Dave Matthews fills the room with old songs and new in his solo Tiny Desk Concert
Fans of Dave Matthews Band have been anxiously waiting for an album for about six years now, and with the release of last month’s Come Tomorrow, the band delivered. And did they deliver. Surprisingly, when it came time to pay a visit to NPR Music and their famous Tiny Desk, Matthews chose to play by himself, though the performance was big enough to fill the whole room as if a band was still backing him.
Following a blissed-out, soulful version of “Samurai Cop,” Matthews followed up with a second new track, “Here On Out.” To watch him, totally immersed in every second of the music, is truly incredible. He’s one of those God-tier performers, but then easily harnesses his humanity with his in-between song banter, and all of a sudden you feel like you’re laughing with an old friend. Then, the set switched gears and we were gifted with three old songs, “Don’t Drink The Water,” “Mercy,” and “So Damn Lucky.”
Dave Matthews has always been such a multifaceted artist, and to watch him pull back and strip down (though not really) these timeless songs is really a joy to witness. And he seems to never get tired of it. You can watch the intense 23-minute set below.