Dave Matthews Band set up shop at New York, NY’s Madison Square Garden on Friday to kick off a two-night run as part of the group’s Walk Around The Moon fall tour. Matthews and company have been known to get their many talented friends involved at his Garden gatherings, and his first of two fall 2023 stops at the World’s Most Famous Arena was no exception as Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Trombone Shorty, James Genus, and Jon Faddis took the stage throughout the show.
After beginning the show with a string of song selections featuring the core DMB septet, Matthews got the guest appearances started by welcoming Susan Tedeschi (electric guitar, vocals) to the stage to assist on a cover of The Band‘s “The Weight”. Susan stuck around and her husband and Tedeschi Trucks Band co-bandleader, guitarist Derek Trucks, joined the party next for a howling “All Along The Watchtower”, appearing unusually early in the set. Susan took her leave from there while Derek stayed put to trade guitar licks with Tim Reynolds on “Lie In Our Graves”.
The band shifted back to its core lineup for “Spaceman”, but the normalcy didn’t last long: For the following song, “#41”, DMB welcomed out lauded bassist James Genus, currently a member of the Saturday Night Live house band, to augment the low end. Keeping the guests coming, Dave Matthews Band recruited Trombone Shorty for a cover of The Beatles‘ “Come Together” (DMB’s first rendition of the song in two years). Shorty stayed onstage while lauded jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis joined in for a powerful “Jimi Thing” > “Brick House”, then took his leave as Faddis assisted on a powerful “Warehouse”.
Check out videos and photos of the various guest appearances at Dave Matthews Band’s Madison Square Garden opening night below.
The band returns to MSG on Saturday night to round out the two-night stand. For a complete list of upcoming Dave Matthews Band fall tour dates, head here.
Dave Matthews Band w/ Susan Tedeschi – “The Weight” – 11/17/23
[Video: Sean Roche]
Setlist [via DMB Almanac]: Dave Matthews Band | Madison Square Garden | New York, NY | 11/17/23
Set: Virginia in the Rain, Old Dirt Hill, Straight Shot, Madman’s Eyes, The Best of What’s Around, She, Walk Around The Moon, The Weight (The Band) [1], All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) [2], Lie in Our Graves [3], Spaceman, #41 [4], Come Together (The Beatles) [5], Jimi Thing [6] > Brick House (The Commodores) [6], Warehouse [7], Cry Freedom, Pig, So Damn Lucky
Encore: Just Breathe, Pantala Naga Pampa > Rapunzel
[1] with Susan Tedeschi
[2] with Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi
[3] with Derek Trucks
[4] with James Genus
[5] with Trombone Shorty
[6] with Trombone Shorty and Jon Faddis
[7] with Jon Faddis
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