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Dave Matthews, a South African who resettled in Charlottesville (Virginia),
formed a live band whose racially integrated line-up includes guitar,
saxophone (LeRoi Moore), violin (Boyd Tinsley),
drums (Carter Beauford) and bass (Stefan Lessard).
While their grass-roots, populist attitude towards live music was
similar to other
hippie-revival bands such as Blues Traveler
and Phish,
Matthews conducted his ensemble through a luxuriant mix of
celtic folk, rhythm and blues, jazz-rock and world music.
The live Remember Two Things (Bama Rags, 1993) was an appropriate
introduction to the band, with
Tripping Billies and Recently stealing the show.
The catchy Ants Marching will be rediscovered only when remixed on
the second album.
The product was ready for mass consumption and
Under The Table And Dreaming (RCA, 1994) served it to the masses.
The Best Of What's Around,
Rhyme & Reason,
What Would You Say and Typical Situation are prime pop
masquerading as progressive jams.
Even the likes of Jimi Thing and Warehouse, with their more
elaborate structure, will stay in repertory for years.
The album would remain their quintessential recording.
The band changed course on Crash (RCA, 1996), a starker, almost
sinister album that leans towards rhythm'n'blues while assimilating
even more instruments
(Crash Into Me, Too Much, #41).
Nevertheless, Two Step continued the flow of hits,
while the band kept touring
at the tune of sold-out amphitheaters around the nation.
Live at Red Rocks (Bama Rags, 1997) released a double-disc live album of an August 1995 performance,
that, without any marketing or promotion, climbed the charts. This signaled
the birth of a new kind of merchandise: extremely low-energy live concerts.
Before These Crowded Streets (RCA, 1998) rocks harder and boasts
distinguished guests. The album debuted at the top of the American charts
and Don't Drink The Water was a successful single.
Pantala Naga Pampa, Rapunzel and Stone offered more food
for their live picnics.
Another live album,
Listener Supported (RCA, 1999), emphasized the funk element.
Occasionally,
the Dave Matthews Band sounds like Sting fronting the Little Feat
(a compliment for the band, especially the drummer, not for the singer).
At the end of 1999, the Dave Matthews Band had already sold a total of
15 million albums.
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(Translation by/ Tradotto da Andrea Checd)
Dave Matthews, Sudafricano, stabilitosi a Charlottesville (Virginia),
formò un complesso live con una formazione insolita: chitarra,
sassofono (LeRoi Moore), violino (Boyd Tinsley),
batteria (Carter Beauford) e basso (Stefan Lessard).
Nonostante dal vivo, la loro attitudine, rurale e populista, sia simile ad
altri gruppi
hippy-revival quali Blues Traveler
e Phish,
Matthews riesce a dirigire l'ensemble verso una lussureggiante
amalgama di folk celtico, rhythm and blues, jazz-rock e musica etnica.
Il disco dal vivo Remember Two Things (Bama Rags, 1993)
era un'adeguata presentazione del complesso, con brani come
Tripping Billies eRecently che rubano la scena.
L'orecchiabile Ants Marching sarà riscoperta solo successivamente,
remixata sul secondo album.
Il "prodotto" era pronto per un consumo su larga scala e
Under The Table And Dreaming (RCA, 1994) lo serviva alle masse.
The Best Of What's Around,
Rhyme & Reason,
What Would You Say and Typical Situation sono essenze
pop camuffate da improvvisazioni progressive.
Simili anche Jimi Thing e Warehouse, con una struttura piu`
elaborata, resteranno in repertorio per anni.
L'album rimarrà la quintessenza delle loro incisioni.
Il gruppo cambiava strada su Crash (RCA, 1996), album piu`
difficile e piuttosto sinistro, che pende verso il rhythm and blues mentre
inglobava persino piu` strumenti
(Crash Into Me, Too Much, #41).
Ciò nondimeno, Two Step proseguiva la serie dei successi,
mentre il gruppo continuava a girare in tour per la nazione a
suon di anfiteatri che registravano puntualmente il tutto esaurito.
Live at Red Rocks (Bama Rags, 1997) licenziava un doppio live,
che, senza marketing e promozione, scalava le classifiche. Ciò segnava
la nascita di un nuovo tipo di mercanzia: concerti dal vivo a bassissmo
contenuto di energia.
Before These Crowded Streets (RCA, 1998) piu` hard rock, vanta
ospiti distinti. L'album debuttava in testa alla classifica americana
e Don't Drink The Water divenne un singolo di successo.
Pantala Naga Pampa, Rapunzel and Stone affrivano piu`
cibo per i loro picnic dal vivo.
Un altro live,
Listener Supported (RCA, 1999), ha enfatizzato la componente funk.
Accidentalmente,
la Dave Matthews Band suona come Sting alle prese con i Little Feat
(un complimento per il gruppo, non per il cantante).
Alla fine del 1999 la Dave Matthews Band aveva gia` venduto
un totale di 15 milioni di dischi.
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