Photo by Andrew Scott Blackstein

Dave Matthews Band’s tour resumed after a short break at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, Ore. The band switched up their formats through the evening seamlessly growing from Dave Matthews’ solo act to a duo, a quintet, and all together with special guests as a septet.

The show, like the three-night run at the Gorge Amphitheatre, was missing bassist Stefan Lessard and drummer Carter Beauford, who both recently tested positive for COVID-19. However, fans were treated to the presence of Dumpstaphunk bassist Tony Hall and keyboardist Elijah Pigg.

The show kicked off with Matthews performing solo renditions of “Ants Marching,” then “Rye Whiskey,” and “Virginia in the Rain.” He was then joined by Tim Reynolds on guitar for “Bartender,” “Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin)” and “Crush.”

The lineup continued to grow as the two welcomed keyboardist Buddy Strong, saxophonist Jeff Coffin, and trumpeter Rashawn Ross to the stage. The quintet played “Funny The Way It Is” and “The Ocean And The Butterfly.”

All musicians were present starting with “#41” as (Buddy’s tech) Pigg took over the keys and Buddy switched to the drums–Hall joined the band on bass. All together played “Can’t Stop” and “That Girl Is You,” both tracks off of the band’s ninth studio album Come Tomorrow, and other classic Dave Matthews Band tracks from over the years. The septet closed the set with a cover of The Beatles “Come Together” and Dave Mathews Band original jam “You Might Die Trying.”

Mathews returned on stage with Reynolds and Ross for “Sister.” They closed the night with a duo performance “Dancing Nancies” by Matthews and Reynolds.

Dave Matthews Band will perform next at the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, Calif. on Sept 10.

Dave Matthews Band
Les Schwab Amphitheater
Sept. 8, 2021

Set: Ants Marching, Rye Whiskey, Virginia in the Rain, Bartender, Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin), Crush, Funny the Way It Is, The Ocean And The Butterfly, #41, Can’t Stop, That Girl Is You, Grey Street, Lying In The Hands of God, So Damn Lucky, #27, Louisiana Bayou, Come Together, You Might Die Trying

Enc: Encore: Sister, Dancing Nancies

Dave Matthews Band 2021 Tour

Sept. 10  – Irvine, CA  – FivePoint Amphitheatre

Sept. 11  – Irvine, CA  – FivePoint Amphitheatre

Sept. 15  – Milwaukee, WI  – Summerfest

Sept. 17  – Saratoga Springs, NY  – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Sept. 18  – Saratoga Springs, NY  – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Sept. 21  – Wantagh, NY  – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

Sept. 22  – Holmdel, NJ  – PNC Bank Arts Center

Sept. 26 – Franklin, TN – Pilgrimage Festival 

Sept. 28  – Cincinnati, OH  – Riverbend Music Center

Sept. 29  – Cuyahoga Falls, OH  – Blossom Music Center

Oct. 8  – Greenwood Village, CO  – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

Oct. 9  – Greenwood Village, CO  – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

Oct. 11  – Albuquerque, NM  – Isleta Amphitheater 

Oct. 13  – Rogers, AR  – Walmart AMP 

Oct. 15  – Durant, OK  – Choctaw Grand Theater 

Oct. 16  – Durant, OK  – Choctaw Grand Theater 

Nov. 5 – Columbus, OH  – Nationwide Arena

Nov. 6  – Grand Rapids, MI  – Van Andel Arena 

Nov. 9  – Uncasville, CT  – Mohegan Sun Arena 

Nov. 10  – Uncasville, CT  – Mohegan Sun Arena 

Nov. 12 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden 

Nov. 13  – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden