Darren Herman

For those of you who do not know me too well, I’m a huge fan of the Dave Matthews Band.  I’ve been to more shows than I can reasonably count, have gigabytes of their live shows, my living room has a framed DMB art collection, and my son is aptly named David Matthew Herman.

For those of you who do know me well, you’ve probably traveled with world with me to see the band in one random location or another.

This post has two parts.  Read both because they compliment each other.

Challenge: Go back into the recording studio and re-record songs from previous albums.  Why am I saying this?  When you guys (members of the band) record your albums, many of the songs are “new” and are not fully baked yet.  Your songs have a tendency to “breathe” (like wine) on tour which gives them new life.  I’d love for you to take an album or two and re-record some of those songs.   Many fans know that album lyrics and concert lyrics are sometimes totally different and would love the updates to studio albums.  In terms of musicianship on the recorded albums, the studio is obviously not The Gorge or Alpine or even SPAC (venues), so this would add a dimension of taking something that’s been on “tour mode” (i.e. Warehouse or All Along the Watchtower) and transition back to “studio mode” and I think this would be  a challenge that you’d all enjoy.  If I could pick the producer:  Rob Cavallo, but beggars can’t be choosers.

If you guys want to take me up on the challenge, you can contact me through the contact section.

Review of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King

I waited 5 months to write this review because the album needed to sit and breathe a bit.  I’ve always tended to favor DMB live-shows because of the band’s spontaneity and on-stage energy.  I also favor instrumental-ism over vocalism (is that a term?) and in the live setting, a 20 minute jam during Two Step is not out of the ordinary.

This album breaks the mold.  Big Whiskey has been in my CD Player, HDD Player, and iPhone (ipod) for the past 5 months and only on occasion, have listened to a live show or two.  The album in totality tells a story but each song individually has their own chapter that can stand alone.  This is the first DMB studio album that I’ve gravitated to more than for “casual” listening.

Just like most fans, I initially gravitated to Funny the Way It Is because it was all over the radio and Spaceman because it was played at many of the shows this past tour.  Shake Me Like a Monkey became a favorite around months 3-4 and the back to back combo of Shake Me Like a Monkey + Funny The Way It Is rocks.

Recently (no pun intended), I’ve become a big fan of Lying in the Hands of God and Time Bomb.  Why I Am doesn’t do much for me “yet” though like where Dave has taken the lyrics on the song.

IMHO, the most unfinished but greatest potential song is Alligator Pie.  This song has significant potential.   The song starts strong, builds, has a great “live concert” beat, but doesn’t seem to get anywhere.  Dave comes across very strong in the song almost controlling the instrumentals but I think there is still opportunity for this song to develop.

I’ve given the album out to over a dozen people and most have come back with positive experiences.  I love the sound and the heart of the band that went into the album and can’t wait to hear these songs “breathe” on the 2010 tour (or if I get over to Europe for the upcoming).

You can bet that I’ll be giving some of the albums out for the holidays.