The first book about the Grammy-winning mega-band. Step into the Light . . . with the Dave Matthews Band, a Grammy-winning mega-band that originated in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. From their initial stints at local bars, to playing sold-out stadiums on their most recent national tour, this book chronicles the musical development of David John Matthews and fellow band members Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, Leroi Moore, and Boyd Tinsley. This book — the first on the Dave Matthews Band — offers a complete chronology of the life and times of DMB, with over 70 color and black & white pictures, complete reprints of two excellent interviews, a first-hand account of DMB on tour, a list of major DMB web sites, a selected DMB bibliography, and so much more. It’s a carefully-researched tribute to the band that's given us “a better time than most can dream.”

Preview:

“Lie in Our Graves,” which debuted almost one year after the band’s first gig, is another “seize the day before you die” song. Lyricist Matthews talks about the importance of embracing what life has to offer: “When I step into the light / My arms are open wide.” The song ends with, “I can’t believe that we would lie in our graves / Dreaming of things that we might have been.” The lyrics also playfully involve the Bobby Darin hit, “Splish Splash.” Matthews, Beauford, Lessard, Moore, and Tinsley all receive songwriting credit: “Lie in Our Graves” may be the first product of the DMB collaborative writing experience. On June 23, 1996, Matthews introduced the song by saying, “Hey, this is a song that sings about the hopes that when we all get to the end of our lives that we'll feel, we’ll feel pretty good about what we did, so don’t compromise yourself.”

Why all these death references? Because of his father’s premature passing, Matthews had come to terms with the preciousness of life at a very early age. Perhaps there’s a correlation. Many of his songs reflect his philosophical struggle with loss as part of the ongoing process of life. In his lyrics, Matthews always points out that death could be right around the corner; he implores his audience to appreciate life’s joys while they can.

In a song that became a concert favorite, “Dancing Nancies,” Matthews poses the soul-searching question: “Could I have been someone other than me?” Throughout the years, he has introduced the song in a variety of interesting ways, but at a June 19, 1996 show held in Deer Creek, Indiana, he went so far as to explain the song’s South African genesis. He thought of it while he was ambling through South Africa, circa late 1991, early 1992. Starting out in Port Elizabeth, he covered a lot of ground: “It was a long fucking way. Well, I was actually hitchhiking, which you can do sometimes there, and be successful. And I was unfortunately not successful, and I walked my skinny chicken legs off, and I thought to myself . . . I thought to myself, what the fuck am I going to do with my life? Walking around in the middle of Africa with nothing to do? What am I going to do? What am I going to do? I said, well, hey, I could be an accountant, I could be an explorer, I could be myself, could I be . . . somebody else . . . ?”

There has been much talk about “Warehouse” as a tribute to the attics of grandparents. This concept was prompted by DMB’s Under the Table and Dreaming guitar tab book and Matthews’ single pithy line of explanation: “Have you ever been in your grandparents’ attic?” However, Matthews’ South Street warehouse days (as described by Lydia Conder) seem to be a more realistic source for the inspiration and setting of the song. The tune is highly symbolic; the warehouse becomes a metaphor for the ups and downs of life. Certainly, Matthews experienced both in the course of his own adventures at the pink warehouse--while playing on the rooftop or rehearsing in Hoffman’s apartment. Interestingly, both Trax and the Flood Zone can also be described as “warehouses.”

Because of its title, “Granny,” a 1992 song about love, has often evoked in its listeners a greater sentiment for grandparents than has “Warehouse.” “Hello, how are you doing today? / I hope this finds you feeling healthy” does sound like something one would say in greeting a grandparent, but the ensuing lyrics are clearly about the trials and tribulations of romantic love. Rumor has it that back in 1992 Matthews hoped the song would become the band’s first single; he could imagine masses chanting the catchy chorus, “Love! Baby!” But, mysteriously, “Granny” would not even be included on any of the band's first three studio CDs. . .