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So Much to Say: Dave Matthews Band--20 Years on the Road
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND has one of the largest and most loyal followings of any band today—after twenty years of constant touring and several acclaimed, multiplatinum albums, the members enjoy a connection with their fans that few other acts can match. Ask DMB devotees and they’ll happily tell you tales of amazing sold-out summer shows, the stunning venues they’ve seen the band play all around the world, classic live show recordings . . . and memories of good times with great friends, old and new. For hundreds of thousands of people, affection for DMB goes far beyond simple fan adulation—it’s a way of life.
Journalist (and fan) Nikki Van Noy bridges the gap between the band and their followers, looking at the DMB phenomenon from all perspectives—including interviews with the band, Charlottesville insiders who knew them in the early days, and, of course, the DMB fans who witnessed it all. This lively, insider book offers insights into:
• The beginnings of the band in Charlottesville, VA—which gave rise to the culture of taping and trading live shows, and the early online networking that laid the groundwork for their later explosive success.
• The heady success of their first several albums—when the small “club” of DMB fans suddenly became a lot less exclusive.
• Their creative misfires in the early 2000s—including the leaked Lillywhite Sessions.
• The crushing sudden loss of saxophonist LeRoi Moore—and how the band emerged stronger than ever.
A chronicle of the live Dave Matthews Band experience and what it means to be a part of it, So Much to Say is a comprehensive biography of this incredible group and the fans who helped them achieve such enduring success.
Journalist (and fan) Nikki Van Noy bridges the gap between the band and their followers, looking at the DMB phenomenon from all perspectives—including interviews with the band, Charlottesville insiders who knew them in the early days, and, of course, the DMB fans who witnessed it all. This lively, insider book offers insights into:
• The beginnings of the band in Charlottesville, VA—which gave rise to the culture of taping and trading live shows, and the early online networking that laid the groundwork for their later explosive success.
• The heady success of their first several albums—when the small “club” of DMB fans suddenly became a lot less exclusive.
• Their creative misfires in the early 2000s—including the leaked Lillywhite Sessions.
• The crushing sudden loss of saxophonist LeRoi Moore—and how the band emerged stronger than ever.
A chronicle of the live Dave Matthews Band experience and what it means to be a part of it, So Much to Say is a comprehensive biography of this incredible group and the fans who helped them achieve such enduring success.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2011
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141 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 13, 2012
Easy and fun read. Took me only one day to read. It was great to read about some of the friends I've met through all the shows and read about the shows that I actually attended! Definitely recommended to long time fans. Also recommended to those who may not understand what a close knit community the fan base is. Maybe this book will open more eyes to our passion and "family."
As a Warehouse member I received this book in the mail from another member. We started a chain with the book and are signing it and mailing it off to the next person on the list that we have online of those interested in reading. It is neat to see all of the notes and signatures of where this book traveled to so far! LoVE my DMB family!
May 8, 2021
Look out, The Big Blowdown, there's a new contender for worst book cover on my 2021 Read list.
The title taken from a song title, the awkward expression on Dave's face as he looks directly at the camera. I think I reflexively cringed when I first saw the image in all its glory. But in a way, the cover couldn't be more fitting. My Dave Matthews Band fandom has always been a little cringey. I have never won any cool points by saying I like DMB. And yet, I do like them. They represent an essential piece of my musical identity, even as the more hipster elements of that identity look on, seething with bitterness and rage.
I actually used a quote from the song this book is named after (So Much to Say) as one of my high school graduation quotes ("I find sometimes it's easy / to be myself / Sometimes I find it's better to be / Somebody else"). Even as I picked it, I knew it was goofy--right down to the awkward phrasing that reads even worse when separated from the rhythm of the music. But I picked it anyway, because I also knew that it represented an inescapable piece of who I was, goofy awkward phrasing and all.
Also in the goofy column, this book was almost exclusively written from a “fan” perspective, which meant there was next to zero direct contributions from the band itself. Instead it pulled heavily from diehard fans that operate on a level I am not fully able to comprehend. They talk about seeing the band hundreds of times, annually planning their summers around following DMB from place to place, spending thousands of dollars on recording equipment with no greater goal than to document concerts and trade recordings of them for free with other similarly inclined individuals; in general, people who built their lives around their devotion to this band. There’s a sincerity in there somewhere that’s notable and endearing, but also, unrecognizable compared to my appreciation of the music.
