“#41” for 32: The DMB/Flecktones Collaborations
By Jake Vigliotti

4/20/02; 9/4/00; 7/25/01: They’re numbers that the average Dave Matthews Band fan can rattle off as quickly as a baseball fan says 755 and 511: Great shows. Great jams. All of which feature Bela Fleck & the Flecktones.

The relationship between DMB and BFF goes back to 1996, when the Flecktones opened for DMB on their winter tour run. Bela appeared on a few songs during that tour (first guest appearance was on “Lie In Our Graves” on 12/28/96), and immediately made his impact on both the band and the fans. The 50-plus guest spots that followed have produced some of the most intricate, intense jams put forth. The following is a sample of some of the more memorable appearances:

12/29/96 USAir Arena, Landover, MD
A show that is fairly unknown to fans, but Bela tore up “Two Step.” During the encore, Bela and Boyd attempted a “Dueling Banjos” intro to “Ants Marching,” but a failed speaker kept the jam from being fleshed out. Great underrated Bela and DMB show. Bela guested on the last seven songs“Two Step,” “Crash,” “Minarets,” “Typical Situation,” “Lie In Our Graves,” “Tripping Billies” and “Ants Marching.” How’s that for an end run?

12/31/96 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
DMB’s last New Years Eve show was the first with the entire Flecktones on stage with DMB at the same time. The bands played together for almost 50 minutes straight (“#41”> “Minarets” > “Typical Situation” and “Ants Marching”) prior to the encore.

6/7/97 Sony/Blockbuster Pavilion, Camden, NJ
Here’s the run featuring Bela: “Seek Up”>”Two Step”>”Ants Marching.” And that was the middle of the show. That was about 36 minutes of a lot of banjo jamming.

6/5/98 Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Sometimes seen as the little brother to the other stadium shows, the Foxboro show saw Bela guest on his usual “Don’t Drink the Water” and “Lie In Our Graves,” but also played on “The Dreaming Tree,” “#36,” and “The Last Stop.” People would give an eye to see that now, ironically enough.

12/8/98 The Centrum, Worcester, MA
The December 98 run is almost seen as heavenly. “The Last Stop” is still seen as one of the greatest performances of the song ever.

5/29/99 Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Bela and the rest of the Flecktones made a small appearance back at Foxboro, but it was their only time appearing on “Love of My Life” and “John The Revelator” (reborn later as “JTR”) with Carlos Santana!

9/4/00 AmSouth Amphitheatre, Antioch, TN
Prior to the 4/20/02 show, it was widely considered the best “#41” ever (it still may be). The mere 25-minute version features Bela, Futureman and Jeff Coffin. Bela also appeared on “Don’t Drink the Water” (reprising his Before These Crowded Streets album appearance), “Grace Is Gone,” “Grey Street,” “Long Black Veil,” “Digging a Ditch” and “All Along the Watchtower.” This is easily the best show all-around with Bela and the Flecktones.

9/18/00 Riverport Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO
This is another show that slips through the cracks of the usual greatness talk, but what a guest spot by the Flecktones. Jeff Coffin played on “Bartender,” and Bela and the rest of the Flecktones went to town on “#41” and “Tripping Billies.”

7/25/01 AmSouth Amphitheatre, Antioch, TN
The previous year in Antioch, TN produced one of the greatest shows ever, so to say the hype for this was large is an understatement. The entire Flecktones played on “#41,” busting out a 30-minute version. They surprised most everyone by also all playing on “The Space Between,” “Sleep To Dream Her” and “Grace Is Gone.” The crowd was definitely pleased (and surprised!) with those versions.

4/20/02 Corel Centre, Kanata, Ontario
Bela, the Flecktones, and DMB dropped a 32-minute “#41” on a stunned Ottawa crowd. Both bands interpolated “The Sojourn of Arjuna,” a Flecktones song, somewhere around the 14-minute mark. This is the show that is mentioned immediately when you hear talk of great “#41s.”

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Warren and The Watchtower: A Look Back
by Mike Greenhaus
For more than a dozen years, the Dave Matthews Band has fostered a relationship with Warren Haynes. The Satellite staff, with the assistance of Mr. Haynes himself, has identified some of these musicians’ notable onstage collaborations.

2/5/93: The Ritz, New York, NY
At the recommendation of Blues Traveler’s longtime road crew, Warren Haynes invites Dave, Carter and LeRoi to play “All Along the Watchtower” at his Ritz Power Jam, backed by an all-star ensemble which includes Noel Redding, Trey Anastasio, John Popper, a number of Allmans and a good chunk of P-Funk.

8/19/93: Wetlands, New York, NY
A few numbers into his first full DMB show, Haynes takes the stage for a handful of songs including the rarely played “Blue Water.” Both bands would soon join the pantheon of the club’s signature performers.

10/30/93: Van Ryper’s Music Festival, Charlottesville, VA
“I didn’t truly understand how big they could be until I saw them play to their hometown crowd,” Haynes says of this early performance. Also on the bill: the Warren Haynes Band, the Freddy Jones Band and Widespread Panic.

8/24/94: H.O.R.D.E. Festival, Classic Amphitheater, Richmond, VA
On the cusp of national fame, the Dave Matthews Band runs into Warren once again, this time on the traveling H.O.R.D.E. tour, and invites him up for a run from “Jimi Thing” into “Watchtower.”

6/13/98: Tibetan Freedom Concert, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Haynes and DMB return to the stage together after a few years apart at this high-profile benefit which also featured Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Herbie Hancock.

2/2/99: Beacon Theater, New York, NY
Warren shows another side as he joins Dave and Tim for an acoustic version of “Watchtower” at the intimate Beacon Theater.

12/13/2000: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
A few months after covering “Cortez the Killer” with Neil Young, the Dave Matthews Band performs this signature Crazy Horse number with Haynes’ deep-throated vocals at MSG.

9/24/03: Central Park, New York, NY
While touring the West Coast with Gov’t Mule, Haynes flies home for a night to perform to an estimated 100,000 fans at this legendary free show.

4/30/05: The Orpheum, New Orleans, LA
After appearing at New Orleans’ legendary Fairgrounds during JazzFest, Matthews joins Gov’t Mule and Ivan Neville onstage for their version of “Watchtower.”

6/10/05: Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
Considered by many to be the Mayor of Bonnaroo, Warren Haynes officially welcomes the DMB to Manchester, TN for the first time, sitting in on “Jimi Thing” and a bit of “For What It’s Worth.”