DMB for more than a decade

Big update but not surprising. The concert last night had to be the best. They played past 11 pm, we wondered if they have to pay a fine, and they rocked the bowl.

It all started in 1998 when lil bird asked me to go to a concert with her. Oh, I'd heard of the Dave Matthews Band but never thought to go. My beloved was not a concert goer. So off we went to see my darling daughter's favorite band at the Los Angeles Forum. Really bad seats and the sound was not so good but the show was amazing. Toots and the Maytals were the opening act and we did have a great time though the Nazi's behind us wouldn't let us stand up.

Next year they played in Irvine and she had extra tickets so we took another friend. Unfortunately she had to sit on the grassy knoll but she didn't mind. It was a fantastic concert though the parking really sucks at that venue and I swore I'd never go back, and I haven't had to eat those words, yet.

2000 was Glen Helen Dark in San Bernardino and the first year lil bird bought tickets through the fan club. Front row. I was truly impressed. At a concert like this I felt conspicuously older but would feel better finding someone older than me there. So far I've always been able to since they have fans from all generations.

Now in '01 we went crazy. She saw them three times, me twice. Dodger Stadium on a Tuesday night and then Las Vegas on Wednesday. The Vegas concert, at Sam Boyd Stadium, was the best I'd ever heard them play and we had a great time. We flew to the concert, ate dinner on the strip then took the early morning flight home. I washed my feet in a casino restroom and slept on the floor in the Vegas airport. Life was good.

In 2003 I was in Bakersfield and lil bird called with a great opportunity to see them out of town, again. They were playing in SF, a charity concert and would I like tickets. Yes. We included our friend Tia from Tacoma and my son-in-law and made a weekend trip. The concert was fantastic and I cherish the live DVD of the concert. I think I can hear Tia and me screaming for Carlos Santana when he came on stage.

The concerts not mentioned all were equally good but do I need to bore you? No. Each concert was different with the common thread being we were enjoying it together. She usually gets more than one date and takes either her husband or some other, equally as lucky, fan.

2008 was equally memorable but for a different reason. It was at the Staples Center downtown LA and bought our t-shirts and such before we got seated. Someone was saying LeRoi Moore, their band member had died and a little while longer it was confirmed. They band went on as a tribute to their friend but it was a sad concert without his sweet jazzy sax and though Jeff Coffin is good, he just doesn't have the same 'Roi sound for me.

This long post brings us up to date but wait, there's more. Monday August 23, once again, my darling daughter will take me to see DMB. We'll be going to the Hollywood Bowl, a favorite of mine, and all the crowd and music and, most important; my night out with her. Hope I can spot someone older.

How many fingers?

Let me confess. I'm not proud of the fact that I've driven while under the influence but I did. It was a very long time ago when I was young and feeling invincible. WRONG. But I was lucky and nothing bad happened. Lucky. Now me, or my beloved, would not think of slipping behind the wheel while impaired; most of our friends, same thing. Good for us but what about other people? This young Dr., with a promising career, kills a young girl with an equally promising career; what a waste. Drunk Dr. kills young ballerina.

This is all relevant after being at the Greek Theater to a concert last week. Great to see Dave Matthews Band again thanks to my generous darling daughter. Now, I have no problem with people having fun and if that includes drinking or getting high, don't care. You don't bother me and listening to DMB in concert includes whatever you imbibe, I'm OK with that. But what would possess you to get behind the wheel of your car and drive away?

Anyone who's attended the Greek knows the "stacked" parking sucks, but they eventually do get you out. So while waiting for cars to move in the gridlock that is so, Greek, we saw a number of people having no business getting behind the wheel of their cars. It would be safe to say if you can't maneuver over a small two-and-half-foot picket fence; give up the keys to someone who can. If you have to shake your head to focus; get in the damn backseat and sleep it off. If your friend says, how many fingers and you think he's an alien with more than five; dude, you're drunk.

If LA were smart, they'd have a cattle pen with cots and coffee and offer that to concert goers. Five buck, sleep it off and avoid a ticket or the horror of a lifetime of guilt for killing another DMB fan. The exit should be a two-and-half-foot picket fence. Can't get over? More coffee.

Tuesdays with Moon: and the band played on

This past Tuesday was quite the trial for my No Gas Tuesday. I took a bus to a train, to a bus, to another bus, and it all took about three hours. Yes, I could have driven in a third of that time but I'm staying true to my self challenge. I did not drive my car but in the end did carpool with daughter, lil bird to the Dave Matthews concert. The end was well worth my effort.

Once there we we not sure the concert would take place. LeRoi Moore, the horn player and original band member died that morning of complications from a recent accident. This was a shock. You see, my daughter has been taking me to their concerts since 1998; it's become a tradition. Though I can't say I'm as big a fan as her, I love their music and have so much fun with her at the shows.

That night the emotions ran the gamut from shock and sadness to joy and remembrance. What really happened was a huge wake at the Staple Center with fans and band members giving their friend quite the send off. I think any musician would be thrilled with that memorial. Dave summed it up by saying, "It's always easier to leave, than to be left."