Continues from last week's Dave Matthews Band: The Live Releases - Part One
In 2000 DMB made good on their promise to offer exclusive bonus live performances for its fan club members. The bonus disc would end up becoming the first in a series of random versions of various songs throughout the years. Starting with the first release of this series, the crew selected 5 performances from the winter ’98 run. With tape-trading breathing it’s last breath and CDR trading picking up, it seemed like the perfect time for hardcore fans to get these winter ’98 performances in a perfectly mixed fashion.
Crush – 12/7/98
Warehouse – 12/3/98
#41 – 12/8/98
Say Goodbye – 12/10/98
Two Step – 12/11/98
Each performance stronger than the last, promoting the edge that Tim gave to DMB during that run, coupled with the absolutely flawless production and mix job done by the crew on these 5 tracks. While each performance stands out for a number of reasons, it’s the selection of the two Worcester ’98 show performances of Crush(12/7) and #41(12/8) that put this bonus disc ahead of even a few full released shows. Crush from 12/7/98 was the closest DMB ever came to matching the perfect essence of its studio performance, while #41 from 12/8 promoted the additions of Bela Fleck and Jeff Coffin, two musicians who found a second home on stage with DMB and within #41.
After this fan club release had swept the community, the demand for more bonus tracks and live releases became heavier than ever and the Warehouse fanclub found themselves at the center of focus for those perfectly performed lone performances tucked away deep within shows that may never see the light of day for a full release. It was is if the fanbase laid their hopes of the Warehouse crew to resurrect certain eras of this band, or certain performances with guests. Before you knew it, the Warehouse bonus discs became just as important as any standard official live release from this band.
 Buy this
 To coincide with the growing number video collection DVD’s by numerous acts, Dave Matthews Band released one of their own in August of 2001. “The Videos 1994 – 2001”, hosted the band’s classic videos, Ants Marching, Crash Into Me, Don’t Drink The Water, Crush, and more. A collection wouldn’t have been complete without commentary by some of the directors of each video. Some went on to even say Dave would (could) go on to become a great actor someday and pointed out random hints of the prediction.
The Videos DVD didn’t garner much excitement, but it was exactly what a good chunk of the fans wanted after trying to keep a collection of the band’s videos on VHS for years. Satellite and Tripping Billies seemed like two videos that always escaped the clutches of fans who tried to keep the band’s entire video catalog together. Now, every video was available in high quality with commentary and even some “Behind the Scenes” footage with Dave and the band.
[editor's note: Although The Videos do not feature live releases, they were traded and tracked heavily by fans.].
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 Two months after The Videos DVD went on sale, the crew continued on with their Winter ’98 kick (see WH5 Vol. I) with the release of “Live In Chicago – 12/19/98” in October ‘01. Originally a live video webcast on the date of its performance, this release had question marks surrounding it. Why was this released? Was it intended for one because of the live webcast? Why this particular winter ’98 show? T-shirts were even printed up by the crew for the Chicago show which promoted the webcast, before the show even took place. The shirts were sold online through the DMB store for next few months, into early ‘99.
Highlights and low-points filled this release, and it seemed that the fans had mixed feelings on this selection. Some hailed it as another in line of perfect releases, while others felt it wasn’t the strongest show during that run. Many speculations swelled the fanbase accusing the crew of being lazy by picking a show that was pretty much already mixed and on the shelf of the vault.
With the end of what was obviously one of the most fearful years for America in recent memory, music seemed to push on, but Dave Matthews Band cancelled tour dates in Europe in light of the recent tragic events in late ’01. With no touring and the promotion of Everyday at a standstill, it fueled the assumptions of the crew needing something quick to whip up and release to keep fans interested ‘till the following year/tour.
With accusations and assumptions that surrounded this release, it was surprising that certain performances weren’t overlooked. A close to as perfect Last Stop as the band had ever performed, a solid #41 with Victor Wooten, a heartfelt Christmas Song, and of course one of the funkiest performances of What Would You Say with sax man Maceo Parker.
