It was a perfect summer night on July 18th when Dave Matthews Band took the stage at SPAC in Saratoga Springs. The crowd was ready—fans old and new filled every corner of the venue, making it clear this wasn’t just another tour stop. For DMB, SPAC is something special.
The band opened with “What Would You Say,” immediately pulling everyone to their feet. From there, it was a carefully curated set that touched every corner of their catalog. Standouts included a soulful “Lover Lay Down,” a fierce “Don’t Drink the Water,” and a beautiful stretch of “#41” into “Walk Around the Moon.”
Dave was in a talkative mood, at one point mentioning his love for walking “in the forest” around SPAC during the day. Later, he delivered a warning that “somewhere” masked men were grabbing people off the street, adding: “and that place is here.”
The mid-set run featured fan favorites like “Tripping Billies,” “Funny The Way It Is,” and “Recently.” Deeper cuts like “Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd” and “Shotgun” gave the set some rare flavor, while “You and Me” had the entire venue singing along. They closed with “Best of What’s Around,” sending the crowd into full celebration mode.
For the encore, Dave returned solo with “Sister,” followed by a powerful full-band version of “The Stone”—a haunting and fitting close to the night. Even so, just before the band rocked the closing notes of “The Stone,” the crowd shared their love for Dave serenading him with an impromptu and lightly band-accompanied “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (Elvis Presly).
Dave Matthews Band continues touring through the summer. They close out their summer tour at the end of August at the epic Gorge Amphitheater in Washington State. That said, if you’ve never seen them at SPAC, it’s more than a show—it’s a tradition.
Setlist: What Would You Say, Idea of You, Lover Lay Down, Don’t Drink the Water, Again and Again, Cornbread, #41, Walk Around the Moon, Pay For What You Get, Tripping Billies, Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd, Funny The Way It Is, Cry Freedom, Recently, Shotgun, Fool To Think (Led Zeppelin cover), You and Me, The Best of What’s Around.
Encore: Sister, The Stone.