This book was a gift, and I'm so grateful to the person who got it for me. I never would've bought it on my own but I really enjoyed it. It reminded me how much I like Dave Matthews Band. Plus, it was interesting to look back over the last 25 years of how the music industry has changed, and how my music consumption has changed, through the lens of DMB and their success. Reading about the significance of fans taping and sharing early concerts reframed the memories I have of buying exorbitantly priced bootleg concert albums at a nearby cd store.
I was reminded of how I first heard and fell in love with their music. Concerts I attended and significant moments in my life that were marked by specific songs. I got a better idea of how the band formed and its early history in Charlottesville, VA, where I recently visited for non-DMB-related reasons, and which I now have a greater appreciation for.
I fell down a rabbit hole of "new" songs I hadn't heard before, concert-going fan favorites that the band plays live but that never made it onto any of their studio albums. It has spurred a new wave of DMB fever in my house, which thus far is being tolerated by my wife and children, though I sense we’re approaching a breaking point…
A surprisingly good read about a band that I didn’t realize I missed, and that I’ll probably still be listening to 30 years from now much to my own chagrin.
The title taken from a song title, the awkward expression on Dave's face as he looks directly at the camera. I think I reflexively cringed when I first saw the image in all its glory. But in a way, the cover couldn't be more fitting. My Dave Matthews Band fandom has always been a little cringey. I have never won any cool points by saying I like DMB. And yet, I do like them. They represent an essential piece of my musical identity, even as the more hipster elements of that identity look on, seething with bitterness and rage.
I actually used a quote from the song this book is named after (So Much to Say) as one of my high school graduation quotes ("I find sometimes it's easy / to be myself / Sometimes I find it's better to be / Somebody else"). Even as I picked it, I knew it was goofy--right down to the awkward phrasing that reads even worse when separated from the rhythm of the music. But I picked it anyway, because I also knew that it represented an inescapable piece of who I was, goofy awkward phrasing and all.
Also in the goofy column, this book was almost exclusively written from a “fan” perspective, which meant there was next to zero direct contributions from the band itself. Instead it pulled heavily from diehard fans that operate on a level I am not fully able to comprehend. They talk about seeing the band hundreds of times, annually planning their summers around following DMB from place to place, spending thousands of dollars on recording equipment with no greater goal than to document concerts and trade recordings of them for free with other similarly inclined individuals; in general, people who built their lives around their devotion to this band. There’s a sincerity in there somewhere that’s notable and endearing, but also, unrecognizable compared to my appreciation of the music.
This book was a gift, and I'm so grateful to the person who got it for me. I never would've bought it on my own but I really enjoyed it. It reminded me how much I like Dave Matthews Band. Plus, it was interesting to look back over the last 25 years of how the music industry has changed, and how my music consumption has changed, through the lens of DMB and their success. Reading about the significance of fans taping and sharing early concerts reframed the memories I have of buying exorbitantly priced bootleg concert albums at a nearby cd store.
I was reminded of how I first heard and fell in love with their music. Concerts I attended and significant moments in my life that were marked by specific songs. I got a better idea of how the band formed and its early history in Charlottesville, VA, where I recently visited for non-DMB-related reasons, and which I now have a greater appreciation for.
I fell down a rabbit hole of "new" songs I hadn't heard before, concert-going fan favorites that the band plays live but that never made it onto any of their studio albums. It has spurred a new wave of DMB fever in my house, which thus far is being tolerated by my wife and children, though I sense we’re approaching a breaking point…
A surprisingly good read about a band that I didn’t realize I missed, and that I’ll probably still be listening to 30 years from now much to my own chagrin.
June 9, 2011
If you are a fan of the Dave Mathews Band, then this is the book for you. Not only does it chronicle the band’s history for the past twenty years, it has interviews, color photographs and fan recollections. It covers the death of member LeRoi Moore and the band’s reinvention.
