"Looks like a big old boat over there, like a big cruise ship, but I don't think that's what it is. I think I'm trippin'! Bunch of drunk people on a boat over there. Like four thousand people, sailing across the ocean, getting drunk, right over there. Doing things they will regret for the rest of their lives right there, in the middle of the ocean."

Thanks to Brandon (Fan#41) for this interview! This is part 3, so catch up on what's been talked about so far!

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Sam Erickson. Film-Maker, Photographer, Entrepreneur. How an unsure and somewhat bored Swarthmore College Grad of ‘88 went on to photograph, direct, and document one of the most successful US touring band’s over the last 2 decades, along with creating his own company where he continues to work with some of music’s biggest acts and living legends. A taste of Sam's work will be featured throughout this series.(Left; Sam Erickson performing with some friends in 1999)

Part 3.

A Discussion.

A few weeks ago we had a chance to catch the busy Sam Erickson and conduct an interview/discussion with him in a series of emails. A special thanks to Sam for being so kind, gracious, and open.

"Not that uh, not that, not that I'm not uh, uh incredibly flattered (inaudible), and I love y'all too so, but, but I'll tell you what. But I was just thinking, I just, it's kind of a left field idea, but I was thinking, um, that, that. You know there's so much...You know like when you're making, when you're making love and then you're holdin' it back, and you're holdin' back, and you're holdin' back, and you're holdin' back, and you're holdin' back, and you're holdin' back, and you're holdin' back, and you're holdin' back, and you're holdin' back, and shit just gets better and better?

The 91st NFL season will open with a bang, as DMB will perform prior to the kickoff, as part of "NFL Opening Kickoff 2010 Presented By EA Sports"! The first game (between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings), and performance by DMB, will take place at The Superdome in New Orleans, on September 9, 2010. Also performing at the event is Taylor Swift.

Thanks to Brandon (Fan#41) for this interview! This is part 2, so catch up on what's been talked about so far!

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Sam Erickson. Film-Maker, Photographer, Entrepreneur. How an unsure and somewhat bored Swarthmore College Grad of ‘88 went on to photograph, direct, and document one of the most successful US touring band’s over the last 2 decades, along with creating his own company where he continues to work with some of music’s biggest acts and living legends. A taste of Sam's work will be featured throughout this series.

 (Sam Erickson-left- with friends, 1999)

1996 proved to be a big year for Sam. He managed to snap some of the most intimate Dave & Tim shots, he conducted promo shoots for the band for the Crash release, he joined the guys for multiple stints throughout the year, one stint that included a chance opportunity to take candid shots of Bob Dylan. He spent time on the road with these popular musicians who happened to be his friends and the professional relationship was culminating into an almost unknown partnership.

You see, Sam was not only helping himself in his career by photographing his friends but he was also helping the band and RCA sell records. His work was becoming a fixture in the Dave Matthews Band community and would soon ensure his place in the band's legacy and help Sam discover yet another talent he had hidden inside.

If you've ever scored one of the many limited edition concert posters Dave Matthews Band has had available at the merch booth, you know that they often go quite fast.  DMB posters are often sold out at venues before the shows are even over.

"So, anyway. What I was, what I was, 'cause I was reminded by the humiliation, and I think I might be the only person in the world that this has ever happened to. It's not a great story. It's a boring story, okay. It's not that good, but I'm telling it anyway.

Special thanks to Brandon (Fan#41) for preparing and conducting this interview!

Sam Erickson. Film-Maker, Photographer, Entrepreneur. How an unsure and somewhat bored Swarthmore College Grad of ‘88 went on to photograph, direct, and document one of the most successful US touring band’s over the last 2 decades, along with creating his own company where he continues to work with some of music’s biggest acts and living legends. A taste of Sam's work will be featured throughout this series.

(Left; Sam Erickson performing with some friends in 1999)

We were lucky enough to catch Sam during one of his brief down-times and asked a few questions, but first a short history of Sam.

"This is some serious shit. Some serious. We're not messing around here.

(from crowd) Stay still your face!

What? Stay still your f-...Stay still your face. Someone just told me to stay still my face. What does that mean?

With Virginia Beach still in their rear view mirror, DMB has announced the next volume of the Live Trax series with the 06.04.96 show from Virginia Beach. 

The Warehouse describes Live Trax 18 as "the first show in the States after DMB's tour in Europe. Dave notes how the band is still taking in "this thing that's been going on with us", referring to the success achieved with the release of Crash.