Jeremiah Lutz
I started this back in 2020, adding pieces here and there as time went on, not needing to post it anywhere. Now, you’re giving everyone this amazing opportunity to share our stories and love for the band, their music, words and inspiration. Thank you for doing this.
My DMB story
The year was 2001 and we were in our tenth grade year in Geometry class together. When I entered the class I looked for someone e I knew and Caroline was the only one I knew so I went a sat next to her. We talked throughout the year trading stories and sharing things, such as music. I remember telling her I listen to new things and she suggested DMB. I said okay and she knew that I smoked pot, so she said, “Listen to Jimi Thing! It is about smoking pot.” And then she caught my attention.
After school I went home, got stoned and sat down in front of my computer. Waited for my painfully slow computer to boot up, so while waiting, of course I had to smoke some more to pass the time. Finally after several long minutes, I opened Limewire and searched “DMB- Jimi Thing” and I downloaded several versions of the song. One of the songs that were downloading all night was 12-19-98. I had no idea what I was getting myself into downloading this version. I went to play basketball and hang out some friends for the day and early evening, letting the songs continue to download.
Finally home, showered and ready to relax. Remembering the songs I had downloaded earlier, I smoked again to prepare for a ride that has been going for 20 years, not keeping the hands or feet inside the ride until it stops. I slapped on my Dads studio headphones, pressed play and it was the studio version of Jimi Thing. I got about halfway thru the tune before I changed it. Next up was “12-19-98_jimi_thing_dave_matthews_band.mp3” on my Winamp playlist.
Before Dave Matthews Band, before I had in my library were The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc, older bands, then after hearing DMB, my music library expanded very quickly. Listening to Gomez, Phish, RRFB, Blues Traveler and other bands that were “associated” with DMB.
The music that was coming through these headphones was mind-blowing. It was making my ears move in ways I’ve never felt before. The rifts. The lyrics. The crowd. The energy. It was everything I was missing all in my ears at one fucking time. 14:10 of music that changed my life for the good since then. Continuing to listen to the song on repeat until I download other songs from this album because if one song was this good, then shit, the rest must be great. Crash, WWYS, DDTW, Christmas Song and The Maker.
The Maker also was a big part from that album that helped the love grow quickly. The jam on the song made me sit back and think “Wow! This is different”. I didn’t mind the long songs. Hearing them for the first time didn’t bother me like most, “it’s too drawn out”. Hearing the excitement in the crowd made the length f the song shorter because you become one with the thousands in attendance.
Twenty years and numerous concerts have passed since my love for Dave Matthews Band started. After the year 2020 of no concerts for anyone and personally haven’t been to a DMB show since 2018, purchasing tickets for 2021 was a MUST. Being able to thank the band in person for the music is a bucket list item but until then, I will thank them with my screams and yells from my seat under the pavilion.
It has been an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity to see this band throughout the changes multiple times live. Each show none better than the other but they all had their own meanings.
Many songs in the bands extensive library get me through a lot of emotional life events, be it a passing of a loved one, someone flicked the wrong nerve or if I just need to remember someone, there’s always a DMB song that will fill that void. There aren’t many other musicians and/or bands that have that effect on me that keep my mind in a healthy place.
Lastly, Mr. Dave Matthews is a plethora of “Dave Speak” quotes but one that hits home the most is one of his more recent quotes in the last few years , “It is always easier to leave than to be left”. Having lost my Brother, Grandmother and Dad all around my birthday in their respective years of passing, his words outside of the bands music is as strong as the music itself.
Thank you DMB, thank you.