As I mentioned at the end of last week, I spent the weekend out in Noblesville, Indiana for two nights with the Dave Matthews Band. The area around the Klipsch Music Center, aka Verizon Wireless Music Center, aka Deer Creek, has changed a lot over the nearly fifteen years and thirteen shows I have seen at this venue, but it still continues to be one of my favorite places to catch a show.

We (myself and a dozen or so friends) do as we always do and stayed at the excellent Sleepybear Campground, which is directly across the street from the venue’s parking lots. New this year was an RV that some friends had rented, while some others in the group slept inside the farm-house for an added fee. I continued as I normally do and pitched my tent for sleeping under the stars.

Crew Cart

Our afternoons were spent playing cornhole, tossing a football, grilling food, and hanging out with a great group of friends. Of course stories from years past were shared, some of which have been told every year since. An old friend of mine is now a member of the DMB crew and he even stopped over on a branded golf cart for a surprise visit. Good to see you, Rick, and thanks for letting me get a quick photo on the cart.

Crazy Dancing Dave

Aside from a freak afternoon storm on the first day, which left some of my belongings soggy, we had great weather to go along with the music that was just as great as ever. The combo of “Best of What’s Around” and “Ants Marching” to close out the show on the first night was about as good as it gets for me. Other highlights included “Spoon” with opening act Brandi Carlile on vocals, “So Damn Lucky,” and “Hunger for the Great Light.” There were no songs repeated between the two nights, which I love to see. Overall it was another incredible weekend at Deer Creek.

Killer Light Show

Below are some additional photos I snapped at the shows.