Want to play your own Tiny Desk concert? Unsigned musicians, enter the 2024 Tiny Desk Contest between Jan. 23 and Feb. 21. Learn more: npr.org/tinydeskcontest.

Dave Matthews will go down in history as one of the greatest, singer, songwriter musicians EVER!!!

Frankly, that first song was utterly mindblowing

My dad delivered newspapers for awhile in my hometown and he was doing a drop off in the lobby of the hotel Dave was staying at when they were there doing a show. Dave went up to my dad, asked if he could pay for a newspaper. My dad said he didn’t have to pay, but he did anyway. Then he stood there & chatted with my dad about the next town they were traveling to, etc. It was super early in the morning & DMB had just played a show the night before, so I’m sure Dave was tired. But he still made time for my dad. Really good guy.

I come back here every now and then, and get blown away every. single. time.

This is what it looks like when someone is doing what they love and were born to do.

That's what it sounds like when the soul is allowed to express itself.

I argue that Dave is one of the greatest musicians on the planet today.

Every time I watch this set I bawl my eyes out. I grew up riding around in my dad's truck, jamming out to DMB. My dad really loved Dave and the band. I think it's why he taught himself guitar. My dad and Dave would have been great friends if they ever met, I'm sure of it. My pops was a real one for sure. I miss him every day.

My God, is he getting BETTER?

Dave has been the soundtrack to my memories for 25 years. This performance is on another planet.

I refused to listen to The Dave Matthews Band when I was a kid because it was mainstream. That was a horrible mistake. This guy is absolutely amazing

One of the best songwritrers of all time

This person`s voice has been in my head for well over 20 years.

Dave came into my dad's clothing store years ago and bought some clothes for his concert that night. My dad is a bit out of the loop and he finally recognized Dave's name and he went in the back to look for a CD of his to put on. After my dad couldn't find it, Dave said, "That's okay I've probably heard it before" and that's when I began to love Dave Matthews.

I’ve met Dave and his wife multiple times. They are great genuine people. He’s such a talented musician

My mom talked about Dave Matthews band all time time growing up because he would play around her college all the time. Now at 20 I’m finally understanding just how incredible he is

I love that Dave Matthews is cool enough to do a tiny desk concert. Guy sells out stadiums and well, here he is.

Setlist 0:02 Samurai Cop (Oh joy begin) 5:05 Here on out 8:52 Don´t Drink the Water 15:48 Mercy 19:02 So Damn Lucky

This version of Don't Drink the Water has brought me to tears. So intense and soulful. Thank you, NPR, for sponsoring such talent from across the globe

His chord progressions are amazing

This is one of the best tiny desk concerts ..hands down

NPR - thank you for the quality of sound. Those mics are incredible and all the time the engineers put into making this for us. Thank you.

After decades of listening to various artists, I come back to Dave. His songs are original, funky and warm. They remind me of a time when life was easier. Dancing Nancy.

God I wish this was five hours long. I could watch Dave play all day.

Every performance is 100% commitment

He's just a fucking legend. Nobody can say otherwise. Incredible musician. Even better man.

This version of Samurai Cop was crazy good.

his voice makes me feel typa stuff ive never felt

To anyone who caught “the bug” from this set. Look up Live at Luther College then Radio City after. Dave has a good friend named Tim Reynolds, their acoustic work is out of this world.

Dave Matthews has saved me in my darkest times

Dave plays like a man possessed by emotion. Reminiscent of Joe Cocker. Gives his heart & soul...each song like a birth 💚

I can understand the obsession with Dave. I'm finally a fan. I can't stop watching. He's truly remarkable. Thank you for this!

SET LIST: "Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin)" (0:00) ... album: "Come Tomorrow" (2018) "Here on Out" (5:05) ... album: "Come Tomorrow" (2018) "Don't Drink the Water" (8:51) ... album: "Before These Crowded Streets" (1998) "Mercy" (15:47) ... album: "Away from the World" (2012) "So Damn Lucky" (19:01) ... album: "Some Devil" (2003)

I think Dave Matthews should be the first guy to talk to the aliens

Mercy is just beautiful. “Lift up your eyes. Lift up your heart.”

No pretense, completely putting himself out there. So genuine.

Seeing Dave Matthews going solo feels very emotional. His lyricism really stands out.

yeah I get it, I can see it now. There is something pretty amazing in his performance. He is not scared to dig down and be one with the music - which is a precious thing

I'm 19 and I've been to 4 or 5 dave mathews concerts because of my parents. I've loved every single one and it's certainly opened me up to every type of music. Of course I listen to rock and pop and rap and everything else but I will always come back to this as well as Jack Johnson.

