Dave Matthews and his five-day beard and acoustic guitar

Star Tribune photo by Carlos Gonzalez

 

Dave Matthews Band's debut at Xcel Energy Center -- and first Twin Cities appearance since 2005 -- was good times but not a great time.

As I said in my review, the soldout show on Wednesday was uneven, it never really gained momentum until near the end. And there just weren't enough solos to raise the evening to the next level and to get Dave to dance that delightfully dorky dance.

Loved the light show, all swirling, trippy and fast changing. Good use of the giant video screens on the top and behind the stage.

I was surprised that DMB did only four songs from their current album "Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King." In other recent shows, they've done as many as eight numbers from the CD.

Props to opening act Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, an Austin, Texas band that offered intriguing 1960s R&B mixed with garage-rock guitar, energy and sensibilities. Plus their horn section joined DMB for "Jimi Thing," making it one of the night's highlghts.

Here is the DMB set list:

The Stone/ Warehouse/ One Sweet World/ Shake Me Like a Monkey/ Crush/ Stay or Leave/ So Right/ Seven/ #41/ Why I Am/ Dancing Nancies/ Crash into Me/ Can't Stop/ I Did It/ You and Me/ Jimi Thing ENCORE Black Jack/ Ants Marching

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