Photos by Jarrod DickerThe Dave Matthews Band entered New York’s Citi Field Friday night to a convivial sold out crowd of over 40,000 fans for the last time in a long time amidst announcement of a 2011 hiatus. They often say that actions speak louder than words, and on this particular evening the sextet certainly let their performance do the talking. They presented an eclectic blend of twenty-two tracks that spanned from their first record, Under The Table and Dreaming to their most recent Grammy nominated album, Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King.

Buoyant and jovial, Dave Matthews was in familiar form as he danced merrily about the stage. As he engaged longtime members’ Boyd Tinsley, Carter Beauford and Stefan Lessard throughout the set, it became evident that this is not only a band, but a family. And like a family, the group’s camaraderie isn’t something formulaic or mechanical but personal and delicate, proven by their sovereign standing in the musical monarchy.

Channeling their inner jamband roots, DMB flaunted heavy improvisation, extended instrumental breakdowns, and unconventional melodic structures. Jeff Coffin displayed a high octane yet willowy bearing, performing lengthy saxophone solos in “Lying in the Hands of God” and “#41.” The acoustic driven “Jimi Thing” invited fans to take a vocal lead over the soft resonance of Matthew’s guitar. Tim Reynolds’ sound pierced strident with dominating shreds throughout “Still Water” and “Ants Marching.” Beauford anchored the rhythm section throughout the performance with authority. As Matthews performed solo acoustic for the first encore, “Little Red Bird,” the band rejoined for the closers, “Time Bomb” and “So Damn Lucky” as the blend of top notch talent came to climactic fruition. Demonstrating ever-impressive improvisational latitude, the group fuses influences from funk, jazz, rock, country, and pop to create a sound that is uniquely solitary and unparalleled to other bands on the scene.

And fans shouldn’t fret; Remember, it’s never goodbye…always see you later.