In September of 1994, Dave Matthews Band released their debut studio album, Under The Table And Dreaming. The 12-track album featured classic tracks like “Ants Marching”, “Satellite”, and “What Would You Say”, and would eventually go on to be certified six-times platinum by 2000.

At the time, the group was already on the rise, having gained fame through heavy touring along with their independently released album, 1993’s Remember Two Things, and their first-ever live EP, 1994’s Recently. Given the mega-stardom that Dave Matthews and company have now earned, it’s fun to look back to these early years before they reached mainstream stardom with the releases of of Under The Table And Dreaming and 1996’s Crash, which went on to the earn the group three Grammy wins (for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Album).

These days, fans can revisit this amazing video of Dave Matthews performing at a Blockbuster (RIP) in Memphis, TN back on August 10th, 1994. Taking place about a month prior to the release of Under The Table And Dreaming, the surprise in-store Blockbuster performance followed the Dave Matthews Band’s performance at Memphis’ New Daisy Theatre earlier in the evening.

In the 25-minute video, Dave Matthews works through songs like “Recently”, “The Best Of What’s Around”, “Lie In Our Graves”, “I’ll Back You Up”, “Dancing Nancies”, and “Satellite”.

Notably, the video also captures fans requesting the song “Spotlight”, to which Matthews replies, “The chances of that are growing smaller and smaller.” At the time of the request, “Spotlight” had not been performed since October of 1993—a fact that still remains true, though the group went on to partially tease the song during shows in both 1994 and 1997. Other highlights include the presence of Dave Matthews Band drummer Carter Beauford, who can be seen in the audience a couple times during the video.

Watch Dave Matthews’ surprise 1994 in-store performance at a Blockbuster Music store below, which was filmed on Master Hi8 tape by Matt Savard and uploaded and upgraded by Youtube user ChesterCopperpot5. Also, read on for a setlist (with minute-markers) and to hear thoughts from the original taper about the story behind the tape and the show. Interestingly, only three copies of the master tape were ever made, and Savard posits that Dave Matthews himself is the one who initially leaked the video (a VHS-to-DVD recording began circulating in 2007).

Dave Matthews – Blockbuster – 8/10/1994

[Video: ChesterCopperpot5]

Setlist: Dave Matthews (Solo Acoustic) | Blockbuster Music | Memphis, TN | 8/10/1994

Set: Recently (01:27), Fans request “Spotlight”/Dave replies (04:44), The Best of What’s Around (04:59), Lie In Our Graves (08:16), I’ll Back You Up (13:35), Dancing Nancies (16:53), Satellite (20:53)

Notes from original taper Matt Savard, via ChesterCopperpot5 on Youtube: 

I am Jeremy’s brother, Matt, who shot the Dave Blockbuster show on my folks’ old Super8 Camcorder. Jeremy didn’t know if you’d respond to a once-removed request so he had mentioned shooting it. Thanks for breathing a little life into the old recording with your edit.

A few notes on that day/evening:

On the Blockbuster show: It was a great little show for sure. I was the one requesting “I’ll back you up” For my GF who was the brunette sitting in front of me. We all got to hang with Dave a bit after and let him know I’d be taping (audio) the Daisy show that night and he called over his manager and told him to remember me in case we had any trouble, and said I could patch into the soundboard. They were all very cool to deal with and Dave requested a copy of the video. Told him I’d bring him one and after chatting a bit we took off to head home and dupe the Super8 onto VHS.

Only 3 copies of this Super8 were ever made, each one from the master. One for me, one for my buddy Chris (yellow hat in video), and one for Dave. Since then the master has not been played. I was intrigued to find the video had leaked. Chris said he never leaked it so it seems Dave did, which is cool.

That night at the Daisy, I ran into some trouble getting into the venue with my sound gear (the old owner was a jackass). I eventually left my gear with Chris and went and got his manager who came to the front and laid into the owner at the door “I know you’re going to let these fucking kids in with their gear, and you’re going to let them plug into your board”… I recall him being pretty damn intense. Not sure if this was an ongoing issue with the venue or what.

SO we got in, and he walked me down to the board with the owner following. I got set up (just crappy metal cassette tape) and let the Board guy patch me in with the owner hawking me. I set levels at the start of the show (didn’t have headphones) and left my gear with the board and went down to enjoy the show…

I sadly don’t recall the setlist, but I recall him playing a solid 90 min set. I went back to flip/change tapes periodically. At midnight curfew, he told the kids they had to leave during this set break, then they were coming back out. They did, and played what seemed like another 90 min set. It was a pretty epic show.

After unplugging my gear, I excitedly threw the tape in my car and gave it a listen….. clipping. Lots and lots of clipping. Not sure if the owner told him to do it or what but the board feed was distorted as shit and unlistenable (I was certain my levels were set correctly). Either way, I was the only person to my knowledge taping that night, and the recording was trash.

Interesting aside, I was a bartender at Flamingos starting the year after that Dave show you sent the poster of… I had that poster/flyer on my walls all through college up at UT Knoxville. Small world.

Matt

[H/T Jason Stessel]