Ranking the DMB Venues

[jcwalb2]

So, having done some travel this summer to see the band, and keeping up with the various threads on this board, I am led to ask a question: how do we rank the various venues in terms of where you "need" to see the band?

Ants Marching has the big three as Gorge, Alpine, and SPAC. Obviously Red Rocks is a huge part of the band's lore, but it feels like a full band show there at this point is a long shot. I definitely know there is significant affection for Deer Creek and Jones Beach. Have heard good things about Houston and West Palm. Obviously MSG and JPJ for fall tour/indoor venues are highly regarded.

So... give me your top DMB venues that a true fan wouldn't want to miss. (This may or may not be for my future road trip planning).

[YouNeverKnow25]

there's.....affection(?!?!) for jones beach??? that venue sucks ass and gets terrible shows; I don't think there's any affection there

[YouNeverKnow25]

my personal top 5:

gorge
spac
msg
alpine
deer creek

[jcwalb2]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

there's.....affection(?!?!) for jones beach??? that venue sucks ass and gets terrible shows; I don't think there's any affection there

I have no personal animus for it... though in fairness I have no affection either - I've never been there. It does appear on some top 10 lists though. See, e.g. May 6, 2016 issue of Rolling Stone "The 10 Best Venues to See Dave Matthews Band in the US." But, no personal investment - if Jones Beach sucks, it sucks.

[illinifan]

Originally Posted by jcwalb2

I have no personal animus for it... though in fairness I have no affection either - I've never been there. It does appear on some top 10 lists though. See, e.g. May 6, 2016 issue of Rolling Stone "The 10 Best Venues to See Dave Matthews Band in the US." But, no personal investment - if Jones Beach sucks, it sucks.

Oh boy venue wars. This could get ugly lol.

[ToySoldier#34]

Best venue - Gorge
Best place to see them - SPAC, assuming seats

[Cscottrun]

Jones Beach has a few really strong positives like no lawn, all seats having a good view, on the water, nice view...but the negatives tend to outweigh the positives...located on its own. Tough for public transit and ubers/cabs, sound is generally pretty bad b/c the wind coming off the water picks it up, and at least for DMB, the weather is usually terrible.

Ranking the venues the band either consistently plays or has played recently, that I've been to:

SPAC (by a pretty significant margin)
MSG
Gorge
Credit One (Charleston - great great venue)
Merriweather (another great venue)
Charlotte/Raleigh (tied)
Hartford/Bristow (tied - they are super similar to me)
Camden
Jones Beach
Holmdel

[ISawTheBridge10]

So SPAC is a great for the 5,000 people in the pavilion but not the 20,000 in the lawn? To me, that kind of eliminates it. I realize it gets 2 night stands and great set lists, but a great venue should be great for a majority of those in attendance.

[JboDaveGuyYNK]

Google an image of the SPAC logo. Is it weird how similar it is to the DMB logo?

(Gorge would be my answer to your question)

[DMBSJR]

Venue Wars 2022!!!!

I love talking venues! Here are my venue rankings, of the ones I've been to, after 90 shows. Need to hit more of the 1 night stands.

1. Gorge
2. Alpine
3. SPAC
4. Deer Creek
5. WPB
6. Camden
7. Pittsburgh
8. Southhaven
9. Charlotte
10. Raleigh
11. Bristow
12. Hartford
13. Dallas
14. St. Louis

-100: Northerly Island LOL!

Mexico is amazing but since it's just D&T I didn't include same with other D&T venues I've been to.

Also, didn't include Vegas from 2020 or festival venues.

[stoga09]

Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

[willndmb]

Originally Posted by ISawTheBridge10

So SPAC is a great for the 5,000 people in the pavilion but not the 20,000 in the lawn? To me, that kind of eliminates it. I realize it gets 2 night stands and great set lists, but a great venue should be great for a majority of those in attendance.

And I can find a downfall to any venue that’s not ideal for the majority
Gorge, wind and phasing issues of sound

[crounsa810]

Camden is consistently underrated. Beautiful scenery, good vibe, consistently solid shows, nice walk by the river to get there, a small sense of impending doom leaving the show at night. It’s not the top venue by any means, that obviously goes to Gorge/SPAC/MSG, but it’s definitely top 12.

Holmdel sucks.

[dima1130]

Gilford needs some love in this thread

[bustedstuff88]

Anybody who doesnt put Gorge as the #1 (and its not even particularly close to the 2nd spot, regardless of where that may be) is delusional.

