Chapel Hill, April 19th

[jarofdirt]

Hey, everyone. I don't really post on here, but after last night I feel like I have to. First off, Megafaun...amazing. The friend that came with me knew very little about Levon Helm or The Band outside of "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", I told him on the way that Levon Helm had passed away and he didn't really know who Levon was. While Megafaun is playing, "I shall Be Released" I look over and my friend has tears running down his face. I noticed Patterson watching from the sound room and could see how much he loves this band. Megafaun gained a couple of new fans last night.

DBT, what can I say? I have seen this band somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen times(which I know is a small number when compared to some of you). I don't know what it is, but every time I see them, while I am watching them, to me it is the best show yet. After the euphoria of the show wears off, I will remember a show that I had seen before that was in actuality better, but DURING that show, it is the best rock show I have ever been to. Last night was no different, only today I am thinking back and I can't remember a show that topped this one. Cooley was on fire and enjoying the hell out of himself. Matt Patton is a very welcome addition. My friend pointed out something about him, he doesn't look like a member of the band, just watching him play and seeing how excited he is to be there, he looks like a fan who won a chance to play bass for one night with DBT. That's not a bad thing, his enthusiasm and excitement is really fun to watch. EZB, is EZB, he is always on. Jay Gonzalez always looks like he is having a blast. We were right in front of Neff and that was the first time I have ever been on that side of the stage with him in the band. I must say, that I have always known he was a great musician, but I had never SEEN it, if that makes any sense. Watching him up close was awesome.

Back to the show. After seeing DBT as many times as I have live, there are still songs that I have never heard them play. Tonight was the first show in a while that I actually got to hear different songs. It's hard to believe, but I have NEVER heard The Living Bubba played live before tonight. I always check the setlists for shows leading up to the show that I am going to and it is always on the few before the show that I go to see, but before tonight I had never heard it so the set got off to a great start for me right off the bat. I had also never heard Dead Drunk and Naked live and thought it was awesome. Aftermath and Margo and Harold both fit into that category as well, neither are songs that I particularly hope for every show, but it was great to hear something that was new to me. I won't go through each and every song that stuck out to me, but I will say that Buttholeville and Hell No I Ain't Happy rocked.

On to the encore. I knew what was going to happen because before the show one of the roadies brought lyrics to "The Weight" out and taped them to one of the monitors, but that didn't spoil it for me. That song is the ultimate "all-star jam" song and I hate that it was under the circumstances that it was, but nonetheless, I am so happy that I was there to witness it. Patterson said they wanted to send Levon out in style and they absolutely did. Once again, the entire audience was singing along to every word and both Megafaun and DBT were extremely into it. I don't think words can describe what Levon Helm and The Band meant and will continue to mean to the world of music, but I think that those six minutes or so on that stage came as close to expressing that man's importance and impact than any words that anyone could ever use to eulogize him. Rest in peace, Levon, you are already extremely missed.

Zip City is the staple for me, I know it is coming every time I go to see DBT and every time it's just as awesome as the first time I heard it live. To me there is nothing more bad ass than Mike Cooley singing Whiskey Without Women and Zip City and they are both one of the highlights to every DBT show that I see. Let There Be Rock is always fun, I love it when that is part of the setlist, mainly because it seems that the band has more fun playing that song than any other song and seeing them enjoying themselves makes the show that much better.
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I had never seen the band close with Shut Your Mouth and Angels and Fuselage before the Ziggy's show back in November. I had heard about it, I had thought about how awesome it must have been. I just knew it. They were going to close the show at Ziggy's with those two songs. It turns out that they did. It also turns out that I was not supposed to drink with the medication that I had just been prescribed by the doctor the day before the show. I didn't read the fine print. The last thing that I remember from that show back in November was Cooley going into Get Your Ass on the plane. At some point during that I told the group of friends that I was with that I wasn't feeling well and needed to get some fresh air. I don't know what I actually did, but I am pretty sure that I just stepped outside for a minute or two at the most. I do remember coming back to our spot ready, knowing that Angels and Fuselage would be the last show of the night. I also remember coming back JUST IN TIME to see EZB finish up the last part of the song and walk off stage. The next day I asked my girlfriend if they played Angels and Fuselage, she, not being big on the names of songs, said, "They played the song about the plane crash last." My heart sank, "How long was I gone?", she informed me that I had been gone for AT LEAST fifteen minutes. The moral of this story is ALWAYS read the fine print. Apparently there was no risk of me dying while drinking with the medication that I was on at the time, but in the warnings section it told me that there was a risk of me blacking out if I drank while on this particular medication.

