I still can’t shake the electricity from last night’s Dave Matthews Band concert at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, NJ. Doors opened at 7:30 PM—though the band finally hit the stage right around 7:50 PM—and what a rocking summer tour show it was!
Stage Opening & First Set
I kicked off the night feeling the pulse as soon as the first notes of “Everyday” rang out—such an uplifting opener that we hadn’t heard begin a show since 2018 . From there, the setlist rolled through one hit after another:
- Everyday
- Don’t Drink the Water
- Idea of You
- #41
- Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd
- Warehouse
- Gravedigger
- Walk Around the Moon
- The Stone
- Cornbread (with Joe Lawlor guesting)
- Lying in the Hands of God
- American Baby Intro
- What You Are
- Crash Into Me
- Shotgun
- Word Up! (Cameo cover)
- Pig
- What Would You Say
That string of tunes? Pure gold—classic DMB energy and a few surprises that grounded the night. “Walk Around the Moon” and “The Stone” felt especially poignant in person .
Encore
After a brief break, Dave returned alone for a beautiful acoustic moment with “Take All Day” before wrapping up the night with “Tripping Billies”—a high‑energy closer that had everyone dancing in the aisles.
What Made It Special
- First‑time opener: Seeing “Everyday” open the show was rare and unforgettable .
- Collaborative surprises: Joe Lawlor joining on “Cornbread” added a spontaneous folk‑twist.
- Covers that pop: “Word Up!” turned the Pavilion into a funk party mid‑set.
- Perfect blend of old hits and newer tracks from Walk Around The Moon, like “Walk Around the Moon” and “What You Are”.
Big Ed’s Highlights
As Big Ed Regan, a lifelong “Davehead,” I felt the crowd swell during “#41” and erupt during “Crash Into Me.” When they played “Pig,” it hit like lightning—raw, ripping, and tight as hell. And “Tripping Billies” for the encore? It lit the whole place up. I left soaked with sweat, grinning ear to ear.
