New interview w/Dave - Classic Rock Magazine

[AlexK79]

I subscribe to a British magazine that I absolutely love called Classic Rock. Got the April 2019 issue the other day, was laying in bed paging through and surprisingly ran across a short feature on DMB featuring an interview with Dave. It's brief, but I found it interesting as he made some of the most direct/pointed comments about Boyd that I've seen him make. Also a couple comments on the entitlement of hardcore fans, Trump, and making a studio album with Tim that I'm sure will rile some feathers or pique some interest.

I couldn't find it online anywhere so I transcribed it here. Enjoy!

"A true American phenomenon, the Dave Matthews Band flew under the radar yet still became one of the nation's biggest attractions. This was achieved largely through touring, but in 2017, for the first time in their history, the band skipped a year on the road. Frontman and leader Matthews tells us about the group's return.

You last spoke to Classic Rock before some gigs with multi-instrumentalist Tim Reynolds in 2017. How did they go?

That whole tour was a blast. It's always fun to play with Tim, because it's just a small group of people - just me and him and couple of crew members. Quite different to being part of the machine.

Were there any discussions about you and Tim making a record together?

It's a subject we always discuss. We make a very big noise for two people, and I'd love to transport that into a studio setting. I look forward to the day it happens.

These are the Dave Matthews Band's first European shows in four years. How did it feel to revive a sleeping beast that you once called "dysfunctional"?

What I didn't know so much [during that conversation] was that the focus and loyalty of Boyd Tinsley [violinist] was elsewhere. So we got a new keyboard player, Buddy Strong, to replace him and it's brought us an unimaginable new life.

Is it hard to remain "a regular Joe", as you put it, when your band has sold sixty-eight million CDs and DVDs combined?

Not really. I would still rather sit in a pub where nobody knows who I am than attend some party full of plastic assholes. Fame is a distraction to all of the good things.

The Dave Matthews Band have some of the most passionate and demanding fans around. Can that sometimes be exhausting?

Yeah. I suppose it can. Mostly they're good people, but I don't really understand the sense of entitlement that some of them feel.

Do they turn up at your house?

There were a couple of mad people with hammers [chuckles]. And somebody brought me some homemade jelly. I didn't eat it, because I wasn't sure what it might contain, but I did appreciate the gesture.

As a socially and politically aware artist, how did you feel when, seemingly without a shred of embarrassment, President Trump entertained guests at the White house with takeaway fast food?

We shouldn't be surprised by anything [that Trump does]. The man's lack of self-awareness is quite unbelievable.

Doesn't it make you think: "I could do better"?

Oh, look, my eleven-year-old son could do better being President than him.

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

Brief, but thought it was interesting! I'd love to hear a Dave & Tim solo record.

[dontdrink36]

I'd love a Dave and Tim studio album of new originals. That would be awesome.

[DMBCardinal]

That Trump question came out of nowhere. Not sure what that has to do with anything.

Other than that there were some interesting answers.

[dmbolp]

Nm 345678

[Cptn. Monkeyman]

“I look forward to the day it happens”. Yes... this is the thing I want to see happen most. I’d love a D&T record.

[coldengrey12]

Originally Posted by DMBCardinal

That Trump question came out of nowhere. Not sure what that has to do with anything.

Other than that there were some interesting answers.

I think it's fair to ask a guy who has campaigned for or played the inaugural ball of every Democratic nominee for president since Bill Clinton (except Al Gore?) questions about politics.

[snake911]

I'm guessing it was a much longer interview that was then cut down into the best soundbite answers. Very interesting answer about Boyd, that's the most direct answer so far yeah?

[utdmbfan]

I'd like to see a Dave and Tim album or just any album by Dave that isn't a DMB album. I'd like to see what he comes up with on his own again. Sometimes I think he's pigeon-holed creatively with the rest of the band.

[TwoStep2888]

D&T studio album would be neat

[ToySoldier#34]

D&T is my favorite music, an album would be great. Love his answer about the entitlement, see it on Ants daily.

