Let me begin by saying that I don’t expect much out of tour openers. And I don’t mean that in a defeatist or cynical kind of way. I just mean that, typically, the opening show follows a fairly significant break from playing and DMB is just getting their sea legs back. Which, presumably, is exactly what Hartford was last night. Don’t get me wrong—opening night is extremely exciting. But it’s exciting because it marks the beginning of summer and the start of the great rolling tidal wave of music, fun, and travel that comes with it. As for the great surprises, debuts, and jaw-droppers, they usually start coming a few shows in. For me, on a non-album tour, one surprise on opening night would have been enough to send me home pretty darn happy.
Uh, yeah. As we all know by now, such was not the case at Hartford last night. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what I saw. I could barely figure out what was going on around me last night even as I was watching. I guess it was sort of like the concert equivalent of playing dodge ball, getting pelted by five balls at once, and not knowing which way to run. Only it’s painless. And the dodge balls are JTR, Hello Again, Busted Stuff, Kit Kat Jam, and Break for It (let’s just hack away at that Liberation List, shall we boys?). Not to mention a crazy sing-for-your-dinner Nancies unlike any version I’ve ever seen before and even a spiffed up Ants. Holy Batman!
I almost fell on my face when the band opened up with JTR last night. That was all I needed for them to make their big statement that they were here to play this summer. If they would have launched into a more standard set list from there, I still would have gone home jazzed about the summer. But this?!?
I know it’s sort of like opening day of baseball—one phenomenal first game and you can spin tales in your head about how you’re going all the way to the Series. But considering this year is a bit different to start out with due to the impending and unprecedented 2011 break, I would say we’re in for one damn fine summer. And I know that I personally can’t wait. To me at least, this looks like a band that’s ready to play and have some fun.
And Yes It was! I had the best experiences in 2010 at Charlottesville, Columbus, Chicago, Virginia Beach, Cincinnati was awesome! It stormed the whole entire concert in Cincinnati and I adored every rain drop. If only I could have all that again, a girl can’t ask for anything else. Lightening, rain, mud, DMB going crazy on the acoustics. He opened with JTR
and I felt weight less, more like worry free. Best feeling ever!!! Now take that memory and times it by a million of the 2010 summer tour and thats all I can compare it to. Words can’t explain.
Cassandra Robinson