The late afternoon rain ended an hour before doors at Riverbend Music Center allowing the throngs of faithful to emerge from their vehicles to begin preparing for an evening of music, happiness, delight, release, camaraderie, you name it. It’s not a secret that in over three decades of touring The Dave Matthews Band continues to draw a loyal fanbase to its live performances nearly ever summer as it has since its inception in 1991. This year is no exception with a bold tour spanning from April through August touching nearly every corner of the US and culminating in a 3-night stand at The Gorge Ampitheater.

As I mentioned in my article from DMB’s show in Columbus, Ohio last November, Dave holds dear his affinity for the fans as much as he does his bandmates. Like most artists, the band acknowledges that without the fans, there would likely be no success. For this commentary, I decided to focus on the fans, and what I found in speaking with the kind folks as they prepared for an evening of revelry was that they themselves are an emotion. An outward display; animated and vocal, joyful and excited, hopeful and gracious; about what this band means to them.

It’s impossible to capture a complete picture of the fanbase, in fact, I’m sure I’m only just scratching the surface. What follows though is a collection of some of the fans and descriptions of what the music means to them. As I meandered through the lots adjacent to the venue I heard stereos blaring DMB’s music, saw parents throwing ball with their kids, heard laughter of good friends, and happened upon couples excited for the weekend; all creating a vibe in preparation for the show with a smile and friendly nod in my direction.

The Cincinnati venue crowd came from all around Ohio and well beyond. Some in attendance were seeing DMB for the first time. For others this was not their first rodeo. Morgan and John are from Cincinnati and have seen the band twice and 5 times respectively, however, not since college and were excited the band was in their backyard. Miles’ wife wasn’t able to attend but he was thrilled to travel from Cleveland with his young son Eli for his first “Dave Show!” Miles got into the band through his brother in the early 2000s and has seen the band over 50 times. He and Eli would most definitely be enjoying the evening from the lawn. Michael and Amanda, also from Cincinnati, have seen the band several times each and just love being at the outdoor venues.

Ashley has seen the band “somewhere between 80 and 90 times! Her husband Jason only 9, but he came to the marriage fully aware of his wife’s affinity to the lifestyle. “I’m certainly not as big a fan, but I love being there for my wife watching her dance at the shows,” shares Jason. Of course, a DMB song played as their first dance when they got married. In a word, Ashley describes the live shows as “unique.” “each one is different every time she says.” Amanda and Bruce have seen the band 40+ and 30+ times respectively. For them, it’s become a family affair with kids and grandkids all into the band and attending shows. Eleven year old granddaughter has been to 8 shows says Amanda. Like many fans I spoke to, Amanda also sports a collection of tattoos commemorating the band and what it means to her complete with marching ants, song lyrics, and the iconic fire dancer.

Seeing the band dozens and dozens of times comes as no surprise to die-hard fans and Warehouse fan club members who have early entry opportunities to grab the coveted position along the rail in the pit, “an experience like no other,” claims Nick.

Other fans have enjoyed the music for years but only seen the band a handful of times. Stephanie, Sarah, Bridgit, and Aubrey have been friends since high school and have been “concert buddies” for over 25 years. Stephanie is the veteran of the group with 6 shows, Sarah attending for her first time. The group remembers hearing the band in school when songs would play before sporting events or in the halls outside the show choir rehearsal room. Collectively, they sum up their experience with the lyric “Here we have been standing for a long, long time.” A line taken from the song So Much To Say and a nod to the longevity of their friendship.

When it comes to travel, distance is no object for some fans. Colin and Kandi traveled from Florida to see the show at Riverbend with their friends Courtney and Tyler. When I asked them who was the biggest fan, all pointed to Colin.

Heath and Greta traveled from New York State, Mark and Stephanie from Massachusetts. For many, this was just another stop along the tour having just come from the show at Jones Beach and headed to Missouri after tonight is done. Nick saw the band in Europe a dozen times on a recent tour. His only regret? “Not going to all 19 of the shows on that run.”

One thing that rang true to me through the course of the evening was representation of generation. Folks my age who have clearly been at it since the git go in 1991 nodding in time with the music from the lawn, the pit, and the periphery. Younger fans experiencing the music for the first time in the thick of the crowd on the lawn. And families! Phil and his wife Cristi have been fans for a long time and their kids Reagan and Read have seen the band twice now. Reid loves concerts in general and has a fondness for his recent trip to Nashville to see Metalllica with mom. Reagan drifts more toward country, but both were excited to be seeing Dave and company again.

Regardless of how many times you’ve seen the band, or where, you likely have a favorite song. Friday’s setlist did not disappoint as it covered their discography extensively. From show opener The Best of What’s Around to encore-ender Don’t Drink the Water, fans were on their feet taking a break from whatever might have been going on in their lives to truly enjoy an evening of great music. There were selections from Under the Table and Dreaming and the band’s most current release, Walk Around The Moon, and everything in between. Dave even gave a nod to his sister Jane with her favorite, “The Song That Jane Likes,” and to Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys with a solo rendition of God Only Knows.

Joining Matthews on stage again for the 2025 tour are original and founding members, Carter Beauford (Drums), and Stefan Lessard (Bass). Long time collaborator Tim Reynolds joins on Guitar. Rashawn Ross (Trumpet), Jeff Coffin (Saxophone), and Buddy Strong (Keyboards) round out the lineup.

If you’re a mega fan, you already know the schedule, but if you’re the casual listener thinking about reengaging or someone new to the scene, don’t get left out. There are a lot of dates left, but tickets may be going fast so be sure check the band’s tour page for the location nearest you.

I’d love to hear what the music of Dave Matthews Band means to you. Whether it’s a word or sentence that sums up your experience, how many shows you’ve seen and where, or how far you’d travel to see another show, leave your thoughts in the comments below. Most of all, thanks to those who took a moment to share their experiences with me.

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