Dave Matthews Band Hits SPAC Milestone, Plays 50th Show at Packed Venue

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Dave Matthews Band has played a whopping 212 shows in New York, starting with their first in-state performance in July of 1992. Of those concerts, 50 have now been played at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, starting with the jam band’s Spa City premiere on Sept. 3,1994 and continuing with shows 49 and 50 last weekend.

To celebrate the milestone, Matthews debuted a new original song, “Take All Day,” during his July 19 encore. The delicate ballad, which Matthews performed solo, was met with a rousing ovation from a crowd that filled nearly every inch of available lawn space.

Dedicated DMB fans might’ve also noted a couple other rarities: “The Best of What’s Around” closed out a set for the first time since 1993, and “The Stone” was played during an encore for the first time in over a decade. Matthews also tossed a variety of favorites (“What Would You Say,” “The Space Between,” “Idea of You,” “Cornbread,” “Tripping Billies,” “Everyday,” and “Jimi Thing”) and covers (Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain,” David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” and Cameo’s “Word Up!”) into his two Saratoga setlists.

The singer-songwriter, who is often vocal about his political beliefs, made a thinly-veiled jab at ICE arrests during his Friday show, before hoisting up signs that read “Stop Killing Children” and “Stop the Genocide” as the audience shuffled its way toward the exits.

The Dave Matthews Band is one of SPAC’s most popular acts, having played at the venue nearly every year since ‘94. Perhaps not to be outdone, Phish (who have taken the SPAC stage 24 times) will add three more shows to the record books this weekend.