Whether this was impromptu, or just a poor choice, this release opened the doors for so many fans that had yet to discover the brilliance that lay within many of the winter ’98 performances. Live In Chicago wasn’t the best release but it was still a strong one none-the-less.
 In late 2001 early 2002 the DMB crew held a poll on the official website, asking fans to pick what songs they wanted for the next Warehouse 5 disc. After a sluggish tour in 2001 and a mediocre release in Live In Chicago, this was exactly what the fan base needed to get back on the positive track.
The result would be one of the most confusing track selections the crew has ever made. With thousands of fans on message boards claiming to have voted for the likes of Dreaming Tree, Seek Up, Jimi Thing, Halloween….the Warehouse 5 Vol. II ended up being a collection of performances from the 2001 tour. Fans were baffled as to why the crew would ask the opinion of the community, and then seemingly brush off the requests to promote the ’01 tour, which was already said and done.
Initially the fans were taken back by the choices, but when the Warehouse 5 Vol. II discs were sent out to fan club members and the performances were actually heard, opinions changed, and views of the disc were brought to a more accepting place among the fans. With what was quite possibly the single greatest performance of Seek Up from 7/30/01, a solid and comparatively fantastic Grey St. from 7/7/01, and a perfect version of The Stone from 7/27/01, this Warehouse disc went from being blasted from the non-use of the poll, to a bravo for selected some performances that showed there were some hints of light in the darkness of 2001.
 In mid-summer of 2002, Dave Matthews Band released Busted Stuff. Along with the first wave of units, Busted Stuff was accompanied by a second disc which included photos, interviews and live footage of an upcoming live release (Folsom Field). Later that year, “Folsom Field – 7/11/01” found its way onto the shelves of music and dept. stores. It’s a release that once again, like Listener Supported, had a combo of audio and DVD release.
With each passing release, the majority of the fan base found it harder to come up with highlights. Folsom Field proved to be a release (and DVD) that would be the least talked about long after it may its way onto shelves. With flashy and over-the-top camera work, the DVD seemed like a fabricated promotion of Dave Matthews Band and the production of the audio portion of the release was muffled with certain band members drowned out in the mix.
Folsom Field made for two releases in a row didn’t fair well with the majority of the fan base, and questions continued to surround the tactics to which the crew used in deciding what to release. With the obvious criticisms of this selection aside, Folsom Field did provide some solid versions of a few songs. Bartender from this show (7/11/01) remains one of the finest the band has ever performed, and So Right proved to be a crowd and fan favorite throughout 2001 and this version was a perfect example of why.
 In 2003, the crew kept with the consistency of the fan club releases and put out the third installment in this on-going search for gems. This time there was no fooling around. The crew absolutely had to come up with a strong disc that would not only have fans raving, but also catch them off-guard. When the track selection was announced, the WH5 Vol. III did just that.
Instead of sticking with performances from one specific year and tour, the crew seemed as if they shuffled through many different eras of this band by putting out versions of songs from 1996, 1999, 2000, and 2002. The disc spanned four different years, five different performances. Even though Vol. I seemed to be the most perfect, it was Vol. III that showed exactly why this bonus disc release was set up in the first place.
Ranging from various years, performances like Minarets from 8/29/00, Typical Situation from 7/16/99 and Let You Down from 12/8/96 each opened a new look into the comparative sound of growth and maturity Dave Matthews Band went through year after year. This release also showed the different sounds DMB had and they came across over a recording. It was the first release that seemed to mirror the constant discussion by fans over the distinct sound the band had each year.
Next week: Part III: What Was Up With The Gorge Mix?
Trusted Stuff is a regular column on Dave Matthews Band written by Brandon L. You can share your thoughts and questions about this piece in the comment thread below.
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The Warehouse 5, Vol. I (Fan Club release)
