Sunday, August 26, 2007

live at verizon wireless music center, night 2

As promised, here is my review of night 2!

One Sweet World: Saw this one coming from a mile away. The band loves to open with this song. Standard, always fun.

Crash Into Me: Nice surprise in the second spot in the set! This is a crowd favorite and always a sing-along. 2/2 on songs I enjoy.

Pantala Naga Pampa > Rapunzel: I wanted this to open so bad (see 9.15.06), but this placement was an awesome surprise. Just ask Julie, I was going crazy.

Where Are You Going: Julie wanted to hear this one real bad. Real happy that the band played it this night.

Corn Bread: Was really hoping that I would get to see this one again live. It is clear that the band loves this song -- it rocks live and full band.

Jimi Thing: I've heard Jimi a ton live, but it's a song that really gets the crowd going, so it's hard to complain. Butch's scat solo is lost a bit on me at this point, but I am glad that he gets a chance to shine -- he is very talented.

Eh Hee: So surprised to hear this full band -- up to this point, it had only ever been played Dave and Tim. Funny that Adam and I were singing this on the golf course that same afternoon.

Bartender: Bathroom time! After Dave's singing/wailing, Julie and I headed for the restrooms. The jam is fun -- but I have seen it a ton.

Crush: Another crowd favorite! I've heard it quite a few times, but it is a lot of fun.

The Idea of You: I prefer the 2006 versions to what they've done with the chorus drum beat at this point, however it is one of the better new songs to come out in the last couple of years. Always enjoyable!

#41 (with Joe Lawlor): When they brought out monitors and pedals in Boyd's area, I thought for sure we were going to get "Everyday", but instead it was an awesome surprise with "#41." Joe Lawlor (a crew member) is INCREDIBLE and tore this song apart. It was tremendous.

What Would You Say: I got nervous that this would be the last song.

The Song That Jane Likes: When Dave said, "I got a little sister named Jane, and this is the song that Jane likes", I went crazy. Julie couldn't believe it. This was such a surprise -- and one of the songs that she knows well. Awesome treat.

Everyday: Standard. Julie loves this one too, so I was glad they played it. I knew what was coming next after the last riff hit...

Ants Marching: I will never, ever get tired of hearing Ants Marching. It is an excellent set closer and always my favorite song to hear. Great!

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So Damn Lucky: Cool to hear this -- first time Dave has ever played it in a full band show. He hit every note, right to the last chord. Awesome.

American Baby Intro: Kind of felt like this was coming. Fun -- but I do not want Dave to wreck his voice playing this song. He might.

Two Step: Thankfully, we dodged "All Along The Watchtower" for a second night. I much prefer the band to close with a song that is their own.


All in all, this was an awesome weekend, and it easily rivaled the shows from last year. Seeing the band at the former Deer Creek always makes for a great weekend.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

live at verizon wireless music center, night 1














I was able to enjoy my fourteenth and fifteenth Dave Matthews Band concert this past weekend at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, IN. The following is my song-by-song review of the first night (the second night's review will be on the way shortly as well).Dave Matthews Band Verizon Wireless Music Center Friday, August 17, 2007

Seek Up
: A total surprise as an opener! I expected the band to play the standard One Sweet World or Don't Drink The Water, but we got this one as an excellent change. Very chill way for the show to begin.

#27: I knew this would be coming at some point in the evening as it is one of the new songs the band has been playing consistently at each venue. I really like the darker sound of the song and the direction the band has been taking the new material.

Hunger For the Great Light: This song is a live powerhouse. Always gets the crowd going a ton. I don't get tired of hearing it at all.

When The World Ends: I can take or leave this one! Totally thrown by Dave busting it out on the 12-string (I thought for sure we were getting Grey Street or Sweet Up and Down).

You Might Die Trying: Of the Stand Up material, this is one of the songs that translates pretty well in a live setting. Again, I can take or leave the song, but I do enjoy hearing it.

Grey Street: As much as I love this song, I have heard it at 10/14 shows to which I have gone. Standard version, but again, the crowd loves it!

Corn Bread: Of the newest songs, this one has the most power live. The boys should be proud of a song that takes them in a new direction but is still, in a way, true to the roots that made them famous.

Sweet Up and Down: I was looking for the 12-string all night to see if we would get this one! This has always been one of my favorites from the Lillywhite Sessions, and I am glad to see that it has come back with the band.

Sister: I didn't even notice that Butch, Carter, and Rashawn were singing backup vocals during this whole tune. Interesting.

Still Water > Don't Drink the Water: I do enjoy this whole sequence. Still Water is nice and slow, and DDTW tears it up every time.
The Maker: I had heard this for this first time at Toyota Park this year, and it was nice to hear it again -- the band does a great job with Daniel Lanois' tune.

Lousiana Bayou: Julie was wanting to hear this one all night, and I am so glad they played it for that reason! Just plain fun.

Anyone Seen the Bridge > Too Much: Okay, now this was just fun. If you haven't seen the new sort of "stop-time" intro to ASTB, it is just a lot of fun. Too Much is a song that has continued to grow on me from day one.

Shotgun: Of the new songs, this one is most reminiscent of sounds from UTTAD/Crash/BTCS. I enjoy the riff a ton and would care to hear this song at every concert.

Warehouse: A fun surprise! No "Louie, Louie", but the salsa jam/last chorus is so much fun.

Stay (Wasting Time): Saw this one coming from a mile away! No matter what anyone says, this song is a great closer!

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Gravedigger: This one I can take or leave, but I didn't mind hearing it.

Dreamgirl: Another fun surprise -- really like the direct intro to this one.

Tripping Billies: As soon as Dreamgirl came up, I leaned over to Julie and said, "the last song will be Ants Marching or Tripping Billies." I was right! (I was kind of glad we had dodged All Along the Watchtower -- it's nice and loud, but I'll take Billies over AATW any day.)

All in all, an excellent first night to this two night stand. I was so glad that Julie could come with me for her first DMB show! She really enjoyed it, and that made me enjoy all the more!

Back with Night 2's review soon!

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Tuesday, August 07, 2007

the whole story!

So by now, many of you have heard the great news...

I am engaged to a wonderful woman (girl, lady, female twentysomething), Julie Wiant. She is a Hope College graduate just like myself, but interestingly enough, we never met during our time at Hope. We even graduated the same year (2005)!

We met at Ridge Point Community Church in February of this year. I asked her out on a date, she hesitantly said yes, we had fun, I asked her out again, and things kind of went on from there! Earlier this summer the two of us traveled with a team to Romania where we were working to empower a beautiful church. Later on this summer we traveled to Green Bay, Wisconsin with a group of middle school students where we worked for social service organizations like food pantries and nursing homes. Both of us felt God using our involvement in these trips to not only deepen our relationship with Him, but also in our relationship with each other. In fact, the last couple of days in Romania were, for me, the time when I was most affirmed that I would ask Julie to marry me (thank goodness she said yes... I thought she might!).

So now, for the story of last week, and the trip to Ohio, New York, and Rochester Hills...

Last Tuesday evening Julie and I left for Columbus, Ohio, home to Julie's sister, brother-in-law, nephew, all grandparents, and miscellaneous aunts and uncles. We had a nice brunch on Wednesday morning, and I got to meet nearly all of the family there. From there we drove on to Churchville, New York where my family lives. Julie met my parents and all of my brothers (I have 3) and my older sister and brother-in-law. She also got to see the sights in Rochester, including
Wegmans and the abandoned Port of Rochester -- what a treat!

Last Saturday we left Rochester and headed on to Rochester Hills, Michigan, where Julie grew up. Confused by all the Rochesters yet? The drive takes you through Ontario, Canada to Port Huron, Michigan where you cross into the United States. This border crossing can typically take anywhere between 15 minutes and an hour. This trip: 4 hours. We traveled 6 kilometers in the time it took us to get where we stopped.

Don't get me wrong, our travel schedule was flexible, and in any other situation, I would have been fine. But the whole week we were gone I had a diamond engagement ring hiding in my Adidas duffel bag, just waiting to be received by a beautiful young woman. My plans were being supported by Julie's parents who knew what would take place once we got to Rochester Hills. I will now detail the different scenarios I had thought of, based on when we got to Julie's parents' house:

Scenario #1 -- "A bike ride to Rochester Park"

Ideally, the proposal might have taken place in Rochester Park, a place very special to Julie. The trouble would have been in suggesting that we go over there; Julie surely would have known something was up. Her mom had the idea of her suggesting that we take their bikes over there. That would have been great, but with the Port Huron wait, this was no longer an option.

Scenario #2 -- "Sunday morning"

We had plans to attend Julie's parents' church on Sunday morning, and one backup thought I had was to surprise her that morning when she woke up and propose then. Or I might have put the ring box on her pancake plate. This was my fallback option; not ideal, but it would have been special, for sure.

Scenario #3 -- "The front walk"

This ended up being the WINNER! Had Julie not wanted to go to the park on bikes, or if I couldn't have gotten her to go there somehow, I was just going to pop the question right there on the front walk.

We had dinner plans on Saturday night, and once we finally got into Michigan, Julie called her parents and they said to take our time and that they would go keep our reservation. Julie, not wanting to be late, suggested that we should go right to the restaurant when we got into town. My mind was going over every possible scenario and my best option was to get us back to the house (her parents knew that, and that's why they went ahead to the restaurant) and propose there. The problem was, the ring was in my bag in the back of the car. I needed to make an excuse, so I told Julie I wanted to change my clothes to look nice for her parents. She said we could go if we got back in time. I made every green light along the way, and we got back to her house. Julie said to be quick, so I brought in my bag and changed into jeans. I put the ring in my pocket and followed her out. She was walking in front of me and I said, "hey!" Julie wheeled around and I was on one knee. "Shut up -- get in the car!" she said. I then pulled out the ring and she was like, "oh, you're serious!" After a couple seconds of hugs, she said did say yes!

So there's the story, thanks to all who have been a part of it so far! I know I can speak for the both of us and say that your support has meant the world to us -- be blessed!

--andrew