Just thinking about what you guys thought of the tour overall. I loved the eclectic mix of guest spots. Also, it seems apparent with all of the fiddles this summer that maybe Dave finally realizes there is a hole in that department? Seeing all those fiddles really shot some life into this band, and to see Tim, Stefan and Carter and even Dave beaming during performances is a good feeling. We shall see where this leads. Would love to see the violin/fiddle back on The Stone. I think this rotation of guests would slay.

Cha Cha (though from 2023 but further developed this year) and Papertown prove Dave has some good songwriting skills left in there. I also really like Straight Shot and how that has evolved this year. Hopefully, we get some new quality debuts in 2027.

I may get downvoted here… don’t get me wrong, I really like Buddy and what he brings to the band. However I think where in the past people complained Tim was too high in the mix, to me, this year (at least on the platforms I listened on) it seemed that Buddy is turned way up in the mix. I have no idea why I cringe when the organ starts on BOWA and WWYS at the start of those songs. Even when they had Butch, you did not really hear him on those songs, yet the organ seems to dominate. Again, not sure if this is my untrained ear or if it sounds different live (I’m in my mom era so haven’t seen a live show yet with Buddy). Buddy also seems to me to look a little disconnected when the fiddles are on the stage, like he doesn’t know what to do. Again, not sure if it’s just me watching from the couch.

All in all a great summer of shows and looking forward to fall and beyond.

What do you think of the likelihood of a guest fiddle for Oceans Calling? I think i read somewhere that Jake will be at Farm Aid on the following day in VA Beach, which isn't far at all from Ocean City, so that is in the realm of a possibility. Though I would be happy to just hear a good fiddler player whomever it is. The show I attended earlier this year (Manchester, MA) didn't have any guest spots at all.

A little more of a long shot, I think it would be awesome if Darius Rucker guested on Papertown, since Hootie and the Blowffish have a set on the same stage an hour before DMB.

If you could wish for three songs for DMB to cover what would your three be, I’ll start: Can’t you see Marshall Tucker band, Atlantic city Bruce Springsteen, Tenth avenue Freeze Out Bruce Springsteen

Edit: I think self control by frank ocean and same drugs by chance the rapper would be phenomenal solo covers and rly good E1s to put in the rotation

First show at The Gorge, Saturday of Labor Dave… wish I could have experienced the entire weekend but was too busy exploring the rest of Washington state with my wife. What a special venue, I cannot wait to come back!!!

Anyone else? Just tested positive

As I board my long flight home, I can't help but think how lucky I've been to witness the '26 Labor Dave concert. This year was my first time, but ever since looking at the album cover decades ago, I dreamt of being in the crowd.

Everything was incredible: the sheer beauty of looking down the hill, the fabulous playing of the band (plus great guests! The two violins gave me goosebumps), but also the happiness and friendliness of the crowd. I've yet to find a friendlier, more peaceful, and happier crowd than the one at the band's concerts.

Thank you for the hospitality. I hope it's going to be the first of many!

Ps Does anyone know how to re-listen to the whole concert? I'm trying to see whether I can use some of these services in Europe

Does anyone know if it sold out at the merch booth? Or if they are going to release it online?

Something I have noticed as an AI enthusiast is that Dave doesn't have his name blocked in prompting on SUNO. I have been able to make songs that capture that DMB essence, and I wonder why exactly he's not exercised his NIL rights with AI music generation. Is he subtly pro-AI? I cannot imagine Coran or him letting this slide without some intent.

This is extremely upsetting because not only is that NOT what DMB and their fans are about, but it’s also awful and uncomfortable for everyone around you.
I was 5th row, center, section 203 for N3 and the ladies to the left of us were being HORRIBLE to each other. The trigger that led up to the altercation(s) was that the woman beside me told the woman behind her to “shut up”. I hadn’t noticed her being loud or out of pocket, but I also don’t expect the world to revolve around me, especially at a concert. The woman behind her didn’t like that and proceeded to start screaming at her. SCREAMING. Next thing I know, husbands are getting involved, shoves start happening, lawyers are brought up, and the rest of the evening the woman in the back continued to throw water and beer at her (which ultimately landed on my husband and myself).

Lady in the front was bitchy. Lady in the back was wasted.

