Usher’s Musical Director Valdez Brantley Brings Keytar To Dave Matthews Band Stage

Dave Matthews Band took the stage at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkson, Michigan near Detroit on Wednesday. DMB welcomed Usher’s musical director, Valdez Brantley, who sat in for two songs including on keytar for “What Would You Say.”

Guitarist Dave Matthews and company — drummer Carter Beauford, bassist Stefan Lessard, guitarist Tim Reynolds, saxophonist Jeff Coffin, trumpeter Rashawn Ross and keyboardist Buddy Strong — launched the Detroit-area concert with “Pantala Naga Pampa” before eschewing its customary companion “Rapunzel” for “Granny.”

Following the title track from the band’s latest studio album, 2023’s Walk Around the Moon, DMB broke out “JTR” for the first time in a little over a year, as per DMBAlmanac. Check out the tour debut:

The main set also included classics “Don’t Drink The Water,” “Crush,” “So Much To Say” and “Too Much” along with a cover of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.” Following “So Damn Lucky,” DMB welcomed Valdez Brantley.

To kick off the sit-in, Valdez joined Buddy Strong in key world on electric piano as Strong handled Hammond organ. Buddy then kicked back and admired as Brantley reeled off an outstanding, jazz-infused solo. Watch Valdez join DMB for “Break Free” below:

Brantley stayed on for DMB favorite “What Would You Say,” this time busting out a keytar. Watch a clip:

Dave Matthews Band then went it alone to wrap the set with that “Rapunzel.” The encore began with Dave solo on a cover of Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe,” which debuted last year. DMB’s classic cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” included the partial rendering of “Stairway To Heaven” ahead of “Watchtower’s” conclusion to seal the show.

Watch video of “Just Breathe” below:

Next up for Dave Matthews Band is a two-night stand at Ruoff Music Center beginning Friday followed by a rescheduled concert at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin which was postponed due to weather. Scroll down for DMB’s tour routing with ticket info.

Setlist (via DMBAlmanac)

Set: Pantala Naga Pampa » Granny, Pig, Walk Around the Moon, JTR, Virginia in the Rain, Don’t Drink the Water, Lover Lay Down, Again and Again, Drunken Soldier, Crush, Digging a Ditch, So Much to Say » Anyone Seen the Bridge » Too Much, Let’s Dance, So Damn Lucky, Break Free, What Would You Say, Rapunzel

Encore: Just Breathe, All Along the Watchtower » Stairway to Heaven [partial] » All Along the Watchtower [reprise]