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Listener Supported
Listener Supported
Listener Supported
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Listener Supported
Live album by
Dave Matthews Band
ReleasedNovember 23, 1999 (1999-11-23)
RecordedSeptember 11, 1999
VenueContinental Airlines Arena (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
GenreRock
Length128:37
LabelBMG
ProducerJohn Alagia
Dave Matthews Band chronology
Before These Crowded Streets
(1998) 		Listener Supported
(1999) 		Everyday
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarHalf star [1]
The Music BoxStarStarStarHalf star [2]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarHalf star [3]

Listener Supported is an album by the Dave Matthews Band, released on November 23, 1999. It was recorded live at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 11, 1999.

In addition to being the third live release by Dave Matthews Band, Listener Supported was filmed by PBS for an In the Spotlight special, and the entire concert was released on VHS the same day and DVD on February 8, 2000. The title of this release is taken from PBS's "supported by viewers like you" underwriting spot. It is currently the only Dave Matthews Band live album to not contain the date or location in the title. This is because part of the broadcast agreement allowed PBS to release their own audio CD version of the television special.

Listener Supported was also the first live release to feature keyboardist Butch Taylor and "The Lovely Ladies" on vocals. In addition to songs from each of their RCA studio albums, Listener Supported features the previously unreleased songs "#40", "True Reflections" (sung by Boyd Tinsley), and the heartbeat intro to "Pantala Naga Pampa", as well as the full band versions of "#36", "Granny" and "Long Black Veil".

Track listing

[edit]
Disc one
  1. "Intro" (David J. Matthews) – 6:25
  2. "Pantala Naga Pampa" (Matthews) – 0:41
  3. "Rapunzel" (Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, Matthews) – 7:09
  4. "Rhyme & Reason" (Matthews) – 5:58
  5. "The Stone" (Matthews) – 7:28
  6. "#41" (Beauford, Lessard, Matthews, LeRoi Moore, Boyd Tinsley) – 9:47
  7. "Crash into Me" (Matthews) – 6:02
    • contains an interpolation from the composition "Dixie Chicken" (Lowell George, Martin Kibbee)
  8. "Jimi Thing" (Matthews) – 13:12
  9. "#36" (Matthews) – 7:34
    • with The Lovely Ladies
  10. "Warehouse" (Matthews) – 8:32
Disc two
  1. "Too Much" (Matthews, Beauford, Moore, Lessard, Tinsley) – 4:52
  2. "True Reflections" (Tinsley) – 7:25
    • with The Lovely Ladies
  3. "Two Step" (Matthews) – 14:38
  4. "Granny" (Matthews) – 4:24
  5. "Stay (Wasting Time)" (Matthews, Lessard, Moore) – 7:07
    • with The Lovely Ladies
  6. "#40" (Matthews) – 1:49
  7. "Long Black Veil" (Danny Dill, Marijohn Wilkin) – 8:44
    • with The Lovely Ladies
  8. "Don't Drink the Water" (Matthews) – 7:09
  9. "Intro to..." (Matthews) – 1:36
  10. "All Along the Watchtower" (Bob Dylan) – 7:51

Personnel

[edit]

Dave Matthews Band

Additional musicians

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[6] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Listener Supported

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Listener Supported is the third live album by the American rock band . It was recorded during a concert on September 11, 1999, at the Continental Airlines Arena in , and released as a two-disc set on November 23, 1999, by . The performance was filmed for the special In the Spotlight, with the album title referencing the listener-supported funding model of . The album features 20 tracks spanning the band's catalog up to that point, including hits like "" and "#41," capturing their improvisational style.

Background

Album concept

Listener Supported is a live album that captures the Dave Matthews Band's signature improvisational style and intimate fan interaction during a pivotal moment in their career, following their collaboration with producer on the studio album . Released in 1999, the album documents the band's dynamic energy on stage, emphasizing spontaneous musical explorations that defined their live shows at the time. This recording highlights the group's ability to extend songs into lengthy, collaborative jams, fostering a sense of community with audiences through call-and-response moments and unscripted transitions. The specific intent behind Listener Supported was to showcase extended jams and setlist staples from the 1999 tour, providing a contrast to the more structured and guest-heavy arrangements of their recent studio release . While the studio album featured orchestral elements and collaborations, the live format allowed the core band to demonstrate their raw, jazz-inflected rock sound without additional layers, underscoring their evolution as a touring powerhouse. This approach preserved the essence of their performances, where songs like "#41" and could morph into multi-minute improvisations based on the crowd's energy. The band's decision to release Listener Supported came amid increasing label expectations for sustained commercial viability after the multi-platinum success of Crash, which sold over seven million copies worldwide. With Before These Crowded Streets achieving four million in sales but marking a more experimental phase, RCA Records sought to leverage the Dave Matthews Band's renowned live reputation to maintain momentum during the transitional 1999 tour period. The album, tied to a PBS broadcast special, thus served as both an artistic document and a strategic release to reaffirm their connection with fans.