I remember when the band was first starting out and the quick growth of their following. Although, I have never attended one of their concerts, they certainly made an impression. I enjoyed reading this history of the Dave Matthews Band.
I remember when the band was first starting out and the quick growth of their following. Although, I have never attended one of their concerts, they certainly made an impression. I enjoyed reading this history of the Dave Matthews Band.
June 11, 2013
As a Dave Matthews Fan who doesn't know that much about the band and its history, this was informative. However, it was written so much from a "fan" perspective that I felt like I don't really know Dave or the rest of the band any better than I did before I started. It's more a timeline of their successful ascent than any kind of deep exploration of the band or its personnel. I read a lot of books about bands and musicians, and so I expected more.
June 15, 2011
This book is well organized and tells the story of DMB largely from the perspective of a few of the many fans of this two-decade old band. After a brief note about the band's planned 2011 'break' from touring (which is not quite going to come to pass, and was later clarifed by the author) the band's biography progresses chronologically from their roots in Virginia through the end of the 2010 fall arena tour.
Information about studio albums is plentiful and information about the many live releases is mixed in, with emphasis on the more widely distributed albums. Fan reaction and experiences are the foundation of Van Noy's storytelling and while I regretably discovered DMB relatively recently, I was able to completely relate to the experiences noted throughout the book.
The book reminded me that I never was able to see Roi live in concert...and never will. Van Noy's handling of this delicate part of the band's history brought tears to my eyes. It was also striking how much of the last three (3) years of the band's history I've paid close attention to - I can't compete with those who have many more years of additional fan experience, but I feel like this book helped me to better understand the 17 years when I wasn't quite paying attention.
Information about studio albums is plentiful and information about the many live releases is mixed in, with emphasis on the more widely distributed albums. Fan reaction and experiences are the foundation of Van Noy's storytelling and while I regretably discovered DMB relatively recently, I was able to completely relate to the experiences noted throughout the book.
The book reminded me that I never was able to see Roi live in concert...and never will. Van Noy's handling of this delicate part of the band's history brought tears to my eyes. It was also striking how much of the last three (3) years of the band's history I've paid close attention to - I can't compete with those who have many more years of additional fan experience, but I feel like this book helped me to better understand the 17 years when I wasn't quite paying attention.
August 11, 2016
This book may be more popular with bigger fans of the band. I picked it up on an impulse because it was marked way down, and I thought it would be fun to go back through some of the DMB stuff I used to listen to in high school and college while I am traveling. Pretty fun to listen to those songs again for the first time in a while.
My dissatisfaction with the book rests mostly in that the author didn't conduct any of her own interviews with any of the band members and instead relied on fan accounts to create the history. I learned some things, but there's only so many times you can read about how amazing a certain concert was or how passionate the fanbase is.
My dissatisfaction with the book rests mostly in that the author didn't conduct any of her own interviews with any of the band members and instead relied on fan accounts to create the history. I learned some things, but there's only so many times you can read about how amazing a certain concert was or how passionate the fanbase is.
Read
June 21, 2011My friend wrote this :-) And, I'm quoted it in it. Oh, happy day, I finally made it INTO a book! For someone who loves books and reading, to be in a book about DMB (my other favorite thing), well, it's the best of both worlds, isn't it?? :-) full write-up to follow when I get some time!!! But of course, I loved it!
February 15, 2015
A real Dave Matthews Band fan will enjoy this book. Anyone else will probably be bored with it.
April 16, 2023
Dave Matthews Band (DMB) story, of their first 20 years. Written strictly from the perspective of a journalist-fan who follows the band around the world on tour circuits. The author characterizes the band & its followers quite well & shares their enthusiasm; but is occasionally repetitive. She presents almost as a rave reviewer, instead of an author, giving the book a bit of a juvenile feel (like a teen gushing over their band). I'm definitely a fan, so I didn't mind; it just came across a little differently than I expected. Still good. Tells a little about the individual band-members (I would've liked to know more; but this is primarily a biography of the band, not the players). Occasionally incorrect in its information - (ie; it says that the inside CD-cover for "Under the Table & Dreaming" has a tribute to Dave's murdered sister; however mine didn't have that). You'll find some useful facts & a basic syllabus of the band's recordings & concerts up til around the year 2010.
