funny story #1 out of 4 billion from RedRocks2005

THE CATALYST

http://denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_3018415

THE REACTION

Subject: Blatent inaccuracies in the Dave Matthews Band concert review - Sept. 11 2005

Mr. Groke and staff at the Denver Post:

I was shocked to open the Post this morning and find your poorly written and blatantly incorrect review of the Dave Matthews Band concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Having traveled to Denver from Virginia for this landmark concert series, I have been delighted to find Denver to be one of the most beautiful cities I have visited in my extensive travels for the Dave Matthews Band. The group I have come here with this weekend is from all over the country, and we whole-heartedly agree that Red Rocks is undoubtedly the most breath-taking venue in the nation. What a disappointment, then, to find a concert review written with such disregard for the facts. Indeed, we were left to wonder whether or not Mr. Groke was actually even IN attendance Friday night.

The most blaring problem with the article is the mention of the band finally "[hitting] stride after two hours and [kicking] into the expected popular program. 'So Much to Say,' 'Satellite,' 'Too Much,'"... Well, Mr. Groke, out of the over 9,000 people in attendance Friday night, I can say with absolute certainty that you were the ONLY one that heard 'Satellite.' I am glad that you enjoyed it, however, what a treat it would have been for the rest of us.

Bearing this mistake in mind, the rest of the review is easily discredited. It is no secret that concert recording and tape trading at Dave Matthews Band concerts is the foundation of their success, and fans spend a good deal of time and energy acquiring high-priced equipment to keep the tradition alive. The equipment is complicated and state of the art, and never in my travels have I had the pleasure of seeing a fan that "still wear[s] hats with microphones attached for their own personal recordings" but perhaps Mr. Groke witnessed this phenomenon while enjoying the mythical version of "Satellite".

Mr. Groke was correct in noting Boyd Tinsley's "spirited fiddle jams", as watching Boyd perform is a true highlight of every Dave Matthews Band performance. Mr. Groke failed to mention, however, any of drummer Carter Beauford's powerful solos that kept the music pulsating and the crowd in awe, or bassist Stefan Lessard's forceful bass lines throughout the show, climaxing during the popular “Anyone Seen the Bridge” transition. But, come to think of it, this would have been precisely the time Mr. Groke believes he heard “Satellite”, so perhaps he missed it.

The most disturbing part of the review, however, is Mr. Groke’s thoughts on the band’s namesake, Mr. Dave Matthews himself. By suggesting that Mr. Matthews was possibly “self-conscious before the video cameras”, Mr. Groke has completely disregarded the 14-year touring history of the band. Dave Matthews might not spend hours of his stage time waxing lyrical with the audience, but since fans are there for the music first, this has never struck me as a problem.

Mr. Groke’s review is inaccurate, confusing, and a poor way to receive a legendary band back to a venue they haven’t visited in eight years. The band added a fourth night to benefit victims of a national disaster, and to suggest that these concerts were merely profit-driven merchandising opportunities is a slap in the face to a band that routinely donates to charities around the world. There has been no confirmation of a DVD release of these concerts, but as Mr. Groke seems so convinced it will happen, I can only say that we all should be glad Mr. Groke will not be participating in the DVD editing process.


Sincerely,

Courtney F. Caldwell
Fairfax, Virginia