Tour context

The 1999 summer-fall tour of the served as an extension of the promotional campaign for their 1998 studio album , building on the momentum from the previous year's outings with a focus on larger-scale live performances. Spanning 62 dates across from May to September, the tour emphasized outdoor amphitheaters and indoor arenas, including venues such as in ; Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheater in ; and in . This itinerary reflected the band's shift toward headline status in major markets, with shows often supported by opening acts like , enhancing the communal festival-like atmosphere. Key milestones highlighted the tour's success, including multiple sold-out stadium performances that underscored the band's rising draw, such as the July 11 show at , which drew over 60,000 fans. Setlists evolved throughout the run, incorporating extended jams and improvisational elements typical of the band's style, while increasingly integrating fresh material from , such as "Don't Drink the Water," "#41," and "The Stone," which became staples and allowed for dynamic live reinterpretations. These additions not only tested new songs in front of audiences but also bridged the gap between studio recordings and the band's signature live extensibility, contributing to the tour's reputation for unpredictable, high-energy sets. The tour marked a pivotal point in the band's career trajectory, solidifying their status as one of the top live acts amid the late-1990s rock landscape, with total attendance exceeding 1.4 million fans and gross revenue reaching $48.5 million from ticket sales alone. This commercial triumph, ranking the fourth among 1999's highest-grossing tours behind acts like , demonstrated their growing fanbase and operational scale, far surpassing earlier efforts in both reach and financial impact. The Listener Supported album later captured this tour's vibrant energy as a live snapshot, emphasizing the improvisational spirit that defined the performances.

Recording

Concert details

The concert was recorded on September 11, 1999, at the Continental Airlines Arena (now known as the Center) in , a venue selected for its central position relative to the band's strong East Coast fanbase and the anticipated high-energy atmosphere of the performance. This show formed part of the Dave Matthews Band's extensive 1999 tour supporting their album . The event drew an audience of approximately 20,000, nearly filling the arena's concert capacity, and lasted over two and a half hours, with the performance extending into unscripted encores that responded to the crowd's enthusiasm. Performance highlights unique to the night included extended improvisations, such as the elongated jam during "Ants Marching" that showcased the band's signature improvisational style, and special contributions from keyboardist Butch Taylor along with backup vocalists Brenda White, Tawatha Agee, and Chinah Bess. These elements, including interpolations like "Dixie Chicken" in "Crash Into Me" and a solo acoustic start to the encore "#40," captured a dynamic interplay between the band and audience not repeated in other tour stops.

Production process

The production of Listener Supported involved capturing the Dave Matthews Band's performance on September 11, 1999, at the Continental Airlines Arena in , using a multi-track setup to preserve the energy of the live show. The recording was handled by engineer John Harris, with live sound support from the band's longtime front-of-house engineer Jeff Thomas, who has worked with the group for over two decades. A 48-track digital recording system, loaned by veteran producer , was employed to capture the full-band performance, allowing for detailed isolation of instruments and vocals amid the arena environment. Post-concert editing and mixing took place at studios in , under the direction of John Alagia, who co-produced the album alongside the band. From the complete setlist of the evening, were selected for the final release, focusing on highlights that showcased the band's improvisational style while maintaining chronological flow where possible. Editing involved compiling takes on the system and balancing elements in , with minimal overdubs—primarily limited to select vocal and instrumental enhancements—applied to retain the authentic live texture without significant studio polishing. Some mixes were completed in as little as three hours, emphasizing efficiency to capture the raw spontaneity. Key challenges included managing audio bleed between the band's acoustic and electric instruments, as well as integrating crowd ambiance without overwhelming the mix. Alagia addressed these through phase-switching techniques on microphones and post-production filtering to mitigate noise from the venue, such as audience interactions and environmental sounds, resulting in a balanced yet immersive audio profile. Microphones like Neumann U87s and Shure SM7s were used for close-miking drums and vocals to minimize interference, contributing to the album's distinctive live immediacy that contrasts with the band's more refined studio recordings. The final mastering occurred at Sterling Sound, ensuring the raw, energetic sound translated effectively across formats.

