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Liberation History          (View Current Songs Eligible for Liberation)
Liberations
One of the most exciting aspects of a Dave Matthews Band show is the possibility that on any given night, just about any given song can be played. Now the reality is that there are songs that are played with far more regularity than others. It has become a bit of a sport for fans to chase song "liberations", which occur when a song has been played for the first time after a lengthy hiatus.

Conditions for Song Liberation
A line has to be drawn somewhere, and after careful consideration, we at Ants have come up with the following criteria for what constitutes a song liberation:

  • 150 shows since last performance - This is the most subjective criteria of the bunch, admittedly. While humans measure time in terms of days, the band's 2017 hiatus and the pandemic response that forced the cancellation of the 2020 tour pushed us to consider "shows since" as our preferred metric for judging song scarcity. For example, should DMB go on a 3-year hiatus, we wouldn't consider every song a liberation upon return. 150 shows is somewhere in the ballpark of 3 years' worth of shows, and that feels about right. Shows must have been performed to be counted (no cancellations), and we ignore shows that have unknown or empty setlists.

  • No Teasing - Must be considered a full performance of the song. Teases and partials will not be considered a valid liberation.

  • Cover Song Minimum: 10 Plays - The band is known for playing lots of covers, but very few stick around for the long haul. Those that do, certainly warrant liberation should they disappear and return at a later date (read: Watchtower, The Maker).

  • Original Song Minimum: 5 Plays - A song should stick around for a few plays before we consider it established enough to warrant a liberation upon its return.

Exclusions
There are, of course, a few exclusions to cover some outlier cases:

  • Album Exclusions - Tim Reynolds originals, True Reflection songs and songs deemed collaborations

  • Intros, Improv & Jams

  • Previous Song Versions - Examples include Don't Burn the Pig, #36 & Leave Me Praying

Shows Since (↓) Days Since (↓) Last Played (↓) Liberated (↓) Song (↓) Album (↓)
329 (*)28142015-11-072023-07-22 Little ThingUnreleased
23818202018-07-272023-07-21 Hunger for the Great LightStand Up
20915942019-03-102023-07-21 Help MyselfUnreleased
558 (*)43172011-09-182023-07-14 American Baby IntroStand Up
29025342015-08-012022-07-09 Pay For What You GetUnder the Table and Dreaming
20821402015-09-132021-07-23 SweetAway From The World
310 (*)22082013-06-262019-07-13 Blue Water Baboon FarmUnreleased
20214702015-07-042019-07-13 #40Unreleased
28821422013-08-302019-07-12 Joy RideStand Up Bonus Disc
15712692015-06-102018-11-30 Cortez The KillerCover Songs
22918372013-07-032018-07-14 JTRThe Lillywhite Sessions
16910812013-07-092016-06-24 Fool to ThinkEveryday
25319952010-11-202016-05-07 The Last StopBefore These Crowded Streets
422 (*)25692008-06-212015-07-04 #40Unreleased
477 (*)29522007-05-272015-06-26 Down By the RiverCover Songs
16513642010-09-182014-06-13 Good Good TimeUnreleased
29417842008-09-072013-07-27 Old Dirt HillStand Up
327 (*)20762007-09-222013-05-29 Hunger for the Great LightStand Up
24814552008-07-022012-06-26 The Space BetweenEveryday
20713682008-08-292012-05-28 Help MyselfUnreleased
2268972008-06-062010-11-20 Long Black VeilCover Songs
382 (*)21102004-10-022010-07-13 Good Good TimeUnreleased
352 (*)18962005-03-272010-06-05 Cry FreedomCrash
19010142007-08-262010-06-05 Some DevilSome Devil
1567212008-06-142010-06-05 Can't StopCome Tomorrow
1669322007-11-152010-06-04 DreamgirlStand Up
1698692007-03-232009-08-08 I'll Back You UpRemember Two Things
24914462004-07-132008-06-28 The Space BetweenEveryday
16310632005-07-242008-06-21 #40Unreleased
883 (*)46771995-08-212008-06-10 Water Into WineUnreleased
17110532003-09-092006-07-28 Sleep to Dream HerEveryday
17810592003-08-082006-07-02 The Last StopBefore These Crowded Streets
17910572003-07-192006-06-10 So RightEveryday
323 (*)17342000-12-132005-09-12 ExodusCover Songs
1789952002-12-212005-09-11 HalloweenBefore These Crowded Streets
2139061998-06-212000-12-13 ExodusCover Songs
522 (*)21131995-02-252000-12-08 Blue Water Baboon FarmUnreleased
Shows Since (↓) Days Since (↓) Last Played (↓) Liberated (↓) Song (↓) Album (↓)
Shows Since (↓) Days Since (↓) Last Played (↓) Liberated (↓) Song (↓) Album (↓)












   




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