Dave Matthews Band Revisits ‘Long Black Veil’ & Extends Jake Simpson Collaboration At Darien Lake

Dave Matthews Band resumed their summer tour in Darien Center, New York on Wednesday, one day they postponed a show at Jones Beach due to the threat of tornadoes. The stop at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center featured the return of both “Long Black Veil” and fiddler Jake Simpson.

The septet stacked beginning of the show with classics “Stay (Wasting Time),” “What Would You Say,” “Typical Situation,” “Grace Is Gone” and “Recently.” Then, a few songs later, Dave Matthews Band covered “Long Black Veil” for the first time since September 3, 2023.

Penned by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin and originally recorded by Lefty Frizzell, “Long Black Veil” has been covered by an impressive array of musical legends including Johnny Cash, The Band, Rosanne Cash, Little Feat, Joan Baez, Levon Helm, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bruce Hornsby and Bruce Springsteen. Dave Matthews initially covered the song with Emmylou Harris at a 1999 tribute to Cash. DMB first performed “Long Black Veil” a month later with 96 additional versions coming before last night.

The bustout was followed by “Can’t Stop” ahead of Jake Simpson joining the fray. The Montana native played fiddle on the final 10 songs of the concert. Simpson’s third collaboration with DMB in as many shows and sixth guest spot of the summer started with “Everyday,” which along with “American Baby,” “Rapunzel,” “Don’t Drink The Water” and “Papertown” were firsts for him. He also shined on “Jimi Thing,” “Satellite,” “Pantala Naga Pampa” and “Tripping Billies.”

The aforementioned “Papertown,” a song Matthews debuted earlier this summer, was played as a duet with Dave to open the encore. A full-band “The Last Stop” with Simpson brought the night to an end. Dave Matthews Band closes out the penultimate portion of the tour on Wednesday, July 29 at Jones Beach after shows in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania on Friday, July 24 and Hartford on Saturday, July 25.

Watch audience-shot clips of Jake Simpson in action with DMB at Darien Lake below:

Stream official audio of Dave Matthews Band’s Wednesday night show at Darien Lake below with a nugs subscription:

Setlist (via DMBAlmanac.com)

Set: Stay (Wasting Time), What Would You Say, Typical Situation, Grace Is Gone, Recently, Monsters, You Might Die Trying, Gravedigger, Long Black Veil^, Can’t Stop, Everyday*, American Baby*, Jimi Thing*, Satellite*, Pantala Naga Pampa* » Rapunzel*, Tripping Billies*, Don’t Drink the Water*

Encore: Papertown**, The Last Stop*

• ^ – First time Long Black Veil has been played full band since 9.3.23
• * – with Jake Simpson on fiddle
• ** – Dave Matthews & Jake Simpson