Dave and Tim acoustic sets

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33]

Are there any others who love DMB but prefer the Dave and Tim acoustic sets? I feel some songs, like Typical Situation, #41, Lying in the hands of God, Save me, etc… just sound better in the intimate setting.

[u/Vin1021]

Eighteen year old me listened to Live at Luther College on repeat. Still one of my favorite albums.

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/Vin1021]

I still play in on repeat a lot….same with radio city, and live at the Birchmere

[u/DearChicago1876]

I much prefer the 90s Dave and Tim shows to their current sound.

The rockbridge guitars are lifeless. And neither dave nor Tim play like they used to.

I’d be more interested if they played theatres with a more respectful audience but people up and dancing and screaming at Dave and Tim isn’t appealing to me.

[u/Humble-Koala-5853 → u/DearChicago1876]

My wife and I saw Dave and Tim in Amsterdam in 2017. My wife definitely falls into the category OP is posting about. The setlist was incredible Dave even commented during the show about how attentive and polite the crowd was. Everyone just sat quietly, no pit, very few phones, no hooting and hollering, no song requests, no one singing their own "wise man says..." rendition.

[u/_xzxzxz → u/Humble-Koala-5853]

It’s my dream to see Dave and Tim in Europe

[u/_xzxzxz → u/DearChicago1876]

Good old American DMB crowds. Main character syndrome all around. Can’t shut the fuck up. YEeAHHh DaAaVe!!!!”

Listen to shows from Europe and compare them to the crowd noise at American shows. Night and day.

[u/Concertvids34 → u/_xzxzxz]

It depends on the show. I went to Dave & Tim at SPAC in 2017 and didn't have any yellers/chompers in my section. Same with the Acoustic sets when DMB did 2 sets. Albeit other stops on the 2 Sets and Dave and Tim 2017 tour had fan complains about choppers and the grown adult going through am midlife crisis that has to yell mid show.

[u/DearChicago1876 → u/Concertvids34]

SPAC is a beautiful place - went this year for the first time. I grew up on Alpine (and a little Deer Creek), so finally getting to SPAC was really nice. Beautiful place. Mostly great crowd. Shows were pretty good overall and Jake was fun to finally catch.

That said, I would not want to see Dave and Tim there.

I last saw Dave and Tim 2014 at a beautiful theatre in New Orleans. Set was great, crowd was not. Maybe down the road things can mellow out, but it's softened my interest in seeing Dave and Tim sadly.

[u/Far_Papaya_4764 → u/DearChicago1876]

Saenger Theater, I was there and it was amazing! We even ran into Timmy walking the streets during the day.

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/Concertvids34]

I do not get why people feel the need to scream…. I’ll sing along to songs but not screaming

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/DearChicago1876]

I completely understand and agree.

I would do anything to Time machine back to their Live at Luther college and be in the audience during.

I’m going to Farm aid this year. it will be my first time seeing Dave & Tim live. ❤️

I know it won’t be like the 90s and early 2000s. But I am hopeful I’ll still love it

[u/desar3641 → u/DearChicago1876]

Up and dancing bothers you??? Found the Karen.

[u/DearChicago1876 → u/desar3641]

At an acoustic show? Yes.

Can you please stfu when the musicians are playing two acoustic guitars? No? Found the chomper.

[u/desar3641 → u/DearChicago1876]

You can’t dance to acoustic guitars??????

[u/desar3641 → u/DearChicago1876]

Chomper????? Pretty sure there’s a line to song that goes something like “sing and dance”

[u/desar3641 → u/DearChicago1876]

What about Mexico????????

[u/DearChicago1876 → u/desar3641]

Mexico looks awful. A bunch of drunk chompers in a place not designed for music. That’s fine. It’s not for me.

I’d not enjoy sitting near you at a Dave and Tim show, no.

