Reviews

Dave Matthews Band makes good sad-happy music.

No, that's not an oxymoron. Mr. Matthews' trade is to stir up a melange of approaches – from rock and folksy pop to bluegrass and smooth jazz – to make doubt positive, make loss a gain, and make depression a celebration.

It's why DMB's among the 100 top-selling pop music acts of all time, and why his fan base accepts Mr. Matthews' lackadaisical creative ethic, which has only fueled the act's transition into one of America's most consistent live draws.

People go to see DMB to not worry and feel happy. That was plain to see at Saturday's sold-out, two-hour-plus concert at Superpages.com Center.

At this point, Mr. Matthews' guarded personality and drawl-distorted vocal stylings subtract nothing from his band's delivery, which was as fundamentally sharp and buoyant as needed. A well-considered set list varied the pace but didn't overexpose stylistic ruts.

Except, that is, for the covers. Versions of both Talking Heads' "Burning Down the House" and Pink Floyd's "Money" totally lacked impact and character. That was saved instead for the original portions of the program.

"Rapunzel," "Proudest Monkey" and "Satellite" started things energetically, but sit-in guitarist Tim Reynolds' uplifting Flying V triad licks during "So Damn Lucky" served notice that he was to be Star No. 1A. His addition to this tour was its biggest selling point, beyond the usual. He did some bawdy slide playing on "Cornbread" as Mr. Matthews did a twisty boogie with his acoustic guitars. Before that, Mr. Matthews had acted mopey with hints of disinterest and strain. But that dance and Mr. Reynolds' solo transformed him into the image of most of the crowd: lighthearted and happy.

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