The Playlist: Dave Matthews Band

Known for their constant touring and blending of musical genres, the Dave Matthews Band became one of the breakthrough acts of the 1990s as they rose from a college town jam band to reach worldwide success.

With a slew of Grammy nominations and wins to their credit, the Charlottesville, Va. band is back on the road this summer and has made stops in recent days to Atlanta's Piedmont Park and Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium (Va. Tech students and faculty were given free tickets and attendance was estimated at 50,000). The current tour of outdoor venues will also bring the band to Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre next Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Having caught my first DMB show last June at Verizon Wireless, I can safely say it's one of the best concerts going today. If you like a wide variety of music genres - and can tolerate that mysterious pungent odor that surrounds some of the concert-goers - then I'd recommend buying tickets.

I know I'll be there.

With that said, here's a look at some of my favorite DMB songs:

Ants Marching (1995)
Album: Under the Table and Dreaming



One of the best-known DMB songs, the second single from their breakthrough album reached No. 18 on Billboard's Modern Rock Charts. The band performed the song during their debut on 'Saturday Night Live' April 15, 1995 and closed last summer's Charlotte set with the song before returning with a handful of encores. "This is our anthem," Matthews once said.

Crash Into Me (1996)
Album: Crash



Arguably the band's most famous and romantic song, Matthews has said it was written about the worship of women. And rather than being arrested for voyeurism, he wrote a song. It peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts, making it one of the band's biggest hits to date.

Crush (1998)
Album: Before These Crowded Streets



The album's third single, the love song peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts. Live performances of the laid-back jazz tune usually run over 10 minutes - typical for any live DMB song - and the album version is equally as long; the song was cut in half for radio play. Matthews has said he took the song's opening line from Willie Nelson's 'Crazy.'

Everyday (2001)
Album: Everyday

Music Video


'America: A Tribute to Heroes'


The song evolved into its current form from the band's previous song, '36.' Notable for a feel-good music video in which a man hugs random people on the street - including Conan O'Brien, Sheryl Crow, and the Blue Man Group - the song peaked at No. 8 on the Adult Top 20 Charts. In the wake of Sept. 11, Matthews performed an acoustic version of the song as part of the 'America: A Tribute to Heroes' telethon held Sept. 21, 2001.

Grey Street (2002)
Album: Busted Stuff



Reaching No. 18 on the Adult Top 40 charts, Matthews has said the song was inspired by the late Bostonian poet Anne Sexton who killed herself in 1974. A band favorite during recent tours, the depressing nature of the song is cleverly disguised by its upbeat tempo.

So there’s my list. What’s yours? Shoot me an e-mail at grahamcawthon@shelbystar.com and it might end up featured in a future column.