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More: Directions, nearby dining | Check out the live blog tonight from the show
See Matthews’ guitarist, Tim Reynolds, Thursday and Friday
They are like clockwork. Every year, right around the middle of summer, the Dave Matthews Band comes to South Florida to play a couple of shows.
Except, next year, that’s not going to happen.
The band has decided that 2011 will be its year off. It’s really the first time Matthews and his bandmates will have taken any sort of extended time away from either touring or recording in their 19-year existence.
So DMB’s two shows at Cruzan Amphitheatre this weekend are going to be the last down here for a little while.
Matthews admits that he’s considered taking time away from the road before, but it never seemed to work out.
“For us, it’s a big deal,” he said in a telephone interview. “That’s been one of the things that’ve been consistent over the years. We’ve been playing live. Good or bad, we’re coming to a town near you!”
Part of the reason is that Matthews wants the opportunity to recharge his mental batteries.
“The band, in terms of relationships with each other and with music, is in best place we can remember being,” Matthews said. “I want not having the safety net of touring with the band for a year. I want to see what I can come up with. It’s the best place we’ve been in for as long as I can remember. It may not make sense to a lot of people, but to me it makes the most sense.”
It also gives Matthews and his bandmates the chance to really digest all that’s happened to them, especially lately. In 2008, saxophonist LeRoi Moore, a founding member, died as a result of complications from an ATV accident. The resulting album, Big Whiskey and The GrooGrux King, was DMB’s best-received album in years.
But the group has yet to take a breather since Moore’s death. The band even played at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on the day he died.
In addition, there’s the need for each of the guys — Matthews, drummer Carter Beauford, violinist Boyd Tinsley, bassist Stefan Lessard and occasional members Tim Reynolds (guitar), Rawshon Ross (trumpet) and Jeff Coffin (sax) — to spend time with their families.
Still, Matthews understands how important his fans are, and he wasn’t about to just disappear without giving them a lot of lead time.
“I certainly feel an obligation to the people who have supported the band all these years,” Matthews said. “It’s the moment of quite a few people’s summers. We didn’t want to seem, in a way, ungrateful. Everyone around me — crew and band — wanted to give everyone a long heads-up.
“It’ll make this year — it’ll add something to it. If the bottle’s coming to an end you might savor it more.”
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND: 8 p.m., Friday, July 30, Saturday, July 31, Cruzan Amphitheatre. Tickets: LiveNation.com or at Ticketmaster outlets and the Cruzan box office.
Looking forward to Fri and Sat concert!Feel fortunate to have seen the band play 18 times. :) Glad the band is taking time to spend with their families! Hoping to hear Grey Street and Crush!
DMB IS OLD NEWS AND SO ARE THE LOOSER 30 SOMETHINGS THAT FOLLOW HIM AROUND – GET A LIFE, PEOPLE
You know what’s really cool-posting on blogs in cap letters.
Noreen,Dave come on!You just don’t know what good music is.
Idiot clicks on a headline “Enjoy Dave Matthews now”, yet thinks they are old news. Learn how to spell “Loser”.
Going to be a GREAT concert!
Sorry, but DMB is old and washed up. They have not had a hit song in about 10 years. All of their new songs sound the same (even a lot of the old ones too). Time to call in quits guys. I saw them in concert back in 2006 and I felt like I was hearing the same 5 songs over and over and over and over again.
Noreen, Dave:
And we should care that you took the time to share your worthless negative opinions because…
Amazing that a band so washed up can sell out a show every year they come to town. Get a life Noreen and Dave. Going to be an awesome weekend and we don’t want you near cruzan.
Noreen:
Your skinny jeans and all that Emo music you listen to is cutting off the oxygen supply to your brain. Us “loser 30 year olds” will enjoy a great concert, while you and your lady gaga fan friends can go hang out at your local mall and wait for your mommies to come pick you up.
NOREEN, NOREEN, NOREEN why be a hater ?
Why do you even care what his fans do ?
If some want to follow him around, so what ? I enjoy his music, have never been to one of his concerts and believe people can live their lives however they want as long as they are not hurting others and the environment.
Who are you to say that DMB is old news? If you don’t enjoy them so what but, do not judge others because they have different interests then you do. Calling the people who enjoy following him around loosers only makes YOU sound like a BIG LOOSER NOREEN ! Really, who are you to judge ?????
I wish I was still living in Florida. I would love to go. When is DMB coming to Charlotte NC?
I think you missed them — they were in town at the Verizon Amphitheatre on July 21.
Noreen,
You must be obese and miserable to take time out of your worthless non-productive day to comment on the music other people enjoy. I almost feel sorry for you and your pathetic ways!
Noreen sounds like a bully, these are people who try to put others down, it makes them feel good, usual this type person is somewhat uninhibited. DMB is an excellent band with accomplished musicians.As was noted they are always a sellout so many people enjoy them, they’re great!
Can’t wait for Shoreline.