Release

Commercial release

Listener Supported was released on November 23, 1999, by , strategically positioned to leverage the holiday shopping season for increased sales potential. The timing came shortly after the recording concert on , 1999, during the band's ongoing 1999 tour, allowing the album to serve as an extension of the live experience for fans. Marketing efforts emphasized the album's live recording as a key selling point, capturing the band's improvisational energy and audience interaction from the Continental Airlines Arena performance. Promotional tie-ins included a PBS "In the Spotlight" special that broadcast the concert, broadening exposure through public television and tying into the album's title, a nod to listener-supported broadcasting. Digital formats were not offered at the time of release, as legal digital album downloads were not yet feasible; widespread platforms for such downloads, such as Apple's , would not emerge until 2003.

Formats and packaging

Listener Supported was primarily released as a two-disc (CD) set on November 23, 1999, housed in a double clear tray slim jewel case with a 10-page folded booklet containing track information, credits, and images from the performance. The artwork, designed by art director Thane Kerner in collaboration with the band's creative team , features a of live shots and fan-submitted photos intended to reflect the album's theme of and listener . A companion DVD edition followed on February 8, 2000, presenting the full concert in video format with additional behind-the-scenes footage and director commentary, directed by Lawrence Jordan and produced for . This visual release captured the energy of the September 11, 1999, performance at Continental Airlines Arena, allowing fans to experience the multi-camera production that accompanied the audio recording. Limited editions included a cassette version, primarily available in select international markets like , which was quickly phased out amid the declining popularity of the format in the late . International CD variants featured region-specific inserts, such as localized or packaging adaptations for markets including , , , , and .

Reissues

In 2024, to mark the 25th anniversary, Listener Supported was reissued as a 4LP vinyl on November 15, , making the full concert available on vinyl for the first time. This edition preserves the original tracklist and audio from the 1999 performance.

Musical content

Track listing

Listener Supported is a double-disc live album comprising 20 tracks from the Dave Matthews Band's performance on September 11, 1999, at the Continental Airlines Arena in . The setlist emphasizes the band's signature blend of original material and covers, with songwriting credits predominantly attributed to , often in collaboration with band members , Stefan Lessard, , and . Several tracks showcase extended improvisational elements unique to the live recording, diverging from their studio counterparts through elongated jams and seamless transitions. The following table presents the complete track listing, including durations and primary songwriting credits:
DiscTrackTitleWriter(s)Duration
11Intro6:25
12Pantala Naga Pampa0:41
13, , Stefan Lessard7:09
14Rhyme & Reason5:58
15The Stone7:28
16#41, , Stefan Lessard, , 9:47
176:02
18Jimi Thing, , Stefan Lessard, , 13:12
19#367:34
110, Stefan Lessard8:32
21Too Much, , Stefan Lessard, , 4:52
22True Reflections7:25
23Two Step14:38
24Granny4:24
25Stay (Wasting Time), Stefan Lessard, 7:07
26#401:49
27Danny Dill, 8:44
28Don't Drink the Water7:09
29Intro to...-1:36
2107:51
Notable live adaptations include the fluid segue from "Pantala Naga Pampa" into "Rapunzel," which extends the pairing beyond the brief studio interlude on Before These Crowded Streets. "Jimi Thing" balloons to over 13 minutes with layered saxophone solos and rhythmic builds absent in the original version. Similarly, "#41" and "Two Step" feature expansive improvisations, reaching 9:47 and 14:38 respectively, highlighting the band's penchant for on-stage exploration. The cover "Long Black Veil" incorporates bluegrass-inflected harmonies, while "Crash Into Me" weaves in an interpolation of Little Feat's "Dixie Chicken" during the outro. These elements capture the improvisational energy unique to this concert recording.

Personnel

The Listener Supported album features the core lineup of the , consisting of on vocals and guitar, on drums, percussion, and background vocals, Stefan Lessard on bass guitar, on violin and background vocals, and on , , and background vocals, along with keyboardist and backing vocalists The Lovely Ladies (Brenda White-King, Chinah Bess, and ). 's appearance marks his first featured contribution to a live release. The Lovely Ladies enhanced several tracks with harmonic support. This configuration captured the band's standard touring setup at the time. Production was handled by the and John Alagia, who also contributed to mixing alongside Jeff Juliano. Recording engineer John Harris captured the concert audio, with Chris Mazer assisting and Jeff Thomas managing live sound.