Back to last night, once again, I am on medication, thought just some sinus medication this time, but I didn't bring the bottle with me and I didn't read the warnings, so I didn't take any chances. I was stone cold sober all night, and I finally got what I wanted. As the band finished off Get Your Ass on the Plane, I looked up in the sound room. Megafaun were up there enjoying the hell out of the Truckers show. The guitarist had his fingers crossed, hoping for something. In my mind my fingers were crossed as well. Those few seconds seem like they took forever, but as Patterson struck the opening chords of Angels and Fuselage, it was clear that the guitarist from Megaufaun and I were both crossing our fingers for the same thing. We both went ballistic. I hung on to every second of that song and I have never been so blown away by the end of a show in my life. I had even downloaded the audio of the Ziggy's show and refused to listen to the encore just so the first time I heard it would be in person. I was not disappointed. Last night was epic for me, I am sure some of you have seen shows that were better, maybe technically, maybe from an energy level standpoint, but that show last night was my dream show. I almost didn't go, I hadn't seen DBT since the third night of the Homecoming(the only night that I went to) and when I read that the band may be taking a touring hiatus for most of the year and perhaps some of next year, I Just couldn't stay away. I didn't feel right thinking that the homecoming show would be the last DBT show I would see for a year. After last night, the boys can take all the time they want. I can't wait to see them live again, but if I am going to go a year without seeing them, then this is the show that I needed to see to hold me over.

It was a great night, the energy, the set list and the bittersweet tributes to a great man. Rest in peace, Levon. I know you were watching that show last night and I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did.

[GuitarManUpstairs]

^^^Freak'in great post.

[beergut]

Matt Patton is a very welcome addition. My friend pointed out something about him, he doesn't look like a member of the band, just watching him play and seeing how excited he is to be there, he looks like a fan who won a chance to play bass for one night with DBT.

THIS

I sure hope the boys hang on to Matt. While I haven't seen the band with him, I LOVE what I'm hearing on the recordings.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

House music last night was from The Band and some solo stuff from Levon (definitely heard Dirt Farmer). Anyone know what the music was the Truckers walked on stage to? I'm pretty certain it wasn't anything from The Band. Sounded more like some old school R & B/Soul.

[BigTom]

House music last night was from The Band and some solo stuff from Levon (definitely heard Dirt Farmer). Anyone know what the music was the Truckers walked on stage to? I'm pretty certain it wasn't anything from The Band. Sounded more like some old school R & B/Soul.

It was Eddie Hinton. Don't know the name of the song though.

[mark lynn]

They have been coming on to Otis Redding's Shout Bamalama. Don't know about last night.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Must have been Hinton as BigTom said as I don't think it was Otis. I'm anxious to hear a copy of the show once it surfaces so I can figure it out. Thanks, y'all.

[BigTom]

Must have been Hinton as BigTom said as I don't think it was Otis. I'm anxious to hear a copy of the show once it surfaces so I can figure it out. Thanks, y'all.

Editing my recording now. Looks like Mark was right the intro music is Otis Redding - Shout bamalama.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Must have been Hinton as BigTom said as I don't think it was Otis. I'm anxious to hear a copy of the show once it surfaces so I can figure it out. Thanks, y'all.

Editing my recording now. Looks like Mark was right the intro music is Otis Redding - Shout bamalama.

Thanks. Goes to show my hearing must be totally shot.