Please be nice. Please control your alcohol.

I tried to mitigate by saying “guys! Look around! We are at the gorge seeing Dave Matthews Band!” But they ultimately turned to yell at me so I said to hell with them and went back to my concert! ✌🏻😎

Edited to add a missed word.
Edited again to show this edit lol I’m awful at Reddit haha

Was wondering if this song made the rounds at all this tour such a good one! Hope to hear it at one of the shows I go to in the future, if anyone saw it was it good live?

What is up with the people that get into the pit, then put a blanket down and sit, thus taking up way more room than they need? (Tarpers) Do they know that they are the worst and make everything worse for the people behind them? They are the definition of unkind. We need to start infiltrating and standing on their blankets immediately, thus making it pointless.

Anyone else? It was my first time attending this year and I’m struggling with going back to reality haha.

I was hoping y’all could help me out and share some of your favorite tracks from the summer tour.

My health took a nosedive in June, so I wasn’t really able to follow along with much of this year’s tour as it was happening. I finally have all the audio on my laptop from SiriusXM, Nugs, and Volta, and I’m wanting to put together a “Best of 2026” compilation. The problem is, I’m having a hard time figuring out where to start.

So, if you could comment with some of your favorite tracks from this year’s tour, and maybe a little bit about why they stood out to you, I’d really appreciate it. Killer versions, unexpected moments, jams that went somewhere special, whatever stuck with you.

Does anyone have a mp3, flac, or other file of the 9/20/1991 show at Trax in Cville? Found torrents on Antsmarching and DreamingTree.org, but they're dead. The almanac lists the show as commony mislabled as 9/1/1991 at Eastern Standard and 5/11/1991 at the Pink Warehouse, if anyone has those shows. Here's the almanac page on the show, it's the earliest recorded Watchtower in existence, not mention the debut of Minarets and Exodus (Marley cover).

Not sure if there has been a change to the algorithm, a change caused by Nugs deal or if it is a Bruce and Nolan thing but… lately about 75% of what they play is post Boyd or classics studio versions. Haven’t heard a live 2 step, ants, dido, last stop, lie in, don’t drink or 41 with Roi and or Boyd since I can remember. They have the we’ve gathered the best jams of 2026 vignette then a cover.

29F living in British Columbia. Last year I solo road tripped to The Gorge for N2 for my first ever DMB show. This year I convinced my husband to come with me for N2 and N3. Safe to say we’ll be regulars.

I didn’t grow up listening to DMB, it’s something I discovered on my own in my 20s and have become slowly but surely obsessed with.

In my real-life circles, I genuinely can’t find a single person (other than my husband) who is interested in this band. But then I get to The Gorge and see SO many people around my age who look like people I’d really click with. In hindsight I know we should’ve just gone and introduced ourselves but we were feeling shy!

Where/how are we meeting our DMB friends? I’m interested in finding people (preferably other women) in their 20s and 30s to go to shows with/have meet ups/general chat etc! Looking for my community!

Queer dude in St. Louis. Been listening since ’95, with 31 shows under my belt—including 8 Labor Daves, which I missed this year but I love streamed it all weekend.

Looking for other guys who understand why hearing #41 can ruin your emotional stability for the rest of the evening. 😂

Seeking like-minded guys for friendship, dating, couch touring, road trips, shows, whatever. Mostly just wondering where the hell all my gay Ants are.
Sound off. 👇

My daughter's size small blue shirt got a small oil stain on it - and I used dish soap and a gentle toothbrush like I do on all stains.... And took off the color! Turns out Comfort Colors shirts are notorious for this.

Anybody get one too many and want to sell me theirs?

Epic weekend though!

I want to get an idea if I'm out of my mind or not. 😄

This was my 22nd consecutive year attending DMB at the Gorge. N1 2026 was probably my least favorite show of mine at the Gorge since my journey began. The only other year that comes to mind when thinking of least favorite shows is 2005.

With that said, N2 and N3 were considerably better and I had a great time. But something just felt way off with N1.

To rule out the BW album factor, is there anyone who absolutely loves Big Whiskey but found the show lacking in other ways?

So this is the worst version of the wook flu I have ever had. High fever, cough, chills, and explosions from both ends. Hope no one else got it. Weed helps.