This version of Don't Drink the Water is so powerful, this is the first time I've really been able to appreciate the lyrics, so beautifully written. Dave still crushing it!

I feel like Dave plays the guitar exactly like he wants. The connection he has with that instrument is astounding. No note is wasted.

Wow... I never appreciated how much he has mastered control of his voice and singing style. It becomes obvious when you watch him sing as opposed to just listening. Really impressive. Mad respect.

It took me 20 years to understand the lyrics to don't drink the water. I have know every single word that entire time, but apparently I never stopped to think about it. It makes sense that he would play it at NPR this far into his career as it might be his hardest hitting song.

I have to add: Don't Drink The Water is the best song about colonialism I have ever heard (with Cortez the Killer a close second). I know that'll trigger a lot of folks here, but as a non-white Caribbean native with African roots I can really appreciate Dave's very REAL experiences with the impact of white colonizers on indigenous populations (he did live in Apartheid South Africa) coming through in his music. His use of African scales and riffs, combining them with African American and bluegrass stylings are magnetic. And despite his obvious left leaning he preaches unity and moving PAST our differences. He's woke without the angry antagonism, putting his money where his mouth is with his charity programs. I respect that man greatly.

A true vision to have Dave Matthews stripped down to acoustic solo. Unearths the core of his music and lyrics like nothing else. It's a huge, courageous risk for an artist of his caliber, and what a revelation! Thank you, Dave Matthews for decades of fine music, thank you, Tiny Desk, for hosting another great concert.

My first Dave show was probably 22 years ago, pre my 15 year old daughter, who begged me to take her to 2018 show. If that's not legendary I don't know what is. Dave!

I don't think (most) people truly appreciate the brilliance of his songwriting. Don't Drink the Water, for 95% of the song, has this warm and inviting feel, but it is from the perspective of the villain. So clever.

He takes me back to the 90s, Sitting by a bonfire with some friends.

Dave's mumbled, somehow coherent ramblings in between songs have always been so entertaining. Some of my favorite parts of his live albums

51 and still such a dilf. Love this man.

I'm a huge Dave Matthews fan, this is easily one of his best performances in my opinion. There's something special about an artist and a guitar. Much like many of the artists on Tiny Desk, I would love to see him do a new solo album of his music on acoustic. It's special, almost fragile at times to see how gentle he can be without the rest of the band. I love this Tiny Desks for so many reasons. 2020 has been a time of revisiting things like this that make me calm. I'm glad things like this exist.

He just gets better over time. Like fine wine this man, this musician, this artist... beautiful soul. Thank you for sharing your talent.

I love being introduced to new artists on Tiny desk! this guy will go far

The dudes a legend.

that might be the most honest, vulnerable, incredible and relatable tiny desk i've ever seen. just my opinion... prove me wrong.

This guy touches my soul in a way that no other musician has ever been able too. Seeing them live was one of the greatest moments of my life that I will never forget. ❤

They aren't the mainstream titan they were in 1994-2004, but the heartbeat of Dave Matthews Band is still thumping away. Every summer they're still packing people into the outdoor venues, selling out the seat sections and filling the lawn with a sea of people. It might astound you to see the amount of young people who go to these shows, front end of the lawn stuffed shoulder-to-shoulder with 18-24s.... in 2018. Groups of them 5-10+ coming to shows, all singing every lyric and predicting the opener or the next song the band plays, like true fans. Dave doesn't give a crap about having a social media presence, the band doesn't do cheesy marketing stunts or get themselves into constant TMZ stories. Still, the new generation coming up now found their way to DMB just the same. There is a carefree, happy atmosphere all around when the music starts, all your day to day stress and worries wash away for an evening, that has no shelf life on it. Plus you get to see a unit of world class musicians perform with a level of chemistry only able to be achacfrom 25+ years of touring together. The whole band rotates the spotlight around all night, each member having a few times a night where it's their moment to shine, and they somehow find a way to just blow the crowd away going balls to the wall every night of the tour. There are many moments when you see their faces as they watch each other rip it up, the music still sparks that fire, it goes out through their instruments and into the crowd, then the crowd sends it right back up to the stage. Its magic and impossible to resist getting swept up in, turns people who didn't know anything about DMB and got dragged to the concert by their friend, into the one dragging other friends to the show the following summer. Just one night of soaking that up in person will make anyone catch the bug... from the most die-hard death metal fanatic to that mumble rap fan who only listens to Lil Uzi Vert and Kodak Black, you walk out of there now a low-key DMB fan, then go down the rabbite hole on KZfaq watching live releases, going through the library on Spotify.... doesn't take long before you're checking to see if the tour schedule dropped by next spring. It's too hard to resist liking them after seeing them or just letting them grow on you, the music and overall experience of seeing it hits you deep down in the soul and just makes you feel good. You take home this happy afterglow effect that stays around for a long, long time.

