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Dave Matthews Band

Date: Aug 03 2009

Themes: Alternative, Music

Grammar: Simple Past Tense

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Intro

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Jam bands like Dave Matthews Band are known for playing extended, improvised versions of their songs at their live concerts. They attract a devoted following to their shows. Some fans even follow their favorite jam band across the country. They travel from city to city with the band, forming a tight-knit community.

Dave Matthews Band first became popular in the mid-nineties. Jason thinks they’ve since fallen off the map. He might be surprised to know that the band is still touring. In fact, it has toured every summer since 1998. Listen to Jason and Dale talk about whether or not Dave’s still got it.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Dale

Jason: I feel like Dave Matthews Band got this reputation for being really lame at some point. Like, when they first came out it was this really cool, talented band. And I’m not sure what changed, but somehow…They’re like the butt of a lot of jokes these days, don’t you think?

Dale: I don’t think you’ve kept up to the times.

Jason: Oh yeah? What’s new with Dave Matthews Band?

Dale: Well, Dave Matthews Band, from what I’ve known from many of my friends, create shows very similar to Woodstock in different parts of the United States.

Jason: How’s it similar to Woodstock?

Dale: Well, everybody camps out, they have opening acts, and for like a weekend everybody’s there partying it up.

Jason: Wow.

Dale: And so I started realizing…going OK, what’s all special about Dave Matthews? It’s just a mix of jazz with current, I think, in my opinion. And it’s created that buzz.

Jason: But isn’t his stuff…like his vocal style is kind of goofy sometimes, his “shick-a-boop-ah” and stuff like that.

Dale: Very goofy. I think that it’s exactly as you said. That’s more of a jazzy feel. And I think that grabs more of the older type of crowd, and it still grabs the young one. It’s just amazing to hear the stories that everyone keeps telling me on how much they party at these things.

Jason: Well, maybe I’ll check out one of their live albums.

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Discussion

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Jason thinks that Dave Matthews Band doesn’t have a cool image anymore. Dale disagrees. He thinks that Dave Matthews Band is still popular among both younger and older people.

Dale has lots of friends who have been to Dave Matthews Band concerts. He compares them to Woodstock, a famous music festival that took place in the sixties. He says that when people go to Dave Matthews Band concerts, they party a lot. Sometimes the concerts include other bands and last a long time, and people bring tents and camp out at them.

Jason and Dale agree that Dave Matthews’ musical style is similar to jazz, but more contemporary. The way he sings might sound silly sometimes, but it is influenced by jazz scat singing.

Jason thinks he might like Dave Matthews Band better if he heard them play live. Do you prefer seeing bands in concert or listening to them at home? Do you think it would have been fun to go to Woodstock?

Comments

Marcelolic

Brazil

I like concerts as I like to listening to my favorate band at home…I really like anyway ;)

Marcelolic

Brazil

I love concerts! The last one that I went was the Iron Maiden concert here in Brasilia,It was simply pretty cool!The last time I watch then in a concert was in 2001 in Rock n Rio 3…Imagine you are in front of the band that you love,yes,is amazing ;)

enricobe

Italy

I know Dave Matthews since his first album. One of the most known song here in Italy is Satellite, I have to admit is a very beautiful song. So emotional well performed even in live version. For me one of the best album is Everyday. Is like some kind of album where every song are better than other. I have listen so many times before it started to bore me. Unfortunately Dave Matthes had a concert in Lucca, here in Italy, is far from Rome where I live. I have missed a great occasion to appreciate his performance live on stage.
I hope to have a second chance to see him perhaps in Rome.

meteorareanimation

Egypt

Bands don't come here unfortunately but i'd really love to go to a concert and see how is it like ^^

tiagon85

Brazil

I enjoy that band, they have a different way to play and make songs, they´re really nice!! But I don´t remember when the last show in Brazil happened, maybe it´s time to do another show here.

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

i like to listen to bands at home but it would be funnier to listen to them live in a concert. i dont think it would have been fun to go to woodstook, since i heard some not too good stuffs that happened there, though many legendary artists played there.

Lilo0o

Egypt

hi denny, actually in Egypt the concerts are not expensive, and anyone can buy the ticket, and i went to many concerts and i had so much fun..hope u can try it soon :)

Mahatma

Mexico

go to next link, it´s a nice video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew8hmVIGKcM&feature=fvste1

Mahatma

Mexico

I think it´s a great band!, but i don`t know all their songs, just now i´m looking for this band in youtube ;)

larrychen

China

frankly i never listened to any concert, what a pity

so i would like to listen to songs in a live concert_~

rosendo

Mexico

i havent heard Dave Matthews Band

sofree

China

Basically I prefer listening to bands at home, because I listen to pop or folks mostly. But I would want to see Linkin Park or Matchbox 20 in concert, for songs with strong rhythm and heavy beat, like Rock, listening to live has a lot more fun.

Yes, I would love to go to Woodstock, isn't it a little bit too late? :p

Just downloaded Dave Matthews Band – Hello Again Not bad!