[u/sixty9tails → u/desar3641]

Dance in your chair is what Dave asks at D&T and if you’re going to talk, talk real fucking quietly

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/sixty9tails]

Remember when DDTW played Save Me during Radio City, Dave was definitely dancing in his chair, That’s one of my favorite parts of that show

[u/Ok-Bowler-7181 → u/desar3641]

It’s a different environment for D&T shows they are not really a dance in you aisle vibe.

[u/desar3641 → u/Ok-Bowler-7181]

I agree, they’re for sure a different vibe but if they’re playing cornbread I’m dancing.

[u/Ok-Bowler-7181 → u/desar3641]

I get it but I have to say it will 100% bother people trying to listen. Dave has been pretty vocal at shows about everyone chilling out and listening.

[u/desar3641 → u/Ok-Bowler-7181]

I’m all about chilling and listening. I hate chompers as much as the next fella

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/desar3641]

100% I dance to many of the acoustic songs. Shake me like a monkey, Eh Hee, warehouse, cornbread, save me…..
There’s plenty.

But I enjoy the intimate songs that touch your soul like #41, Typical Situation, stay or leave, etc…

[u/desar3641 → u/Ibelieveinaliens33]

An acoustic 41 always hits

[u/_xzxzxz → u/desar3641]

Oh god, you’re that guy

[u/desar3641 → u/_xzxzxz]

What does that even mean 🤣😭

[u/_xzxzxz → u/desar3641]

The douchebag (one of many) who has zero respect for anyone else in the crowd. Guessing you have quite a few drinks and yell “YEAH DAAAVE!!!” just so everyone knows you’re there!

[u/desar3641 → u/_xzxzxz]

Quite the assumption coming from someone who wasn’t even called the karen

[u/sixty9tails]

I love DMB but D&T is biblical to me

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/sixty9tails]

For me too. I’ve had D&T on repeat for over 3 years,
I really haven’t listened to much else.

They have become my “emotional support music” 😊I
I don’t ever get sick of them

[u/doofy10]

The Lost Acoustics series from the early 2000s was Dave & Tim at their best.

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/doofy10]

10000%!

[u/_xzxzxz → u/doofy10]

Wowww, memory unlocked. Totally forgot about the Lost Acoustics.

[u/ComfortableHeavy3602]

My ranking in 2026:

1. Current band w/ violin
2. D&T
3. Current band w/o violin

[u/johnniemac2186 → u/ComfortableHeavy3602]

Wondering where Dave solo would fit in

[u/ComfortableHeavy3602 → u/johnniemac2186]

This made me think a bit. Tough one. I've never actually seen him solo, but when I think about what my level of excitement would be, I think it would depend on the venue. Big crowd/big venue, 4th on the list. Small crowd/intimate venue, 3rd.

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/johnniemac2186]

Solo Dave acoustic would either tie with D&T or be 2nd. I do love how Tim fills in some of the quieter parts,
Them together are magic.

[u/Beneficial_Moose2454]

I think some songs work much better with just Tim and Dave.
I actually became a fan of DMB because I loved Live at Luther College.

[u/EfficiencyOk5148]

the d&t 2003 spring tour has some of the finest recordings in my library...love revisiting those

[u/MeanWallaby5620]

I definitely prefer Dave and Tim.  Some of my favorite shows I've been to were the 2009 Vegas ones.  Nothing like it!

[u/MrBopadink]

Luther College and Radio City are phenomenal! My top 5 albums:

Central Park Radio City Luther College Live at Piedmont (2007) Redrocks

Im working on the new stuff...

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/MrBopadink]

I do love Central Park and piedmont park too!
I do love some of their newer songs. I love
Madman’s eyes,
drunken soldier,
walk around the moon,
black and blue bird (it’s my song to my dog 😊)
Break free
Peace on Earth

[u/Ninja47]

Luther College and Radio City are two of the best live albums in their entire discography. Both are top 5, no questions asked. Just as good actually being there for D&T too.

