Dave Matthews Band Welcomes Preservation Hall Jazz Band & Joe Lawlor In Noblesville

Dave Matthews Band teamed back up with a collaborators Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Joe Lawlor during their two-night stand at Noblesville, Indiana’s Ruoff Music Center formerly known as Deer Creek. The Pres Hall Horns joined DMB on June 24 in a concert guitarist Tim Reynolds did not play due to testing positive for COVID-19 while Lawlor would step into Tim’s spot for a few songs on June 25.

Friday, June 24 marked the first time DMB performed without Reynolds since April 1, 2008, as per DMB Almanac. After recently guesting with Dave Matthews and company at the Something In The Water festival, New Orleans’ own Preservation Hall Jazz Band Horns — sousaphonist Ben Jaffe, trumpeter Branden Lewis, saxophonist Clint Maedgen and trombonist Ronell Johnson — teamed back up with the band beginning on a nearly 12-minute “Jimi Thing” four songs into the set. The Pres Hall Horns stayed on for “That Girl Is You” and the vintage “What Would You Say.”

The Preservation Hall members would return to help close the set as they did at Something In The Water beginning with “Can’t Stop,” from DMB’s 2018 LP Come Tomorrow. Dave and bassist Stefan Lessard then let the horns as well as DMB saxophonist Jeff Coffin and trumpeter Rashawn Ross along with drummer Carter Beauford deliver “Joe Avery’s Blues.” Dave and Stefan returned for the classic closer “Ants Marching” to wrap the set.

The next night saw Joe Lawlor guesting with Dave Matthews Band for the first time since December 15, 2018. Along with being a great guitarist, Joe is also part of DMB’s audio crew, traveling with the band as their live recording engineer and archivist. Lawlor joined DMB about halfway through the show for the tour debut of oldie “Rhyme & Reason,” which has been something of a rarity the past few years. Lawlor delivered a bluesy extended solo to kick off the song. Joe returned later for another classic “#41,” as well as the staple “Corn Bread.”

Watch fan-shot video of the Pres Hall Horns and DMB on “Ants Marhcing” and Joe Lawlor join on “Rhyme & Reason” below:

June 24 Setlist (via DMB Almanac)

Set: Pig, Granny, Walk Around the Moon, Break Free, Jimi Thing, That Girl Is You, What Would You Say, Grey Street, Grace Is Gone, Tripping Billies, You & Me, Dancing Nancies » Warehouse, Where Are You Going, She, Lie in Our Graves, Can’t Stop, Joe Avery’s Blues » Ants Marching

Encore: Sister, You Might Die Trying

June 25 Setlist (via DMB Almanac)

Set: One Sweet World, Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin), So Much to Say » Anyone Seen the Bridge » Too Much, #27, Minarets, Stay or Leave, Crush, Rhyme & Reason, Satellite, So Right, The Song That Jane Likes, #41, Corn Bread, Improv/Jam, Lying in the Hands of God, Typical Situation, Don’t Drink the Water, Louisiana Bayou

Encroe: Rye Whiskey, Steady As We Go