inside as soon as the doors open! Sitting up at the top of the lawn was horrible because of all the rude people around us. I LOVE DMB and would go ANYWHERE for them - just not the lawn at West Palm.
User: JR#41
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4th row #41!!! awesome show
User: kristynsmia
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just amazing. :)
User: lavillasean
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My second DMB show...this was amazing. Starting off with Seeke Up, Proudest Monkey and Satellite made this so sweet. I was pumped from the first minute. Great setlist.
User: lawchick08
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finally, #41
User: little britches
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seek up is such a great opener...settle in and enjoy for at least 15 min...
User: loungefly
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What an amazing set!
User: Mandy41
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Best night ever... showered nude at the public showers on the beach, tried to camp out on the beach, got booted off the beach by the cops, got a cheap motel... and the show rocked!!!!
User: mhouse
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3/S/5
User: mmansueti
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amazeballs
User: Mongioi
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The best DMB show I have attended
User: Mr Mojo Risin
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Awesome show! Amazing jams! Tim & Jeff take it to a new level. Can't wait for tomorrow night!
User: mtrovato328
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Awesome show, awesome venue. I was really nerveous coming from up north to west palm but the weather was perfect. Would definately go back to WPB again to see a show, everyone should. The band seems to really like this venue. It's pretty much a free for all there.
The show started off very mellow and then the show just kept peaking. The band had a ton of energy and the crowd fed off of it. Best version of #41 Ive ever heard, for real. This was definately a Boyd show. He tore it up!
4th show this tour, and sadly the last. This ranks #1 this year.... If you are not going this yr DO IT... Best I've heard the band in a long time
User: nautica4dmbcoj
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WOW WOW WOW
Best #41 I've EVER heard!!! live or on recording
wow - You might die trying
wow - Sugar Will
wow - Jimi Thing
wow - So Damn Lucky extension
User: phinedays
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It was so great to see "out of my hands" I was so stoked to hear it live! I only wish people would stop talking while it was happening, o'well right. Proudest monkey and seek up are always a pleasure to hear, and I'm a big big fan of "cornbread" and "so damn lucky" Can't wait for the new album. There was a couple on vacation from Brazil there and man the energy they were giving of was just electric! My wife and I had a blast! AGAIN!!! We took my niece to the show, it was her first,she left speechless!!!!! Thanks again guy's for two great nights!!!!
User: PickMeUp41
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First night was totally groovy....but the second night was, and always will be better.
User: radfo728
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Amazing show. Saw them in Tampa and that didn't compare to West Palm N1. So Damn Lucky was an unexpected encore opener, but man TR brought tears to my eyes.
User: RAPUNZEL13
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Great show! best part was cornbread, sorry to hear they cut shotgun and eh hee, hopefully we get that tonight!!
User: REB275
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Best Show I've Ever Seen From The Lawn
User: RecklessMind27
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Standard Show
User: rjvetter
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Best show I have seen
User: rlewers
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excellent set list. 1st dmb show. heard nearly everything i wanted. awesome atmosphere, and great west palm weather that day.
User: selonimes
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Night One was Great. Seek Up is not a bad way to start a weekend
User: Sister
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GREAT seat, Sugar Will, DIDO, Dave on Piano...what more could a girl want?
User: soconnor73
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Awesome. flawless, great night.
User: sublime629
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amazing show!! i wish the crowd would of been more into it! but i had a blast i was blown away by the setlist! cant wait for night 2 hopefully they will try to top night 1! good luck!!
User: Swilkes27
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YOU MIGHT DIE TRYING!
TWO STEP! Sick ending to the nite!!
User: TaylorMadeGrey
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Such a bitter sweet night. I finally had seats where I could see more than specs from the lawn or a concrete support beam like 07. Finally saw #41 which is my favorite song. However, I think we can all say that about the 08 tour after LeRoi had passed. Hearing Dave go during So Damn Lucky had me in goosebumps. I would love to have this if anyone has it recorded.
User: TN-Lamb
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Great Show...Cant wait for tomorrow night
User: twheim
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great show
User: tyham90
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Incredible show. #41 was the best. Liked the Encore, too.
User: walljo
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Always a great show
User: wesdmia
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First PM
User: wtraeger
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It was only my 4th show so im still kind of a newb but it was so good and the energy was so intense. West Palm> Tampa by several billion
User: ydouask
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Great show. Fantastic cover of Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel. Tim Reynolds on electric all night was an added bonus