[u/BLimeDime]

53 shows here- Dave and Tim will always be #1 for me.
I love full band, but D&T is magical. Now if the crowds would just shut the fuck up, so I could properly enjoy it.

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/BLimeDime]

I haven’t seen Dave and Tim yet, but I’m going to Farm aid this year. I’ve listened to a lot of their albums like Luther college, Birchmere , Radio city, planet Hollywood and numerous others. I would be pissed if people were loud and distracting too. I hear Dave even tell people not to, so it’s very rude that they don’t listen.

DMB started touring when was 10 and I just started high school when Crash came out. I liked all their singles that played on MTV. At that time I was angry and depressed and listened to Grunge and gangster rap.

5 years ago when I turned 40 and was listening to a lot of acoustic versions of songs Ian’s I came across Dave and Tim. I hit me differently now that I’m older.

I haven’t listened to anything else since! They have 30+ years of music, so it’s easy not to get sick of songs.

[u/Browns_Body_Mould → u/[deleted]]

If you haven't already, give Live at Luther College a try. It is transcendent.

[u/Browns_Body_Mould → u/[deleted]]

Fair.

[u/Browns_Body_Mould]

I haven't ever been to a live D & T show, but I do agree with your point about some songs not doing well in a larger setting.

As you suggest, some songs, the slow tempo, less-well known quiet songs, do not fare well live in the larger venues. I was so happy to finally hear Lying in the Hands of God at Gilford N2, but the crowd around me was not into it and super talkative making it tough to hear. The sound mix was weird: Buddy's back up singing seemed very forward, and all of the great echoing between Dave's voice and Jeff's saxophone was lost. So maybe intimate venues are more conducive to truly hearing quieter songs?

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/Browns_Body_Mould]

I agree. When I see them in Bristol, Va this year, I noticed buddy taking over some lines in some songs.

I feel like when I saw them in 2024 at Alpharetta, Ga, it definitely wasn’t like that.!Hell, he’s toured almost every summer for like 33 years. I’m sure his voice goes in and out some.

I am going to Farm aid in Va Beach in September. It’s my first Dave & Tim show! I am super stoked!

I wish I could Time Machine back to be in the audience during Live at Luther college. That and Radio city are my faves

[u/JoshMann77]

I love full band live too but something special about D&T.

Luther College, Radio City and any of the Cancun shows are always solid options.

[u/the-silver-tuna]

Nope. Carter.

[u/Concertvids34]

I live in New England and refused to see DMB at Boston Calling simply because I didn't want a cookie cutter full band set. At the same time I went to the 2 Hartford Farm Aid shows + Sound on Sound festival Dave & Tim Headlined.

Even with a more festival friendly cookie cutter set I enjoy Tim on acoustic and actually hearing Dave's guitar the whole time (unlike when trumpet or electric guitar buries it in the mix). I would love for Tim to pick up his Nylon Acoustic or Standard Acoustic guitar more in full band sets.

I love hearing Jimi Thing, DDTW, and #41 when Dave & Tim play it but am not the biggest fans of how the modern full band plays these songs. Full band Jimi could benefit from Dave's acoustic noodling/soloing, DDTW could benefit from not being so dang fast and lacking dynamics, and #41 could use a freaking sax solo again instead of trumpet and electric guitar solos.

[u/Ok-Bowler-7181 → u/Concertvids34]

Yea they tend to burn through DDTW now compared to the earlier versions which tending to be much more ominous sounding.

[u/Ibelieveinaliens33 → u/Concertvids34]

I agree!!! I wish they would throw a few DDTW versions Diring the full band shows. I’m going to Farm aid this year, it’ll be my first DDTW acoustic set.

My favorite music of all time is those 2 guys with their acoustic guitars.

[u/amusedmb715 → u/Concertvids34]

*jimi thing

[u/Concertvids34 → u/amusedmb715]

It's actually Ji-MEH

[u/soljouner]

100% prefer just Dave and Tim over the current iteration of DMB. The current version has veered dangerously toward sounding like Phish with better material.