Dave Matthews Band came out of hibernation for their first show of 2018. Their gig was across the river from and the night before the Super Bowl in St. Paul. Aside from being during Super Bowl week, the show was notable as this is the first without longtime violinist Boyd Tinsley who announced the night before the show that he was taking a break from touring.

I need to take a break from the band & touring 2 focus on my family & my health 4 a while. I will miss you guys & my brothers in the band but I’m somewhat worn out & need 2 spend more time with my family & 2 bring more balance to my life. Thanks 4 ur Love. #peaceandLoVE

— Boyd Tinsley (@bt_dmb) February 3, 2018

This was DMB’s first show since their appearance at Concert for Charlottesville and second since September of 2016.

To fill in the void left by Boyd, Tim Reynolds and the other band members stepped up their game to fill the missing sections of songs. Taper Mike Peters commented on the show

“The violin is absolutely missed, but you have a world class musician in Jeff Coffin, and a guy who is magic with guitar in Tim Reynolds who did a nice job filling Boyd’s parts.

It was also refreshing to hear Dave actually playing guitar again, outside of the parts that he has to play. There were times during #41 that I heard him playing, and in recent years he would be just sitting back letting the others take solos.”

In addition to all the other members stepping up their game to cover for Boyd, Dave got a little help on “Jimi Thing” from pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph. Other highlights include a tribute to Tom Petty with a cover of “Runnin’ Down a Dream” and a nod to Prince during Jimi Thing with a “Sexy M.F.” tease.

DMB is gearing up for a big 2018 including a new album and their first tour since 2016.

Setlist
01: Don’t Drink the Water
02: So Much to Say
03: Satellite
04: Why I Am
05: You Never Know
06: #41
07: Granny
08: The Space Between
09: Alligator Pie
10: Jimi Thing #*
11: Runnin’ Down a Dream %
12: Samurai Cop
13: When the World Ends
14: Time Bomb
15: What Would You Say
16: You & Me
17: Pantala Naga Pampa »
18: Rapunzel
———————————–
19: Grey Street
20: Ants Marching

Notes:

* Robert Randolph (Pedal Steel Guitar)
# Interpolation of Sexy M.F. (Prince cover)
% Tom Petty cover

Thanks to Mike Peters for the recording.

Photo credit: darkroomjunkie