In a brief interview published yesterday by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dave Matthews spoke about a variety of topics including the recent events in his native Charlottesville, VA, his charitable efforts through Farm Aid, the ongoing Dave Matthews Band hiatus, and–to the great excitement of fans everywhere–plans for a new DMB album.
As Matthews explains in response to an inquiry about what’s next for DMB, “Yeah, actually, before I went on this trip, before all hell broke loose, me and Carter [Beauford, the DMB drummer] were recording some music together. We have a lot of stuff, so my plan is that we’ll put together some music this fall so we can have something out hopefully the beginning of next year. Hopefully, get it finished before that.” The projected early-2018 release would mark the band’s first since 2012’s Away From The World.
Dave Matthews Band To Host “A Concert For Charlottesville” With All-Star Lineup
Matthews has a rather long list of new songs that he has played live–either with DMB, with Tim Reynolds, or solo–but has not recorded for an album. “Death on the High Seas,” “Samurai Cop,” “Bob Law,” “Bismarck,” “Virginia in the Rain,” and more fall into that category. However, he muses that sitting on these songs has not been part of some larger plan: “I think we have some great music and some stuff that Carter and I worked on that’s added to the pile. There’s a lot to choose from. I just hope I choose wisely…Yea, I don’t know what my problem is [laughs]. I just, yea, I don’t have a plan, I think that’s my problem.”
Watch the Dave Matthews Band debut of “Samurai Cop” in Charlottesville in May of 2016 below, via YouTube user ChesterCopperpot5:
Matthews also spoke about his rare DMB tour-less summer this year: “It was great. I worked a bit earlier in the year with Tim [Reynolds, DMB guitarist]. We did some stuff in Europe and a few shows in the States here, and a show in Mexico, so we had some fun. It’s a lighter craft to move around. I just felt like last year was 25 years and I should…maybe that’s why I’m grumpy [now]— I didn’t go out on the road with the band this summer. I don’t think so. I had a great summer full of ups and downs, and I had more time with my family, which was really special. It was beautiful and I enjoyed it thoroughly, so hopefully I have some extra Wheaties in me when I take the larger ship on the road again.”
[h/t – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
[Cover photo – Dave Vann]
While the Dave Matthews Band live hiatus officially continues for the time being, fans can still catch Dave Matthews with guitarist Tim Reynolds at Dave and Tim Riviera Maya, an all-inclusive Mexican resort destination event set to take place January 12-14, 2018 in Riviera Maya, MX. The three concerts will take place at the Barceló Maya Beach Resort, sitting on a mile-long stretch of white sandy beach that features breathtaking landscapes and pools scattered throughout the property.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, head to the event website.
