The Saratoga Performing Arts Center seats somewhere between 21,000 and 27,000 concert goers, depending on who you talk to. Regardless, the seats, lawns and grounds of this spectacular facility were filled to the brim with mostly Dave Matthews Band fans at a venue famous for teasing stellar performances out of the band on it's two night run. While longtime DMB fans concluded that the first night was good but not spectacular night two was <a href="http://www.antsmarching.org/story.php?NewsID=653">reviewed on one popular DMB site</a> this way:

<blockquote>And just when you thought that there was nothing else to add (outside the already outstanding tour its been), the crowd actually sang lead - with Dave standing away from the mic - for the first two stanzas of Jimi Thing! Dave was kind enough to sing the chorus, but never has an incident happened like that in DMB show history.

The general consensus that this 2008 tour is at the very least the best tour since 2000. Shows like this have people reaching back to 1998 and beyond to find something that compares to night two at the SPAC.

And yes, no Everyday nor Stand Up songs on this show.

June 21, 2008 will live in DMB lore as one of the greatest shows ever. </blockquote>

I'm leading with the DMB references because it helps set the stage for the scene Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were walking into. A laid back, welcoming vibe with very high expectations for the performance of the headliner. 

Before the show Grace put together a preliminary setlist and then a democratic but strong willed discussion took place about song selection and order. Grace argued vehemently that "Pain In My Heart" is "a rock and roll song, it's not a fucking ballad" and Scott brought in observations of DMB's tempo change ups from the previous night's show. In the end, an agreement was reached and the bands pre-show preparations began.

<img src="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/images/spac/preshow1.jpg" width="425" alt="pre" />

<img src="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/images/spac/preshow2.jpg" width="425" alt="pre" />

<img src="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/images/spac/preshow3.jpg" width="425" alt="pre" />

<img src="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/images/spac/preshow4.jpg" width="425" alt="pre" />

Dave Matthews has a great ritual in which he personally introduces the opening band at each of his shows. Dave ambled by the band waiting in the wings and went out of his way to say something nice to everyone their before walking onstage to the delight of the assembled crowd to share a funny anecdote and introduce the band. Overall, very nice guy - sincere.

Here's the setlist the band ended up with
Ah, Mary
Ain't No Time
Apologies
Stop The Bus
Nothing But The Water
Angel Band, Big White Gate
Pain in My Heart 

Scott was particularly on fire - I'm thinking the pushups combined with the new haircut put him over the edge. For a big shed venue the sound was very clear and strong. Everyone was pleased with the performance, pleased with the crowd and generally pleased and excited about the opportunity. Dinner with <a href="http://www.smallbatch.com/lpa">Basil Hayden</a> was a low key affair followed by frisbee playing on the lawn, dog walking and musical enjoyment. Quite a few DMB fans stopped when they recognized Matt standing in the crowd watching the show to let him know that the band "rocked it". 

As I left the venue I noticed hundreds of people outside the gates in lawn chairs and on blankets simply enjoying the perfect summer weather as the sounds of the concert drifted through the grounds of SPAC. All in all, a great great evening.

<a href="http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/jun/22/dave-matthews-band-satisfies-raucous-sold-out-crow/">Another nice review from a Saratoga area paper</a>.

<blockquote>Grace Potter and the Nocturnals opened the show, a good ol’ raw jamming garage band led by a strong-voiced, young bluesy woman on a Hammond organ, of all things. While the seats were still empty during their performance, they played their hearts out. “Stop the Busâ€ was their typical no-frill, loud, raunchy glob of rock and roll, with Potter’s voice coming through it all loud and clear. It was nice — and so rare — to see a woman lead so rough a band. Keep your eye on her.</blockquote>

For fun, a quick DBM YouTuber from last night after the jump . . .

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