2018 was a massive year for Dave Matthews Band – with a new No. 1 album, summer and fall North American tours, television performances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and a trio of live releases. The band’s first performance of the year was in St. Paul, where they headlined The Night Before concert at Xcel Energy Center on the eve of the Big Game.
Come Tomorrow, the band’s ninth studio album, was released in June. With its entrance atop the Billboard 200, Dave Matthews Band became the first group in history to have seven consecutive studio albums debut at No. 1. Come Tomorrow also hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart, logging the biggest sales week for a rock album in more than four years.
Working between tours at studios in Seattle, Los Angeles and Charlottesville, Dave Matthews Band had recorded the album with several different producers, including John Alagia, Mark Batson, Rob Cavallo and Rob Evans. LeRoi Moore is heard on saxophone on two of the earliest songs and the title track features vocals by Brandi Carlile.
Keyboardist Buddy Strong joined the band in time for its 46-date summer tour. Fans were treated to a series of free live stream concerts, including one from Labor Day weekend at Gorge Amphitheatre in George, WA. Praising the sold-out Hollywood Bowl tour closer, Variety proclaimed, “Dave Matthews Band Teaches Crash Course in Chops.”
Returning in the fall with a 12-date arena tour, the band sold out two nights at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and played two hometown shows at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. A portion of the proceeds from the Charlottesville shows was included in the $5 million that Dave Matthews Band, Dave Matthews and Red Light Management committed towards the redevelopment of the city’s deteriorating public housing units.
November’s Record Store Day brought two 4-LP, white vinyl sets from the DMBLive collection: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds / 4.22.93 Prism Coffeehouse – Charlottesville, VA and Dave Matthews Band / 2.22.94 Trax – Charlottesville, VA. Live Trax Vol. 46 – recorded July 7, 2018 at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center in Noblesville, IN – followed in December.
Dave Matthews Band wrapped up 2018 by headlining the Capital One Beach Bash in Miami, a free concert celebrating December’s College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the Capital One Orange Bowl.
