For the love of: Dave Matthews Band

What would you say...

photo credit: DMB Gorge Crew

This year was supposed to be a year full of celebrations – I turned 40 in May and the hubs and I celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary in October. Very big things indeed. But the biggest thing I had been looking forward to was finally making the pilgrimage to the Gorge (Amphitheater) for what is known as “Labor Dave Weekend” – three full days of Dave Matthews Band shows at heaven’s amphitheater a few hours outside of Seattle, Washington.

I started listening to Dave Matthews Band my freshman year of high school in Connecticut, like any good kid in the '90s. A girl on my softball team had an older sister in college who raved about the band, and she brought a tape (yes, a tape) to one of our softball practices. I was hooked the second I heard Best of What’s Around and became that person who was first in line on CD release day, and in college remember going to actual music stores to line up for tickets (wow you guys, just wow), and eventually pre-ordering any new releases on iTunes.

I have lived in Arizona for the most part since moving here for college, and with the band preferring summer shows, well, Phoenix doesn’t always make the tour list. In fact, my first ever show was in San Bernardino, California in the summer of 2000. Based on the setlist of that first show, it may have been one of the best shows in terms of having nearly all my original favorites, however, I was 20 and in college, and well, I don’t remember all of it. I saw a few shows here and there over the next few years, but never took the leap to truly travel for shows like others.

Looking back, I wish I had taken advantage of hitting the road, settling for cheap hotel rooms and lawn seats (my preferred way to see the band, really), but alas, here we are. So this year, I was dead set on making 2020 the year we trekked to the Gorge. But let’s get real, a camper I am not. So once again I found myself “in line” waiting for dibs on the Oasis Campgrounds, or what I would call Gorge Glamping. I have no shame in this, and my excitement was nearly revealed in the middle of a large meeting when I scored one of these spots.

I began reading all the Gorge tips and tricks, thanks to the amazingly detailed DMB Gorge Crew info on how to make the most of your experience, things to prep for, what to bring and other important lists to check before making the trip. Of course in addition to thinking about what we would pick up once in Seattle (can one tailgate with Aperol Spritzes?), we started thinking about our dream setlists. And then COVID hit.

While we all manage the various aspects of our lives disrupted by the pandemic, a little part of me was broken inside thinking my dreams of finally going to the Gorge had been disrupted. Of course I checked my self-pity at the door when realizing the larger impact of the loss of concerts on an entire industry and workforce, and am grateful to be part of the DMB Family that has pitched in what we can to the various charities and organizations supported by the band’s response to a cancelled summer tour – the DMB Drive-In Series, which raised more than half a million dollars for various nonprofits.

So while I would have been flying to Seattle today for what would have been an unforgettable weekend, I am equally as excited to have Gorge in 2021 to look forward to, especially since I will get to be at the Gorge for the band’s 30th anniversary tour.

Till next year, fam, we’ll make the best of what’s around.