Critical reception

Contemporary reviews

Upon its release in November 1999, Listener Supported garnered generally positive to mixed contemporary reviews, with critics appreciating the 's live energy while occasionally noting limitations in pacing or production. Rolling Stone awarded the album 3 out of 5 stars in a February 2000 review, praising the band's evident chemistry during extended jams that highlighted their improvisational strengths, though it observed that the length and repetition might feel redundant to those not already invested in the group's fanbase.

Retrospective assessments

In the and 2020s, Listener Supported has been reassessed as a key document of the Band's live prowess during a transitional period, blending accessible hits with extended improvisations that foreshadowed their more experimental studio work in the early . A 2024 retrospective review highlights the album's "hyperkinetically groovy" drumming and syncopated rhythms, positioning it as an heir to and influences while critiquing its occasional "noodling" in longer tracks. Fan communities have analyzed the release extensively for its role in fostering bootleg culture and live music archiving. Music historians view Listener Supported as emblematic of jam-band evolution in the late , when acts like the bridged underground improvisation with commercial success, expanding the genre beyond successors into broader festival circuits.

Commercial performance

Chart performance

Listener Supported debuted and peaked at number 15 on the , selling approximately 150,000 copies in its first week (estimated based on chart position). The release demonstrated notable longevity, remaining on the for approximately 40 weeks and reflecting ongoing fan engagement through consistent purchases.

Certifications and sales

In the United States, Listener Supported was certified double platinum by the (RIAA) on February 13, 2001, recognizing shipments of 2 million units. The album's initial chart performance served as an early indicator of its commercial trajectory, leading to these accumulated sales milestones over the subsequent decades.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/listener-supported-mw0000256960
  2. https://davematthewsband.shop.musictoday.com/product/DMDD9/dmb-listener-supported
  3. https://www.discogs.com/master/81381-Dave-Matthews-Band-Listener-Supported
  4. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/listener-supported-255476/
  5. https://bestsellingalbums.org/artist/2979
  6. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/dave-matthews-bands-everyday-turns-a-page-80597/
  7. https://variety.com/1999/music/news/record-ticket-prices-fuel-concert-grosses-1117760335/
  8. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/concert-map/dave-matthews-band-43d6e713.html?tour=2bd7f09e
  9. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dave-matthews-band/1999/shoreline-amphitheatre-mountain-view-ca-4bd6ebfa.html
  10. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dave-matthews-band/1999/veterans-stadium-philadelphia-pa-4bd6eb22.html
  11. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-01-ca-49525-story.html
  12. https://davematthewsband.com/news/dmb-drive-in-concert-9-11-1999-east-rutherford-nj/
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0277658/
  14. https://www.antsmarching.org/tour/ViewShow.php?ShowID=2071
  15. https://www.discogs.com/release/534811-Dave-Matthews-Band-Listener-Supported
  16. https://www.discogs.com/release/14388904-Dave-Matthews-Band-Listener-Supported
  17. https://meyersound.com/news/dave-matthews-band/
  18. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/EQ-Magazine/EQ-2003-08.pdf
  19. https://www.amoeba.com/ajax/album_credits.php?id=309735
  20. https://www.discogs.com/release/1120095-Dave-Matthews-Band-Listener-Supported
  21. https://c-ville.com/so_much_to_say/
  22. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/digital-music-revolution/
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/3826547-Dave-Matthews-Band-Listener-Supported
  24. https://www.discogs.com/release/20616103-Dave-Matthews-Band-Listener-Supported
  25. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/24/dave-matthews-band-listener-supported
  26. https://www.ebay.com/itm/317093895064
  27. https://davematthewsband.com/music/listener-supported/
  28. https://audio-music.info/htm/m/Matthews_Dave_Listener_Supported.htm
  29. https://www.discogs.com/release/9135873-Dave-Matthews-Band-Listener-Supported
  30. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/dave-matthews-band/listener-supported/
  31. https://tinnitist.com/2024/12/02/classic-album-review-dave-matthews-band-listener-supported/
  32. https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1999-12-11/
  33. https://elpee.jp/album/Listener%20Supported/Dave%20Matthews%20Band/
  34. https://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-m/davematthewsband_main.htm
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