The Introverted Exhibitionist

THE BEST OF WHAT’S AROUND

(Title Credit: Dave Matthews Band / Under the Table and Dreaming / 1994)

It’s Monday again. You know what that means – time to pay tribute to one of my favorite artists or groups. Yippee! Today, much to my husband’s chagrin, it will be Dave Matthews. Four years ago, I took our youngest son, CJ, to a Dave Matthews Band concert for his birthday. This was a big deal for me, because I couldn’t stand his voice. But how much of a better present was it because of that? What a wonderful mom I am, right? I sat at the concert in HersheyPark Stadium and listened to how good these musicians were, but I didn’t know any of the songs. So, since I had decided to make this an annual event and something that was just for CJ and me to share, I thought I’d learn some of his songs. “Everyday” came out right before the following year’s concert so I learned that album and nothing else. At the next concert, they started out with “JTR” and it was all over. After that, I devoured everything I could get my hands on (including those nefarious Lillywhite Sessions songs) and I became obsessed. I’m not talking something trite and frivolous – I’m talking haunting my dreams and there are weeks that I can listen to no other music. I’m not sure I’ve run across the likes in my life and I have gotten pretty wrapped up in many, many artists in my day. I try to tone it down a little for Dave’s sake but it is now in my soul and sometimes I make him listen to song after song so that he’ll love them as much as I do. So far, it hasn’t worked but does that deter me? No sirree, bob!

On September 11, I will be taking CJ back to the concert in Hershey for the fourth year in a row. I have a feeling, though, that it’s really for me more than him now. He’s just being kind to his old mom. This year, CJ’s friend, Jerry, will be going with us and – hold on to your hats, folks – Dave is coming with us, too! He will probably hate it but I’m hoping it will happen for him like it happened for me. We just have to get past those damn bench seats…

np – Satellite – Dave Matthews Band
from the album “Under the Table and Dreaming”