December 26, 2024
You really, really have to be a fan to get anything out of this book. Written from a fan perspective, there is no biographical information. It is just a girl talking about the concerts she's been to. 20 years on the road refers to her following the band around, not to the band itself. Skimmed through and finished in a day. Picked it up at a library sale for 50 cents. Glad I didn't pay more than that.
January 15, 2023
A great band and devoted fan base
Never realized they had such a devoted fan base and tapping tradition. Never considered them a jam band befor in the vein of Grateful Dead or Phish. I will see my first DMB concert in March and am curios if the love and devotion will still shine through.
Never realized they had such a devoted fan base and tapping tradition. Never considered them a jam band befor in the vein of Grateful Dead or Phish. I will see my first DMB concert in March and am curios if the love and devotion will still shine through.
April 1, 2025
I used this book as a way to help me learn about the making of the DMB albums as I started listening to them for the first time. It actually was pretty helpful in giving some background at least up until the last album before the book was written! Definitely more focused on the fan experience which was not necessarily my goal but I think is probably really great if that is your goal!
August 3, 2019
This was a great little book that provided some history of how DMB got started, the song writing process, tidbits about the first 20 years, and fan perspective. It’s an interesting read for any DMB fans!
April 10, 2021
Happy 30th anniversary, Dave Matthews Band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2022
Fangirling!
February 22, 2024
Made me miss being at a show and feel blessed to have found such an awesome fan base
November 27, 2024
It was fun to reminisce with some of my favorite albums growing up, learning more about their creation and some of the newer ones I didn’t pay much attention to but they are growing on me now with subsequent listens. This book focused a bit more on fan and taping culture than the band IMO, but it was still a great read for DMB fans.
August 24, 2011
Fascinating! I thought I knew everything there was to know about DMB, but this book actually taught me a few things I did not know. I do think there were some details that were left out, but overall, it was a great read. I now feel so enveloped in the world of DMB that I am desperately mourning Summer Tour. Can't wait for next year!
April 6, 2013
ok read about my most favorite band in the world. It covers the band's 20 consecutive years touring from small clubs & colleges to major venues like the great lawn in central park. It was interesting to read about how they almost called it quits and how they handled the death of founding member Leroi Moore.
Makes me want to see them live again!
Makes me want to see them live again!
December 20, 2015
It is written from a fan perspective; however much of it is the same material previously written. I did appreciate the chapters deviated to LeRoi Moore. DMB is something you experience live in concert. The book was helpful to reminisce about my early days as a fan and would give any new fan insight to the 20 years + history.
July 7, 2012
As a huge fan, I was eager to read it.
Very plain writing, total partial as it was written by an other huge fan's personal opinion.
To whom doesn't know the band, I wouldn't recommend it.
Overall; it was interesting learning some facts about DMB.
Very plain writing, total partial as it was written by an other huge fan's personal opinion.
To whom doesn't know the band, I wouldn't recommend it.
Overall; it was interesting learning some facts about DMB.
March 26, 2012
this was ok, but i already knew most of what was in the book so most of it i skimmed. oh well, at least i got a few pictures out of it.
July 6, 2011
I love Dave and I love the Dave Matthews Band, but I wasn't in love with this book.
August 26, 2011
While I would have liked more from the band itself, the enthusiasm of DMB's fanbase is captured very well and made me want not only to see more concerts but buy every live DVD they have.
July 16, 2011
I love Dave! A fun book that took me back to my college days and early 20s where my husband and I saw DMB 7 times.
March 20, 2012
Interesting if you're a fan,especially the history of the band.
January 12, 2012
Nice to have the story in one condensed form but otherwise no new information a fan doesn't already know.
March 2, 2012
A must read for any DMB fan...the story begins with the band's small, grassroot beginnings to the powerhouse the band has become and still is today.
July 18, 2014
Started this back in February. I feel like it is poorly written and just can't seem to pick it up again.
September 17, 2012
This book has convinced me that if you want to see a really great live show, you must go to Europe specifically Italy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews