Sign Him Up: Jake Simpson Drops In On Dave Matthews Band In West Palm Beach

Dave Matthews Band concluded a swing through Florida this past weekend with a two-night stand at iThink Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach. Jake Simpson was back in the fold less than a month after his appearance in Austin to add fiddle to multiple songs on Friday and Saturday night.

Simpson wasn’t the only guest on hand in West Palm Beach, as longtime DMB collaborator and friend Carlos Malta contributed to portions of both shows. The Brazilian flutist and saxophonist played several songs with the septet on each night.

The roars of “Sign Him Up!” from fans are getting louder at each successive show Jake Simpson plays with DMB. Last Labor Day Weekend at The Gorge, the former The Lil Smokies violinist and current member of Lukas Nelson's band became the first fiddler to perform with DMB since the departure of Boyd Tinsley. Simpson has since teamed with Dave & Tim at at Farm Aid 2025 and their Riviera Maya destination event this past January before performing with DMB proper in Austin on May 11.

Dave Matthews Band’s 44th lifetime show at iThink Financial Amphitheatre took place on Friday. Malta emerged mid set on flute for “Say Goodbye” and soprano saxophone for “Crush.” The recently revived “Snow Outside” followed and led into Simpson lending a hand on four classic songs to end the set: “Lie In Our Graves,” “Drunken Soldier,” “Satellite” and “Tripping Billies.”

Matthews went solo to kick off the Friday night encore with “Peace On Earth.” The septet then treated fans to the tour’s first “Joyride” before Simpson returned for the evening’s “#41” finale.

Surprises came right from the start on Saturday when “Typical Situation” was played as an opener for the first time at a full band show since February 2, 1995. Dave Matthews Band took a detour from usual fare a few songs later as tour debuts of “Raven,” “Recently,” Led Zeppelin’s “Fool In The Rain” and “Lover Lay Down” were trotted out consecutively. The latter featured Carlos Malta on soprano sax, who then moved back to flute for “What Would You Say.”

For the second night in row Dave Matthews Band showcased Jake Simpson at the end of the show. The fiddler came out to deliver a solo intro on “Broken Things” and remained on-stage for the set-closing run of “Warehouse,” “Jimi Thing,” “Word Up!,” “Pig” and “The Last Stop.” Malta returned to the fold on soprano sax for “The Last Stop.” Simpson hadn’t previously performed “The Last Stop” and cover of Cameo’s “Word Up!” with DMB.

Dave Matthews was joined by bandmates Carter Beauford on drums, Rashawn Ross on trumpet and Tim Reynolds on guitar to open Saturday’s encore with “Sister,” the seventh and final tour debut of the night. Jake Simpson and Carlos Malta both contributed to a full-band version of “Ants Marching,” the final song of the concert and weekend.

DMB’s summer tour rolls into the Mid-Atlantic this weekend for shows in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday and Virginia Beach, Virginia on Saturday. Jake Simpson is available as Lukas Nelson doesn’t return to the road until July.

View full-show video of Friday’s concert taped by YouTuber Jordan Norris and various audience-captured footage featuring Jake Simpson sitting in with Dave Matthews Band on Saturday in West Palm Beach below:

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