Still mourning Leroi Moore

I'm having a hard time getting started on anything this morning as I sit here thinking about all of the Dave Matthews Band shows I've gone to (it's got to be over 20 by now - I stopped counting) and all the times I've enjoyed listening to the sweet sax and clarionet riffs of the late great Leroi Moore.

There are loads of tribute videos already up on YouTube, but this is one of the best I've found - a moving montage of some pretty great Moore riffs. I've always said that the band's music must be seen live to be appreciated, and Moore was one of the biggest reasons I felt that way. At about the 4:30 mark in the video above, my favorite part of the song Warehouse begins - Roi's sweet sax brings it home.

As Dave Matthews himself said at Staples Center last night, "It's always easier to leave than be left," Matthews told the crowd, according to Ambrosia Healy, the band's publicist. "We appreciate you all being here."

According to a story in the Charlottesville Daily Observer, last night at the show Dave went on to describe the first time he had ever heard Moore play:

Matthews went on to describe the first time he heard Moore play saxophone. While at a gig, Moore grew tired of standing, leaned against a cash register to rest and started to play.

"He played the most beautiful version of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' I'd ever heard in my life," Matthews said. "That's the day I fell in love with him. I'm still in love with him."

So are the band's fans around the world, including me. So long, friend - you will be missed, but never forgotten.

Rest in peace, Leroi Moore...

It's pretty hard to describe what I'm feeling right now - I just read online that Leroi Moore, saxophonist for my favorite band in the whole wide world, The Dave Matthews Band, passed away earlier today from complications from his ATV accident some days ago.

What I've always loved about the band is that it's comprised of talented musicians, and they all bring something special, and irreplaceable, to the band. And those who know me best have heard me say on many occasions how much I love Moore's mellowing (and sometimes, appropriately wailin') saxophone solos. I still can't believe I'll never hear him play again.

Rest in peace, Leroi. It's impossible to thank you enough for all of the joy your music has brought millions of fans around the world over the years, and me personally, but I'll write it anyway - thanks for the memories and your passion for being the best you could be, and for sharing your talents with all of us. You will never, ever be forgotten, and your music will live on in our hearts forever.

A little morning Dave to get you movin'

Happy Friday, everyone. My fingers are still sore from all the typing I did yesterday, so I have some other things to take care of this morning. I'll be back later on this afternoon, though, so please check back.

In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying your Friday, wherever you are. I'm blessed with a gorgeous day here in Philadelphia - I'm going to try and get out with my cameras later on today.

Here's a little Dave Matthews Band for your listening pleasure, and the song starts out with the thought that embodies my political philosophy, including what I hope to accomplish with this blog:

To change the world, start with one step
However small, the first step is hardest of all
Once you get your gait, you will walk in tall
You said you never did, 'cause you might die trying
'Cause you might die trying, 'cause you...

What can I say? I know I post him on here from time to time, and you might not all be fans, but he really is a lyrical poet - I think DMB is the best band since the Beatles.

And even if you like the music, you truly can never appreciate the music unless you've seen them live. (I hope that doesn't sound like musical snobbery, because I really don't mean it to be.) But, in this age of over-produced music and stars made in the studio, these guys deliver live, as good as, if not better than their studio albums (which are fantastic in their own right).

Anyway, enjoy the day - I'll be back in a bit.

-PECAD

A little Dave with your morning Joe

I thought I'd start things off this Saturday morning with a little Dave Matthew Band. This is one of their most underrated songs, You Might Die Trying. It's a catchy tune with some great instrumentation at the end, but I love the way the song starts off:

To change the world, start with one step
However small, the first step is hardest of all
Once you get your gait, you'll be walking tall...

That's a thought that could be applied to just about all walks of life, politics included.

Twenty four days until my next Dave Matthews Band show - my 18th. I'll go to my grave believing that they are one of the best touring bands ever (and my favorite band ever). In an era of studio sound, when just about anyone can be made to sound like a star - these guys are the real deal. Best of all is what they give you when you see them in concert - a rollicking good time with lots of improvisation, peppered with plenty of instrumental solos, which makes all of their concerts unique from each other. Best of all, it's so obvious that they are having a good time and they enjoy playing music with each other - none of the pseudo-rebellion "we hate being famous, we didn't ask for this" crap.

If you haven't been to one of their shows, check them out if you get a chance this summer.

Bonus - Dave is backing Obama for president.

I knew when I became a fan of the band about 15 years ago there was something I liked about them other than their music, and their endorsement of Obama simply reaffirms it. Through the band's Bama Foundation, DMB's members have given back a tremendous amount to needy organizations and worthwhile causes.