Dave Matthews Band Welcome John D’earth and Joe Lawlor in Richmond

Dave Matthews, photo by Bill Kelly

Last night, July 16, the Dave Matthews Band took the stage in Richmond, Va. for their second night at Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront and the final Southeast show of their Summer Tour. After making their debut at the city’s new venue on Tuesday with a more down-the-middle setlist, the group returned on Wednesday with some surprises in store to close out the booking in style.

Dave Matthews and his tried and true backing sextet emerged to “The Song that Jane Likes,” off their 1993 record Remember Two Things, then plowed ahead into “The Stone” with its signature interpolation of “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Following further tour staples like “Madman’s Eyes,” “Lie in Our Graves” and their reliable cover medley of “All Along the Watchtower” and “Stairway to Heaven,” the group bolstered their sound by welcoming a sit-in from Joe Lawlor on “The Only Thing.” Lawlor, who serves as the group’s live recording engineer, archivist and meticulous setlist tracker, added electric guitar to the group for the first time this year and his 48th sit-in since he signed on in 2006.

With Lawlor back behind the boards once more, DMB followed drummer Carter Beauford’s immediately identifiable solo intro into “Ants Marching,” which swept them off into more essentials like “Crash Into Me” before the evening’s second guest stepped up. John D’earth, the celebrated hard-bop jazz trumpeter and Richmond native, sat in with the group for the first time since 2023 and the 13th collaboration since he first crossed paths with the band through the Charlottesville All Stars back in 1993. His contribution to “Prodest Monkey” arrived as that song’s first standalone treatment since Sept. 2018 (it’s usually paired with “Satelite”) and preceded another feature on “Typical Situation.”

Matthews and the band closed out their main set with “So Right,” then wrapped up the show with an encore of “Some Deevil” and “Two Step.” They’ll return to the stage on Friday, July 18 for the first of two nights at Saratoga Springs, N.Y.’s SPAC. Find tickets and more information on the band’s 2025 tour itinerary here.