A DMB Summer

So have we mentioned before that we are not just a sports blog? Well if we havn't, now you know. If you have been following us from day one (which is more than likely impossible) you would have seen our disclaimer that gives some rousing information about each of us. In that little glossary of "all things that make us tick", you would have seen that I am a Dave Matthews Band groupie (and God knows I'm not the only one). I'm an active member in the online community AntsMarching.org, a Warehouse member, and I see (along with my loving girlfriend, her gracious mother, and her little sister) anywhere between 5-7 shows a summer. So with the release of the upcoming Summer tour, I can't stop thinking about the best couple months of the year.

The decades top touring act by "Pollstar" is at it again, this time rocking new ball parks and venues. DMB grossed 529-million dollars during the decade and sold 11 million tickets (6 million more than Celine Dion, U2, and The Rolling Stones. This all happened during some bad years where the band almost broke up, put out some records that were challenged (lyrically), and lost of one of the band's founding members, Leroi Moore. With the passing of 'Roi though, it looks like the band settled the grievances, and is back in full, playing the music DMB fan's have come to love the past two decades.

Their is no other type of concert like the one DMB puts on. It is an energetic, action packed, and mind-melting experience, filled with the drunk and stoned, young and old, crazy faithful that follow the band from New York to Washington. Dave has a thing about baseball parks (the place where he smelt weed for the first time) and this year the band will be playing at Citi Field, Nationals Stadium, and PNC Park (and you thought this post had nothing to do with sports). There is not a Chicago stop (yet), but there have been rumors about a two day stop at Wrigley Field during one of the many breaks in the tour. Here are the dates:

05/28 HARTFORD, CT Comcast Theatre
05/29 HARTFORD, CT Comcast Theatre
06/01 TORONTO, ONTARIO Molson Amphitheatre
06/02 DARIEN CENTER, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
06/04 SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
06/05 SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
06/07 MANSFIELD, MA Comcast Center
06/08 MANSFIELD, MA Comcast Center
06/15 CINCINNATI, OH Riverbend Music Center
06/16 MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
06/18 NOBLESVILLE, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
06/19 NOBLESVILLE, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
06/22 COLUMBUS, OH Huntington Park
06/23 CLARKSTON, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
06/25 CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH Blossom Music Center
06/30 CAMDEN, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
07/01 CAMDEN, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
07/03 EAST TROY, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre
07/04 EAST TROY, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre
07/09 HERSHEY, PA Hersheypark Stadium
07/10 PITTSBURGH, PA PNC Park *VIP Packages Available
07/13 BETHEL, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
07/14 SCRANTON, PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
07/16 NEW YORK, NY Citi Field *VIP Packages Available
07/17 NEW YORK, NY Citi Field *VIP Packages Available
07/20 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater
07/21 CHARLOTTE, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
07/23 WASHINGTON, D.C. Nationals Park *VIP Packages Available
07/25 LOUISVILLE, KY HullabaLOU Festival
07/27 ATLANTA, GA Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
07/28 TAMPA, FL Ford Amphitheatre
07/30 WEST PALM BEACH, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
07/31 WEST PALM BEACH, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
08/14 WICHITA, KS InTrust Bank Arena
08/17 WEST VALLEY CITY, UT USANA Amphitheatre
08/20 CHULA VISTA, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
08/21 IRVINE, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
08/23 LOS ANGELES, CA Hollywood Bowl
08/25 CONCORD, CA Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
08/27 MARYSVILLE, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
08/28 MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
08/31 BOISE, ID Taco Bell Arena
09/03 GEORGE, WA Gorge Amphitheatre
09/04 GEORGE, WA Gorge Amphitheatre
09/05 GEORGE, WA Gorge Amphitheatre
09/10 WOODLANDS, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
09/11 DALLAS, TX Superpages.com Center
09/14 OMAHA, NE Qwest Center
09/15 St. PAUL, MN Xcel Energy Center

This tour will have everything (considering they don't need to promote their Grammy nominated album Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King anymore). That means more of the stuff from the bands early days and some of the best from Big Whiskey. I for one am ready to pass by this crappy weather and get to the best of days, and if the band adds in a Chicago stop, I might possibly pass out from pure happiness (now if only Steve Lillywhite will PLAY MACHEAD then I can die a happy man).