Charlie Timberlake

When celebrating the 50th birthday of a bandleader like Dave Matthews, the task really is separating the artist from the bandleader, and there is really no better example of Matthews’ talent as a performer by himself than the October 24, 2002 show at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall. 

Fresh off of the madness of the band’s Busted Stuff tour, Matthews retreated back home to Seattle for some well-deserved relaxation and early recording sessions for what would become his debut solo record Some Devil. In that time the Billitt Foundation, an organization aimed to safeguard the environment through responsible human activities, called on the DMB leader to play a solo show in their name late in October. So, on a chilly night in Seattle, Matthews hit the stage for a rare solo show and one that would become quite special. 

There was every reason for this to be a run of the mill show–a benefit gig after a long year of relentless touring–but Matthews decided to try out some new tricks on the small audience, delivering the first solo versions of the new “Loving Wings” and Everyday cut “Fool to Think” early on as well as a special rendition of “Raven,” played solo for the second (and final) time ever, with the first coming in 1995. Before These Crowded Streets singalong “Stay (Wasting Time)” was also played for the first time solo and would never be performed like that again. 

Along with the numerous musical highlights, the show finds Matthews in a particularly playful mood, peppering the crowd with stories and fun detours like a “Sitting On the Dock of the Bay” interlude in Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away.” Watch the show in full today as our celebration of Matthews’ 50th birthday continues. If you like it that much, download a clean copy as the show received a proper release via DMBLive.