[grilldanmo]

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

D&T is my favorite music, an album would be great. Love his answer about the entitlement, see it on Ants daily.

Indeed. It's astonishing...it being D&T's music AND the entitlement of DMB fans.

[prdstmnky36]

I think some people dont know the difference between constructive criticism and entitlement. Dave doesn't owe us anything....doesn't mean he cant be criticized for creating shitty, repetitive setlists...or being part of the problem (instead of part of the solution) with regards to the ticketing process....or the sound of the band being completely different than the machine they created over the course of the first 25 years.

People in general just dont like criticism, thats all it really is.

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by prdstmnky36

I think some people dont know the difference between constructive criticism and entitlement. Dave doesn't owe us anything....doesn't mean he cant be criticized for creating shitty, repetitive setlists...or being part of the problem (instead of part of the solution) with regards to the ticketing process....or the sound of the band being completely different than the machine they created over the course of the first 25 years.

People in general just dont like criticism, thats all it really is.

Of course there is a difference between entitlement and constructive criticism and I'm glad it isn't the family

[grilldanmo]

Originally Posted by prdstmnky36

I think some people dont know the difference between constructive criticism and entitlement. Dave doesn't owe us anything....doesn't mean he cant be criticized for creating shitty, repetitive setlists...or being part of the problem (instead of part of the solution) with regards to the ticketing process....or the sound of the band being completely different than the machine they created over the course of the first 25 years.

People in general just dont like criticism, thats all it really is.

I'm not going to dig up posts, but there have been plenty in various threads that literally state they owe us as we buy the tickets, albums, merch, etc. and should get better songs on the albums, in setlists, better access to tickets (from the WH), etc.. I can't say how sincere everyone is vs. venting, but at times it definitely goes well beyond criticism. For some this band can do no right and hasn't in almost decades. And in some of the posts from some people there is an air of entitlement...one well beyond any I've seen for any other band/artist.

[Bmwm3oz]

Thanks for posting.

[drop2d]

It's silly to look at posts from here or twitter/social media and take them seriously as 'entitlement'... We tend to overstate things in these settings with some sarcasm and jest intended (that's the way I read most anyway).

It is an odd statement from Dave though b/c he doesn't appear to interact with fans on social media, etc. I mean, it's not like people are walking up to him on the street and saying 'dude, WTF play more Dreaming Tree!!! Enough with the Seven!!!'.

[prdstmnky36]

Originally Posted by drop2d

It's silly to look at posts from here or twitter/social media and take them seriously as 'entitlement'... We tend to overstate things in these settings with some sarcasm and jest intended (that's the way I read most anyway).

It is an odd statement from Dave though b/c he doesn't appear to interact with fans on social media, etc. I mean, it's not like people are walking up to him on the street and saying 'dude, WTF play more Dreaming Tree!!! Enough with the Seven!!!'.

Exactly this


I took the entitlement response, and the "do they show up at your house" question as a direct follow-up. Thinking you can just show up to the mans house, the "interfering" with his personal life that im sure a handful of assholes partake in. Its always the same people, waiting around to see the band, waiting around hotels, standing in line at 6am for THEIR spot on the rail, same people holding up signs...that stuff gets noticed, not opinions on social media or message boards. That is the entitlement I thought he was referring to, and that is certainly a very small percentage of the fanbase.

[willndmb]

D&T album could be sweet and def can see it happening but not till the band breaks the steady touring schedule

[SeanMH]

Originally Posted by DMBCardinal

That Trump question came out of nowhere. Not sure what that has to do with anything.

Other than that there were some interesting answers.

media bias for sure

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by DMBCardinal

That Trump question came out of nowhere. Not sure what that has to do with anything.

Other than that there were some interesting answers.

Being a British magazine, I think they are likely fascinated with the entire thing and probably like to ask about it when they interview American artists. That combined with the fact that the interviewer probably knew Dave has been politically active maybe drove it?

[crashintonickdm]

That Boyd answer... yikes. He’s absolutely finished with dmb if there were ever any doubts

[AlexK79]

This is definitely the first time I've seen him straight up refer to Buddy as Boyd's replacement. It always seemed to be talked about in the abstract before like, "Boyd's gone and also we just brought in this new guy" as if they were mutually exclusive.

[TheStone91]

Didn’t someone in the band (Rashawn?) say they almost brought in Buddy for the Summer 2016 tour, but decided it wasn’t the right time.

Always thought that was interesting. We almost had a violin and keyboard for a tour again.

[Cptn. Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by TheStone91

Didn’t someone in the band (Rashawn?) say they almost brought in Buddy for the Summer 2016 tour, but decided it wasn’t the right time.

Always thought that was interesting. We almost had a violin and keyboard for a tour again.

I never heard that, but that’s interesting. So I’m wondering if they were gonna bring in Buddy in 2016 to ween Boyd out, rather than going cold turkey

[RiotAct]

“Oh, look, my eleven-year-old son could do better being President than him.”

Hehe.

#Resist #NotNyPresident #KamalaCortezBidenChtulu2020 #LoVE

Thanks for posting, interesting read.

[karczews41]

Wow that Buddy/Boyd comment was the most direct we’ve heard (to my knowledge) on Buddy’s place in the band. I’m all for it, (musically Boyd had lost it years ago) but damn do I miss a violin. I hope this isn’t Dave’s way of saying there will never be a violin (consistent guest or member) in the band in the future.

Also, would kill for a D&T record of all new originals, he’s spot on about how they get so much sound out of two people and they both have clearly enjoyed it over the years despite what else might be going on with the band.

Thank you for posting this.

[CrazyEasy354]

Originally Posted by utdmbfan

Sometimes I think he's pigeon-holed creatively with the rest of the band.

Absolutely. This is a big reason why artists do other projects to begin with, I'd say.

Originally Posted by AlexK79

Being a British magazine, I think they are likely fascinated with the entire thing and probably like to ask about it when they interview American artists.

Yeah, this is exactly it. Combined with the fact that Dave is a known liberal, they know he won't jump down their throats about if they ask, most likely.

Originally Posted by karczews41

Wow that Buddy/Boyd comment was the most direct we’ve heard (to my knowledge) on Buddy’s place in the band.

I'd say this is the most definitive statement we've gotten on the whole violin debacle, for the time being. That being said, Dave stating that Buddy "replaced" Boyd doesn't necessarily mean that he replaced the possibility of a violin returning. As someone stated earlier, it sounds like they toyed with the idea of bringing keys back recently while Boyd was still around.

BUT, I do think that's exactly what Dave means. I think violin is probably gone for good. I think Dave is bored of sounding like the old DMB, and wants something fresh. He's gotten that with the addition of Buddy, and seems to be over-the-moon about it.

[Will57]

I don't claim to be a music expert in the slightest, but I would think one would struggle to find an example of an artist that so regularly, and seemly without hesitation, shits on their most loyal fans in interview after interview the way Dave feels comfortable enough to do.

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by Will57

I don't claim to be a music expert in the slightest, but I would think one would struggle to find an example of an artist that so regularly, and seemly without hesitation, shits on their most loyal fans in interview after interview the way Dave feels comfortable enough to do.

He shits on psychos that show up at his doorstep and follow him around, can't really blame him

[crashintonickdm]

I think paying fans are entitled to a good show.

I’m not saying dmb completely sucks but last year the 3 shows I saw were bottom 10. One I walked out of. I’ve never done that before. Not even sure I’d do it again, that’s how bad it was.

It is odd how dave and Tim shows set wise are always way better than dmb show. I don’t wanna hear the excuses that people come up with either in terms of learning the songs. Usually in the same argument I’m told the guys are also world class musicians.