Member Swap: Rick Mitarotonda Joins Dave Matthews Band for “The Maker,” Jeff Coffin and Rashawn Ross Sit-in with Openers Goose During Gorge Weekend Finale
Photo: Stevo Rood
This past weekend, Dave Matthews Band returned to the Pacific Northwest’s revered Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, Wash., for the latest chapter of their annual Labor Day weekend concert series at the picturesque outdoor venue. After commencing the multi-night event on Friday, August 29, with a guest slot from fiddler Jake Renick Simpson and the first “I Did It” since July 21, 2015, they continued the festivities on Saturday, August 30, with members of Béla Fleck, one of night’s opening acts and a heavy offering of deep cuts, which effectively set the tone for the last evening of entertainment on Sunday, August 31.
The third and final day of music on the hillside included a highly anticipated opening frame from Goose, who had previously crossed paths with Dave Matthews during the November 2024 Soulshine Benefit Concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The percussive push into “Drive” kicked off the Connecticut ensemble’s stage time, and coalesced into a “Thatch” follow-up, sans pause. The two-song start transitioned into seasoned numbers and eventually a new one, “Jed Stone,” a feature from their 2025 surprise LP, Chain Yer Dragon.
After turning in their latest live rendition of “Hot Tea,” Goose brought out members of DMB, Jeff Coffin on saxophone, in addition to Rashawn Ross on trumpet, to liven up the final number of their Gorge set, “Arcadia.” The enriched final song laid the groundwork for Mitaronda’s sit-in during the main frame, which ultimately took the sixth slot and followed a “Drunken Soldier” opener, “Hunger for the Great Light,” “Loving Wings” (with Tim Reynolds on acoustic guitar), “Walk Around the Moon,” and a Matthews scat intro on “Minarets.”
In typical Matthews fashion, he addressed the crowd before the guest’s arrival, telling the audience, “It seems only fair that I ask Rick from Goose to come up here.” Thanks and jokes followed, before the gospel, a soulfully played “The Maker.” Matthews and Mitaronda shared lines, demonstrating the lush and complementary nature of their vocals over the deep-seated live staple.
The single set performance brought out an interpolation of Sly and the Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” on “So Damn Lucky,” which preceded “Lying in the Hands of God” paired with an “American Baby Intro.” The introduction exceeded six minutes, and knocked into the main number for the first time since May 30, 2014, ending a 559-show gap in “American Baby” plays. Follow-up “Mercy” was also a return, having previously been performed on Sept. 4, 2021, before this weekend’s revival.
Guest fiddler Simpson restored his guest role, adding to “Grace is Gone” and “Warehouse.” The latter represented one of the most improvisational exchanges of the night. Ultimately, “Kill the Preacher” saw the band break into a trio, Matthews, Reynolds, and Carter Beauford, and eventually resume their regular lineup on the second-to-last song of the main frame, “Why I Am.” “Grey Street” was the final number of the 18-piece set before a solo Matthews kicked off the encore, “Peace on Earth.”
The band returned to assist on “Lie in Our Graves [Reprise],” before “The Best of What’s Around” aided an extended outro and represented a fitting finale for the annual concert event. Following the Gorge Weekend, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds are billed to take part in Farm Aid 40. For more information on the band’s forthcoming schedule, visit davematthewsband.com.
Scroll down for video and setlists from the final night of Three Days of Dave.
Goose
The Gorge Amphitheatre – George, Wash.
August 31, 2025
Set: Drive > Thatch, A Western Sun, Hungersite, Give It Time, Jed Stone, Hot Tea, Arcadia#
Notes:
# With Jeff Coffin on saxophone and Rashawn Ross on trumpet
Setlist and notes via elgoose.net.
Dave Matthews Band
The Gorge Amphitheatre – George, Wash.
August 31, 2025
Set: Drunken Soldier, Hunger for the Great Light, Loving Wings, Walk Around the Moon, Minarets, The Maker+, Shotgun, Jimi Thing, So Damn Lucky, Lying in the Hands of God, American Baby Intro, American Baby@, Mercy!, Grace Is Gone&, Warehouse&, Typical Situation, Kill the Preacher, Why I Am, Grey Street
Enc.: Peace on Earth$, Lie in Our Graves, The Best of What’s Around
Notes:
+ With Rick Mitarotonda
& With fiddler Jake Renick Simpson
$ Dave solo
@ Last played on May 30, 2014
! Last played on Sept. 4, 2021
Setlist and notes via dmbalmanac.com.
