THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 1996 TAG: 9606050419
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEW
SOURCE: BY SUE VANHECKE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 39 lines
Perhaps the perkiest of the current horde of neo-hippie jam outfits, the Dave Matthews Band kicked off its American concert tour behind its new album, ``Crash,'' in Virginia Beach Tuesday night.
The quintet, fronted by South African expatriate and longtime Charlottesville resident Matthews, folds rock, jazz, funk, reggae and even Celtic styles into one head-bobbing, hip-bumping mix.
In the grand tradition of notoriously longwinded groups like the Grateful Dead, much of every song was given over to extended, solo-laden groove-'n'-improv sessions. Thankfully, the musicianship of Matthews and company is undeniably outstanding.
For two hours, Matthews - who sounds like a twangy cross of Sting and Paul Simon - and his band played a practically nonstop set of material spanning their three albums - ``Crash,'' ``Under The Table And Dreaming'' and the self-released ``Remember Two Things.''
Skittering flute and beefy saxophones from Leroi Moore; gutsy bowed, plucked and strummed violin from Boyd Tinsley; jouncing bass from Stefan Lessard; and crisp, downright athletic drumming from Carter Beauford kept an enthusiastic crowd greatly entertained. Fans under the roof and the denizens of the lawn were dancing in their seats.
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Ben Harper was a refreshing opener with his genre-bending repertoire encompassing rock, jazz and soul.
Backed by drums, percussion and bass, Harper played a variety of innovatively amplified guitars and guitar-like instruments, including an intriguing lap slide from which he pealed prickly snarls and Hendrix-styled wah-wah bends. ILLUSTRATION: MUSIC REVIEW
Dave Matthews Band with Ben Harper, Tuesday at the Virginia Beach
Amphitheater by CNB