The Dave Matthews Band: Music for the People by Nevin Martell


The Dave Matthews Band: Music for the People
Title : The Dave Matthews Band: Music for the People
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0671035444
ISBN-10 : 9780671035440
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 176
Publication : First published August 1, 1999

Their albums enter the charts at #1. Fans follow them around the country, soaking up the incredible energy of their sold-out live concerts. From gigging at an Earth Day celebration and more frat parties than anyone can remember, Dave Matthews and his phenomenal band have electrified rock 'n' roll America. Now a music industry insider takes you to the heart of the Dave Matthews Band -- their meteoric rise to superstardom and the most extensive listing ever published of their tours and smash recordings, including the bootlegs that the band encourages. Charlottesville, Virginia, 1991: Dave Matthews meets and jams with drummer Carter Beauford, bassist Stefan Lessard, saxophonist Leroi Moore, and violinist Boyd Tinsley. The band tours extensively for the next two years and puts out the self-released live album, Remember Two Things. Their enthusiastic grass-roots following in the Southeast and groove-ridden jams earn them a major label deal with RCA Records and the release of Under the Table and Dreaming, giving fans two smash hits and garnering a pair of Grammy nominations. But it is the heartfelt ballad "Crash Into Me" from their third album, Crash, that vaults them into the alternative-rock mainstream. Superb critical acclaim for their fourth bestselling set, Before These Crowded Streets, lands Dave on the cover of Spin, dubbed "the King of Rock." Through interviews with close associates, collaborators, tour mates, and friends, along with a complete discography and "gigography" (the definitive list of all the band's phenomenal live shows), this book takes you inside the Dave Matthews universe. This multiracial quintet's unique mix of jazz, blue-eyed funk, world rhythms, and sensitive lyricism speaks to people across generations.

The Dave Matthews Band: Music for the People Reviews

  • Michael

    Another gift from my sister, who swore she didn't like him until I took her to back-to-back Bay Area concerts and henceforth got her hooked for life. :)

    It's true, I've been a fan from the wee grassroots bootlegging days. I even play guitar a little bit like him, whenever I do get around to playing - though it is not as much now as it was in college.

  • Ginger Hewitt

    Interesting history, but full of editing errors.

  • SJ Loria

    Nothing that is going to change your world, but a fairly decent history of the Dave Matthews Band. I wish it would divulge into his creative philosophies or the stories behind the songs, but though it occasionally touches on these subjects it mainly just covers what tracks were on which album. The main theme is a carpe diem live life and enjoy it style that shines through in Dave's incredible music. It was also cool learning about how they all met, how well they work together musically, and the ties they still have to Charlottesville. A cool book about a totally gnarly band. Make sure when you're reading it you just have your DMB records ready, because you'll probably want to listen to the songs as you read about them.

  • Donald

    Reading, or re-reading (I can't remember!), on Dave's 50th birthday! This edition was published in 1999, so it's dated, but it's still fun to read about the DMB! And it's got one of the best description's of the band's sound that I've ever heard or read! :

    "Part funk, part jazz, part world rhythms, part blue-eyed soul, part rootsy American
    rock 'n' roll, throw in a joint and a shot of Jack Daniel's..."

    Love it! :-)

    I know that there is a second edition, but I'd really love to read a 2017 updated version!

  • Frank Napolitano

    Strange, but I bought this book on the day that DMB sax player LeRoi Moore passed away. I didn't learn about his death until the next day.

    Just finished the book, and though it was more like a brief (only 168pp) love letter than a full history, it's still a good read about one of my favorite bands. I'm sure more detailed accounts will surface as the years go by.

  • Don Murphy

    This is one of the reasons why I try to avoid buying books from Amazon. I did not realize this guy was a "journalist" for High Times. So little information in this book, I'm pretty sure he used the CD covers as his 'research' only AFTER using them to separate the stems and seeds from his stash!

  • Allen

    Great book about one of the best and hardest workingband in America. They did it thier way and it paid off.

  • Danielle

    I was young. Shutup!

  • Melissa

    Having been a long time fan of DMB, I saw this on a friend’s bookshelf and asked to read it. It was a lot of fun to read about all these songs that had such an impact and influence on my life. Have your phone nearby to listen to parts of his songs you may have never noticed, music videos you may have missed, and to Google the little things that interest you. Quick , fun read.