About 1,500 fans sat down to the acoustic artistry of the famed Dave Matthews on tour with guitarist Tim Reynolds last night in Leede Arena. Two men -- one seated, one standing -- two guitars, a lamp atop a small table and a black backdrop made a powerful spectacle.
Many of last night's concert-goers seemed not to be very familiar with the Matthews-Reynolds team. But that did not detract from their eagerness to absorb this new experience.
Matthews and Reynolds have known each other for 10 years. Though they have played numerous small venues together, this is their first tour, Matthews explained to the crowd.
While the artisans presented the crowd with a traditional Matthews repertoire, they made sure to include a taste or two of some newer works.
Despite a repertoire lacking in surprises, the accompanying stage show was all but traditional.
Matthews traded in his trademark baggy pants for a pair of trimmed slacks, complaining early on about their nagging creases -- the first in a long list of his well-received attempts at humoring his audience.
Despite the large throng of listeners, they succeeded in making their performance connect on a more personal level.
Prefacing with a few sincere, candid words about his old girlfriend, Matthews flawlessly played a love song all his own, "I'll Back You Up." He seemed at home on stage in the silent arena as his tribute was executed.
Reynolds, rarely upstaged by Matthews, had his expressive moments as well with his marked solo performance of "Stream." He exposed his listeners to a diversity of sounds and driving electricity that seem nearly impossible at the hands of any acoustic guitarist.
There were a few subtle tinges, characteristic to a Matthews-Reynolds performance.
A sample of the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" played during "Recently," an electric solo by the vocally silent Reynolds to end "Tripping Billies," an extended Matthews-esque "skat" to finish off "What Would You Say" and the usual Led Zeppelin cover (in this instance, "Tangerine" was opted over "Stairway to Heaven") are some of the additions to name a few.
For those who didn't pick up these tinges, the concert offered numerous other remembrances.
"Satellite," the assumed crowd pleaser, was successful as it took the audience a mere three seconds to catch on to the song.
Later, "What Would You Say" drew overwhelming applause. The song did not seem to translate well into an acoustic medium this time around, but perhaps the MTV culture is alive and well at Dartmouth.
In "Minarets," "Jimi Thing" and "Pay For What You Get," Matthews exhibited his sweet, soothing range in all the right places. Extending this talent to "Forty-One," a new song, Matthews looked forward to its acclimation.
"Stream," as usual, left Matthews feeling "a little bit funky," he said. What followed was pure genius.
The duo then surrendered their instruments, engaging in a low-key, psychedelic groove inclusive of inexplicable movement. The dance solicited hysteria throughout the audience.
And for those who have always wondered what exactly a "Tripping Billy" is, now have their questions answered and were able to leave Leede aware of one of "the unifying forces" that bind all.
This might have been memorably crude were it not followed by Matthew's describing his anecdotal bus ride through South Africa. One might wonder why this certain story was saved for his Dartmouth audience.
The duo took a few audience requests and delivered them with the stylistic forceful momentum and attention to detail that became their concert.