He sings from every cell..... pure essence and completely engaged. So rare. Not interested in anything but the music... so few entertainers are this honest. Highest respect.

I am so incredibly grateful for the person who “discovered” him. What a gift they gave to us all.

Hands down the best tiny desk concert

THANKS FOR LEAVING IN SOME OF HIS BANTER. I ENJOY LISTEN TO THE CRAZY THINGS HE SAYS

The years have been good to Brother Dave. His voice has aged like a fine wine.

Dave Matthews is one of those musicians who has fallen victim to being lumped in with his most stereotypical of fans. If you think of bro-ish, rich college kids from the late 90's/early 2000's you'd be right....but you'd also be glossing over this dude as a musician. He's an unbelievable song writer and his guitar playing is so unorthodox and difficult especially on an acoustic guitar while singing. Singing extremely well in multiple registers I might add...amassing a discography and successful career spanning over multiple decades...not easy to do at all, you have to be a pretty amazing musician

One of the greatest lyricists of my lifetime, and I wouldn’t be the half decent poet that I am if it wasn’t for Dave Matthews, but his approach to the guitar is so... Uncanny and beautiful. Rock on brother. The world is a better place with Dave Matthews in it.

alright i think tiny desk is my new favorite format on youtube. this is true quality content

This actually bought me to tears, it is so beautiful.

I love Dave. That will never change. He's a catalyst for my soul.

I need this to be about 2 hours long...

One of the best songwriters ever

I feel like Dave is a ball of anxiety, but the way he deals and keeps moving with it is really admirable

This guy’s pretty spectacular.

Good God! This solo performance of "Don't Drink the Water" is so dynamic and raw. I've listened to it dozens of times and really don't feel I truly understood this song until now!

The man plays the guitar on an entirely different dimension!! The sound he makes is right from the soul!!

Oh Joy Begin is the most emotional amazing solo performance I have ever seen.

Please release the whole session uncut. I need it, we need it, it needs to be exposed to the world

You know those performances you watch that make you feel so in awe and really certain that they were born to do this and you just cry your eyes out?

Been in love with the Matthew's Band since high school in the mid 90's.

How can you not love this great artist and human being? ❤️

The number of times I've watched this Tiny Desk far outweighs all the others... it is a magical moment of quiet expression that soothes with every listen.

Raw. Real. Vulnerable. Talent. Thank you for sharing.

Couldn't be more grateful that he pulled out So Damn Lucky. Heart is full.

I lost DMB for about 10 years of my life and it just hit me back with this 2018 album. What a great album! "Samurai Cop", "Here on Out", "She", such great songs, pure DMB.

When i was 18 in 2001, friends of mine ran into me while i was getting gas. They said "we have an extra ticket to Dave Matthews, free of charge...you wanna go"? And i went and it changed my life from that point. Ive always loved all music, but nobody hooked me like DMB. Since ive worked at a very popular radio station in west Tennessee for 13 years, so ive seen them all. This man and his band has done so much for me personally, through personal problems, ect. 39 shows later for me....still love these guys. Best therapy ever.

Mercy...this song save my heart in this moment...thanks

Dave Matthews was kind of one of those names I always heard and came near the orbit of, but never quite bridged the gap to putting something to the name. The performance of Samurai Cop alone stood to prove all at once that I should have paid attention to Dave Matthews, because holy shit. And then for him to be so frank and witty. Thanks, Dave.

Oooh what a treat, we get Dave all to ourselves and it’s acoustic. I just adore him. ❤️

Man oh man, his voice, guitar skills and absolute passion for his music is incredible.

hmm ... never "got" Dave Matthews until now. this is awesome!

Never underestimate an eccentric singer/songwriter and his lone acoustic guitar. True masters can render 10s of thousands of people silent and still with one guitar and one song.

the guy knows the space he is playing in.. unreal.

Amazing songwriting. Brings a tear to my every time I here it.

23 minutes of pure bliss and connection.

This really shines on how special Dave is vocally.

Some of his stuff just pulls tears of joy from my eyes.

Best Tiny desk solo concert ever

Wow. How lucky am i to wake up to this? I had the pleasure of meeting this unique soul at my graduation party in 94.... hometown luck! This is my escape to high school times again!

Nothing beats acoustic Dave. Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College is so good and a must hear if you like this video.

The amazing thing is, I don’t even care about the music here. His banter on the mic is the best I’ve ever seen. I didn’t know the guy was this hilarious. 😂😂

Ive watched this an unhealthy amount of times.