Dave Matthews Band made a triumphant two-night run return to Alpine Valley Music Theatre over the weekend. Both nights’ setlists were packed with fan favorites as well as some sought-after deep cuts. The band’s energy was peaking the entire weekend from just being back at the stories East Troy, WI venue. Members of the group even went so far as to mention on several occasions how much they love coming and playing at Alpine Valley. And that love is reciprocated, as the venue’s website states, “Dave Matthews Band has played Alpine Valley Music Theatre more than any other act in recent decades.”
The first night was a 21-song set that ran just shy of two and a half hours. Kicking off the night with the crowd-favorite “Pig”, the band navigated its entire discography and sprinkled in a couple covers and some unreleased songs for its next album. This show saw a full-band cover of Led Zeppelin‘s “Fool in the Rain” for the first time, which had the crowd going wild. The audience was also treated to a full band “Steady As We Go”, a beloved song for fans that is normally performed solo. The main set closed out with “Dancing Nancies” and led into a lively “Warehouse”. The band left the stage for a short time before Dave Matthews returned to the stage to perform a solo “Rye Whiskey” and the band closed out the night with a staple in “Two Step”.
Related: Dave Matthews Band Welcomes Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi In Jacksonville [Videos]
Night two was filled with songs adored by fans, beginning with the opening “That Girl Is You”, leading into a rousing “Granny”. From there, DMB played a much sought-after song, “The Stone”, with the crowd singing their hearts out during it. The band chilled down a bit for a couple of songs performing “Crush” and “Sweet”, and then got the crowd fired right back up with a wild cover of Peter Gabriel‘s “Sledgehammer”. During this, Dave sang sans guitar and busted out his signature energetic dance moves.
Fans were fortunate to hear “The Dreaming Tree”, “Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd”, and a partial “Lie In Our Graves” that featured guest Eric Krasno and had no reprise. The main set closed out with “You & Me” and a lively “Stay (Wasting Time)”. For the encore, Dave came out and played “Funny How Time Slips Away” solo before the band closed out the night and weekend with Bob Dylan‘s “All Along the Watchtower”. Dave Matthews Band even threw in a tease of “Stairway to Heaven” where the band caught fire.
All in all, Dave Matthews Band gave fans two fantastic nights of music at Alpine Valley and solidified arguments on why the group should be performing in East Troy on an annual basis.
The band will continue its tour this weekend in New York with another cherished venue for fans, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). The band will be on the East Coast for the rest of the month and then take a break before coming back at the end of August in Florida and making its way out to the West Coast and returning to the band’s staple Labor Day Weekend at The Gorge. For tickets and a full list of tour dates head here.
Check out a gallery of images of Dave Matthews Band at Alpine Valley on Sunday courtesy of photographer Brett Bergen, as well as fan-shot videos from the entire weekend.
Dave Matthews Band – “Steady As We Go” – 7/2/22
[Video: Brett Bergen]
Dave Matthews Band – “Fool In The Rain” (Led Zeppelin) – 7/2/22
[Video: Brett Bergen]
Dave Matthews Band – “Two Step” – 7/2/22
[Video: Brett Bergen]
Dave Matthews Band, Eric Krasno – “Lie In Our Graves” – 7/3/22
[Video: Brett Bergen]
Dave Matthews Band – “You & Me” – 7/3/22
[Video: Brett Bergen]
Dave Matthews Band – “All Along The Watchtower” (Bob Dylan) – 7/3/22
[Video: Brett Bergen]
Setlist: Dave Matthew Band | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | East Troy, WI | 7/2/22
Set: Pig, Grace Is Gone, Madman’s Eyes, Come On Come On, When The World Ends, You Might Die Trying, Stay Or Leave, The Only Thing, #41, Fool In The Rain [1], So Damn Lucky, The Song That Jane Likes, Say Goodbye, Grey Street, Steady As We Go, Pantala Naga Pampa, Rapunzel, Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin), Dancing Nancies, Warehouse
Encore: Rye Whiskey [2], Two Step
[1] FTP full band
[2] Dave solo
Setlist: Dave Matthew Band | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | East Troy, WI | 7/3/22
Set One: That Girl Is You, Granny, The Stone, Walk Around The Moon , Can’t Stop, Crush, Sweet , Sledgehammer, The Dreaming Tree, Why I Am, Louisiana Bayou, Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd, Lie In Our Graves [1], So Right, Jimi Thing, Ocean And The Butterfly, Don’t Drink the Water, You and Me, Stay (Wasting Time)
Encore: Funny How Time Slips Away [2], All Along The Watchtower
[1] Eric Krasno
[2] Dave Solo