Tulsa World: Slide Show: DMB, Willie Nelson mellow out BOK Center

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Slide Show: DMB, Willie Nelson mellow out BOK Center
Laid-back Dave Matthews treats fans to a slew of hits and new songs.

Willie Nelson brings on the country as he opens for the Dave Matthews Band at Tulsa's BOK Center on Friday. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

By SARAH HART World Assistant Scene Editor
Published: 10/3/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 10/13/2009 9:44 AM

Dave Matthews loves his job.

And the thousands of fans who swarmed the BOK Center for his show Friday night are glad he's still in business.

Matthews danced around in his silly, lazy-yet-robotic manner, seemingly enjoying every minute of the performance. At one point he free-styled "I like to make a fool of myself in front of as many people as possible," although none of the fans found him foolish — only a star with a recognizable, pretty voice.

The Dave Matthews Band played the arena, packed full of fans who provided their own soundtrack throughout the show, singing back every lyric to the band.

Matthews' cool demeanor flowed into the microphone, his unassuming gray shirt and black pants matching the laid-back feel of the whole show.

Mellow was the theme for all of Friday's entertainment. Willie Nelson's son Lucas had a country-rock feel going in his opener, but when his father took the stage, the hits of the country crossover star flowed mechanically, without a break.

Matthews introduced Nelson, who then took the stage, waved his hands in the air and launched into a shortened version of "Whiskey River." Lucas Nelson joined his dad, as did Willie's sister Bobbie Nelson on the piano.

The Nelson Family Band, as marked on the stage equipment, played Willie's major hits, including "Good-Hearted Woman," "On the Road Again" and "Always On My Mind."

Nelson's iconic voice hasn't changed in his many years, and neither has his look. That red hair, slightly

grayed, hangs down to the small of his back, and his red bandana is still riding on his head. He didn't play a long set, but it was a good warm-up for the night.

When Matthews and his band took the stage, again unassuming, he waved, then the band immediately played "Proudest Monkey" from its 1996 mega-hit third album "Crash." He merged into "Satellite" off the band's second album, "Under the Table and Dreaming."

Then the band began a slew of hits and new songs, including "Funny the Way It Is" and "Seven," and Willie Nelson rejoined the band for "Gravedigger."

After the union, Matthews went to the microphone and said, "Wow, that was Willie Nelson right there."

Matthews' words were sparse during the set. He said "Thank you" and "Hope you're having a good time" several times, then relayed a story about getting drunk in a Tulsa hotel bar with "that boss guy from the movie '9 to 5.' " It was assumed he meant Dabney Coleman.

But DMB let the music do the talking. Several band members — songwriter and guitarist Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, violinist Boyd Tinsley, saxophonist Jeff Coffin and drummer Carter Beauford — performed solos. Tinsley's violin solo during "Lie In Our Graves" was especially notable.

More hits followed, including "Jimi Thing" and "Crash."

Yes, it was a mellow show, almost mechanical in ways. You can tell the Dave Matthews Band — as well as Willie Nelson and Co. — has toured plenty and has its act down pat.

Slide Show

To see all of the Tulsa World slide shows, go to tulsaworld.com/photos.

Sarah Hart 581-8480
sarah.hart@tulsaworld.com By SARAH HART World Assistant Scene Editor

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Mellow is the mood at Dave Matthews' Tulsa show," which was published on 10/2/2009.

	Report Comment DiscoFever, (10/3/2009 8:02:28 AM) I just want to thank the BoK center for the public service it provided last night by providing all the homeless downtown with a contact high.
	Report Comment TK1, (10/3/2009 8:05:57 AM) Sarah, were you even at this concert? Mellow? Guess you didn't make it to the encore with the Watchtower / Stairway to Heaven mix. It was a tremendous concert. When Tinsley played the violin it sounded like he was playing two instruments.
	Report Comment The Bug, Tulsa (10/3/2009 10:40:49 AM) Absolutely wonderful show. The entire Dave Matthew ensemble was amazing. Willie Nelson is an American Legend. Was also impressed with Willie Nelson's son. Just a great night of great music at a great venue.
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (10/3/2009 10:45:56 AM) Wah! I was here listening to my CD's pretending to be there.
	Report Comment billy8, Sand Springs (10/3/2009 10:47:14 AM) Willie Nelson and Dave Matthews together in one venue, what a show! Willie's son Lucas was excellent and Dave just had the crowd in awe the whole time. My first trip to the BOK and diffenitely a great show.
	Report Comment PPilot, Tulsa (10/3/2009 1:40:58 PM) Mellow? Were we at the same concert? Yes, there were mellow segments, but there were equal, if not more, segments of harder-edged tunes to which entire sections of the arena were jumping up and down. Sarah, did you leave before the "All Along the Watchtower"/ end of "Stairway to Heaven" Medley? I'd hardly call this a "mellow" show.
	Report Comment Scene Assistant Editor Sarah Hart, Tulsa (10/3/2009 1:45:50 PM) Yes, to make deadline I had to leave before the encore. But I got reports from others who thought it was pretty good. Mellow's not a bad word, you know.
	Report Comment Greg Tatum, (10/3/2009 2:29:58 PM) Yeah the encore was the best part of the show :)
	Report Comment The Bug, Tulsa (10/3/2009 4:01:38 PM) Sarah, ignore the negative nellies. the grumpy will always pick out the exceptions. (I was witness to those nincompoops too.) For the most part, it was a pleasant, mellow experience.
	Report Comment tulsaGuy, (10/3/2009 9:09:53 PM) Sarah, Don't defend yourself. It's more professional to just ignore.
	Report Comment PPilot, Tulsa (10/4/2009 5:04:24 PM) Bug, no need for name-calling. The comment section is simply reserved for comments and opinions (You can also keep the cliche about opinions, we've all heard it, thanks.). I never said I did not enjoy the show; quite the contrary, I thought it was fantastic. I simply said it wasn't exactly "mellow", in my opinion. I understand issues about time constraints in order to meet deadlines, too. But, as the old adage goes: "Good things come to those who wait". :)
	Report Comment TK1, (10/4/2009 8:29:02 PM) Mellows not a bad word but it makes as much sense to describe the concert as mellow as it does to run the article with a picture of the warm up singer instead of the headliner.
	Report Comment bingo, Jenks (10/8/2009 1:30:50 PM) I expected a pretty mellow concert but the crowd was rocking! I was totally surprised. Probably would have preferred a mellow concert. Willie was OK. Short set, left out some big hits. Went with the wife who is a DMB fan. My opinion is that DMB sux. Sorry midtowners and Gen Y, I am a Gen X rocker. Thank goodness I didn't pay for that nonsense. Kudos to Dave for being able to tune in to the modern teen-30 yr old generation and cash in.

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