[stoga09]

Originally Posted by bustedstuff88

Anybody who doesnt put Gorge as the #1 (and its not even particularly close to the 2nd spot, regardless of where that may be) is delusional.

Your delusional for thinking everyone needs to agree with you.

[chadizzy1]

Of the "major" ones I've been to

1 Alpine
2 Deer Creek
3 WPB

[bartender407]

Originally Posted by dima1130

Gilford needs some love in this thread

Shhhh.....don't mention Gilford.

[monizzle145]

Gilford is the worse venue I have ever been to and I advise nobody to go to shows there

[Bob_Loblaw]

Of the venues I've been to:

Greek Theater - Berkeley
Shoreline
Chase Center
Golden One Center

[dima1130]

Originally Posted by monizzle145

Gilford is the worse venue I have ever been to and I advise nobody to go to shows there

I agree I am highly intoxicated lol been drinking all day Gilford is brutal stay far away lol

[bowa36]

The Gorge
Deer Creek
WPB

I really don't enjoy SPAC, just being honest.

[ISawTheBridge10]

Originally Posted by willndmb

And I can find a downfall to any venue that’s not ideal for the majority
Gorge, wind and phasing issues of sound

There's a difference between "it can be windy which effects the sound" and "the lawn is bad enough that you better be in the pavilion to enjoy the show at all."

[nerrfhearder]

I was in the pavillion both nights at SPAC this year and both nights I got vomitted on. Really ruined it for me this year with so many people overdoing it - even IN the amphitheater.

[nerrfhearder]

Originally Posted by JboDaveGuyYNK

Google an image of the SPAC logo. Is it weird how similar it is to the DMB logo?

(Gorge would be my answer to your question)

SPAC is the summer home for the NYC Ballet. Hence the stylized dancer in their logo.

[Speilmen230]

It's The Gorge. Everything else is just slotting opinions.

[Cscottrun]

Originally Posted by bustedstuff88

Anybody who doesnt put Gorge as the #1 (and its not even particularly close to the 2nd spot, regardless of where that may be) is delusional.

Been to Gorge and others, not delusional. Gorge has a view. I'll take everything else at SPAC and MSG over it. And MSG has the best city in the world, and some views of its own.

Don't get me wrong, I very much appreciate the Gorge, and I totally get why people put it at the top...it's just not at the top for me, and that doesn't make me delusional.

If ALL we are taking into account is the venue (not the crowd, surrounding area, etc.), then yes, I agree Gorge. But that doesn't seem to be the case here.

[JboDaveGuyYNK]

Originally Posted by nerrfhearder

SPAC is the summer home for the NYC Ballet. Hence the stylized dancer in their logo.

Ahhh. Thanks for this

[dmbclstj2]

Of 77 I have been to here are my top 5(Never been to SPAC):

1) Red Rocks
2) The Gorge
3) Ameris/Verizon Amp in Alpharetta
4) West Palm Beach
5) Raleigh

[jcwalb2]

Originally Posted by Cscottrun

Been to Gorge and others, not delusional. Gorge has a view. I'll take everything else at SPAC and MSG over it. And MSG has the best city in the world, and some views of its own.

Don't get me wrong, I very much appreciate the Gorge, and I totally get why people put it at the top...it's just not at the top for me, and that doesn't make me delusional.

If ALL we are taking into account is the venue (not the crowd, surrounding area, etc.), then yes, I agree Gorge. But that doesn't seem to be the case here.

Thanks for this perspective. To be candid, why I brought this up (aside from the "tour is winding down" banter) is because I have been to Gorge and Alpine now, and am shooting for SPAC next year, but kind of wanted to establish what other venues should be on my list to check out in shorter order. I hope the band tours forever (and I do think D & T tours may persist for some time after the band hangs it up), but I also don't think that's practical. They're getting older. Heck, I'm getting older. So, just trying to get a feel for that "next tier" of places I need to check out once I knock out the "Big 3" (or concurrently with knocking out the Big 3).

But you are 100% correct - the perspective I'm looking for is more than just the venue proper. It's the experience as a whole. For instance, I went to Fiddler's for the first time this year. The venue itself is fine... I actually kind of liked it. But it's located in a business park (thus knocking it down a bit), but it's in Denver, one of my favorite cities (thus boosting it a bit). Looking for that holistic "man, this is a great place to see a show" approach.