WILMINGTON — It was a reunion more than two decades in the making: Dave Matthews Band returning to the Port City to entertain fans.
He performed two nights at downtown’s Live Oak Bank Pavilion, both sold-out shows. Fans spilled out into the Cape Fear River, hearing the music from their boats near the Riverwalk, also aligned with at least 200 people surrounding the outskirts of the amphitheater.
Four songs in on night one, Matthews apologized to the crowd for taking so long to return. But the locals weren’t the only ones cheering on his Wilmington arrival; fans near and far were in attendance.
Photographer Tom Dorgan of MoonFrog Media said a friend flew in from New York after having followed the band since 1996.
“His take on the Tuesday show was it’s good enough for the band to release as part of their Live Trax Archival series,” Doragn said.
Another die-hard fan whose been to upward of 100 shows traveled from L.A. David Emrich said night one was more like DMB’s “commercial night.” It contained many well-known songs through the band’s 10-disc catalogue, including “Satellite,” “Typical Situation” and “What Would You Say” from the 1994 debut “Under the Table and Dreaming,” and “Crash Into Me” and “Lie in Our Graves” from “Crash.”
The second night had its fill of classics, too, such as “Dancing Nancies,” “Jimi Thing,” “Crush,” and “Ants Marching.” Yet, Matthews peppered in songs like “Halloween” from “Before These Crowded Streets” and “Grace is Gone” from “Busted Stuff.”
He also played from 2023’s “Walk Around the Moon,” such as “Monsters” and “The Ocean and the Butterfly.” It is the first studio album from DMB since 2018.
The acoustic guitarist’s energy was in high gear, even downright giddy and a little miscshievous — dancing, smiling, singing, and praising his band members, Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, Tim Reynolds, Rashawn Ross, Jeff Coffin and Buddy Strong, during solos.
Their blend of funk, jazz, rock and folk permeated the riverfront through 40-plus songs over two nights. The second evening included a few covers, too, such as Beatles “I Want You (You’re So Heavy)” and “Brick House” by the Commodores.
Below are the setlists and photos only from night one, as taken by Dorgan.
Tuesday night setlist:
Stay or Leave
Funny The Way It Is
Seek Up
Madman’s Eyes
When the World Ends
Satellite
Typical Situation
Break Free
It Could Happen
Lie In Our Graves
Crash Into Me
Don’t Drink the Water
Virginia In The Rain
What Would You Say
You And Me
Water Into Wine
Warehouse
Encore:
Looking for a Vein
Grey Street
Wednesday night setlist:
Bismarck
Pig
Sweet
Squirm
Walk Around the Moon
Louisiana Bayou
Grace Is Gone
Crush
I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (The Beatles cover)
After Everything
Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel
The Ocean and the Butterfly
#27
Dancing Nancies
All You Wanted Was Tomorrow
Monsters
Kill the Preacher
Why I Am
Jimi Thing
Brick House (Commodores cover)
Encore:
Something to Tell My Baby
Ants Marching
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