The Dave Matthews Band

Over the course of the last eight years, I have grown to know and love The Dave Matthews Band (from here on known as DMB or 'they'). I confess it was originally their more 'popular' radio songs like 'crush' and ' what would you say' that turned me onto them, but it didn't take very long at all for my eyes to be opened up to an entirely new world of musicianship and creativity, and passion.
My initial draw to DMB was for a very obvious reason, as I am a drummer and the drummer for DMB, a fellow by the name of Carter Beauford, is absolutely brilliant. He is a very decorated drummer, acclaimed as being one of the best jam band drummers in the world, which speaks to his fluent, ever-changing creativity behind a drumset. He is also a pioneer for a technique in drumming known as 'open-handed' sticking.
It doesn't end there, as centerman Dave Matthews, resident of Charlottesville, Virginia has spent many years in south Africa. His gift for songwriting, as well as natural talent of singing and guitar playing put him as one of the most sought-after entertainers in Western music.
The rest of the band deserves credit, as well. Classically trained violin player Boyd Tinsley has a style all his own on an accoustic violin, often playing through effects pedals. Child phenom bass player Stefan Lessard needed a note from his parents to join the band when he was just 16 years old. Last but not least, late saxophone player LeRoi Moore is no slouch on the baritone, alto, and soprano saxophones. Also, the band freely plays with great guest musicians, such as Government Mule's guitarist Warren Haynes, and has for a long time played with keyboardist Butch Taylor.
What I'm getting at is that there's a reason this band tours heavily, all around the nation every year. This is because they continually come up with new, exciting material, pushing the boundaries of having such an odd combination of instruments and musicians thrown into the mix together. They are not afraid of genre exploration, skipping from blues to funk to latin to rock to softer accoustic, and never afraid to show off their individual musicianship. It is guaranteed that each night, every member of the band will get a solo that leaves the crowd wanting more. They are unfraid of time signature, or adding groups of musicians into the mix (i.e. backup vocalists, a brass section, etc...) To check out some of the bands really cool time signature explorations, look at songs like "Drive in, drive out" "Satellite" "Grey Street" and the merged songs "Pantala naga Pampa -> Rapunzel". In my opinion (as well as other people's), the album "Busted Stuff" is DMB's best work, and portrays the band's exploration into musicianship, lyrical creativity, and time signatures. Give them a look. If you need more suggestions for songs to listen to, just let me know.

my first time

it's my first time making a blog, ya damn gutter-brain!