It’s Labor Dave Weekend! That time of year when 20,000 dedicated Dave Matthews Band enthusiasts make their pilgrimage to Washington State for three days of camping, fun, friendship, awe-inspiring nature, and, of course, music. Sadly, I have yet to make this trip, but it is an absolute on my bucket-list. And although, I’m sure it doesn’t compare to the live adventure, this year, at least, I will be watching the shows online which is a fantastic option for those of us who couldn’t swing the travel. It’s Labor Dave Weekend! That time of year when 20,000 dedicated Dave Matthews Band enthusiasts make their pilgrimage to Washington State for three days of camping, fun, friendship, awe-inspiring nature, and, of course, music. Sadly, I have yet to make this trip, but it is an absolute on my bucket-list. And although, I’m sure it doesn’t compare to the live adventure, this year, at least, I will be watching the shows online which is a fantastic option for those of us who couldn’t swing the travel. 
Pleasure researchers say that as humans, we tend to enjoy familiar sounds over new ones. Perhaps it is our fear of change, or the unknown, but numerous studies point to this finding. I believe that Dave Matthews is aware of this theory, because years ago, when he introduced his then-nouveau album “Crash,” he told listeners, “I hope you like it, but if you don’t, listen to it a few more times.” A wise man, Dave is.
Just the other day, someone asked me to name my favorite Dave Matthews Band song. In truth, I have a love/hate relationship with this question. I love it because it gets me thinking about all of the amazing qualities of tunes like “Bartender,” “Seek Up,” “One Sweet World,” “Pig,” “#41,” “Lover Lay Down,” and “Two Step,” to name a few. But I hate it because it is nearly impossible for me to choose only one track. Many times, I reconcile my differing thoughts by finding the best option for my life at the moment, which in itself points to one reason why I love this band so much; their ever evolving, yet somehow consistent sound. But today, after much thought, I realized that of all the DMB works that I adore, “Granny,” is, and in some ways always has been, my best-loved.
As many of you know, I just returned from a wonderful and sunny trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I had the honor of sharing my passion for the Dave Matthews Band with 600 fellow health care providers, and art aficionados. The conference that I spoke at is called Creativity and Madness, and it is held every summer at LaFonda Hotel on the plaza in Santa Fe, as well as, at various other domestic and international sites throughout the year. If you have any interest in the psychology of art and artists, I highly recommend this meeting. But for today, I want to share with you my experience of giving this speech, because, as with all things DMB, it was truly remarkable.
Sometime last summer, I was discussing my fantasy Dave Matthews Band set-list with my husband. Predictably, I listed many of my usual favorites including “Bartender,” “One Sweet World,” “#41,” “Pig,” and “Granny,” (although I noted that “Pig,” and “Granny,” aren’t typically played on the same night). But hey, this wasn’t about probability, it was about desire, so I went all out and said, “And ‘Captain,‘ I would be SO happy if they played ‘Captain.‘ But they won’t, I mean they haven’t since 2004, and that was only once...” Apparently, I forgot which band I was talking about, because with DMB all things are possible.
Alright, I’ll admit it. A few months ago, when I found out that someone other than myself was writing a book about the Dave Matthews’ Band, I felt a little panicky. You see, I was also working on such a piece, at least until a little thing like a baby happened. And even though I still plan on resuming my project at some point, after reading Nikki Van Noy’s “So Much to Say,” I can honestly say that I am entirely grateful to her for the hard work that she clearly dedicated in the name of the best band on Earth. Her well-written compilation contains an amazing amount of research and information that DMB aficionados will surely find fascinating. And best of all, much of what Ms. Van Noy included in her creation comes straight from the fans themselves.
As I prepare to talk to 600 strangers about the wonders of the Dave Matthews Band, it occurs to me that some members of my audience may not be familiar with DMB, or, (gasp), might actually dislike them! And perhaps even stranger, fellow fans could see things about this ensemble that I never imagined. But that’s what is so interesting about life; we all view it from our own colored lenses.
Today was a very big day for me. My 15 month old toddler spent 4 and a half hours away from home for the first time in her life. Although I hoped that she would be fine, I really didn’t know how I was going to do, but miraculously, I managed to use my time wisely and enjoy myself, even if I did wonder about her frequently, (approximately every 1.6 seconds).
Sometimes, the ideas for these articles bang around inside me like unlit fireworks until I finally get the opportunity to set them free. Even though I feel like I’m about to burst, I love it when that happens. Other times, like today, I have to do some digging around in the dirt, (i.e. the internet), to find my way. And what I witness in “the cloud” never ceases to amaze me.