Waiting on the World to Change: Mayer and Matthews Play Virginia Tech
I’ve never paid much attention to football. It took two big names, John Mayer and the Dave Matthews Band in concert together to finally get me into Virginia Tech’s Lane stadium. This free concert was conceived by Matthews, the Grammy award winning musician from Charlottesville, Virginia, as a way to show support for Tech after the deadly shootings of last April. Showing their Hokie spirit by wearing school colors, Tech students, staff, faculty, and friends filled the stadium with wall-to-wall maroon and orange.
Mayer, an avid blogger with school boy good looks, plays the guitar as if it was an extension of his body. Just seeing him appear on stage wearing a maroon Hokie T-shirt caused the crowd to erupt in ear piercing applause. Hearing him belt out his Grammy winning hit, “Waiting on the World to Change,” so close to home was a thrill.
“This is my prayer for you,” he told the Tech crowd before letting the lyrics of his song “Gravity” speak for him. 
Oh gravity … Stay the hell away from me … Oh gravity … Has taken better men than me … Now how can that be? … Just keep me where the light is … Just keep me where the light is … The blues that oozed from his red electric guitar were matched by the soulful facial expressions that Mayer made as he played.
I’m a dancer who needs a big space to move around in, but our seats were set up for watching football. I’m sure I stepped on my neighbor’s toes a time or two, and I might have knocked over someone’s drink while dancing. During the intermission between bands, I looked around and saw a few familiar faces, but I had never seen so many Hokies in one place. It was my first time witnessing the coordinated effort of Hokie fans as they rippled like dominoes from one end of the stadium to another doing their signature cheer. Let’s go … Hokies … Let’s go … Hokies …
Even though I knew that South African born Dave Matthews was from Virginia, I was surprised to hear the twang of his accent when he said things like, “”Thanks ya’ll … and all of that stuff.” Admittedly shy, Matthews sings better than he talks on his feet into the mic. 
Although, he did manage to speak about coming down from Charlottesville in a red van to play at much smaller Blacksburg venues many years ago. And his words were especially appreciated and met with applause when he said, “These are some dark times and the dark side, but I can’t think of anywhere else in the world I’d rather be than with y’all.”
The song that Dave Matthews Band chose to open with, “Two Step,” related well to the reason we had all come together. Celebrate we will … Cause life is short but sweet for certain … Hey, we climb on two by two … To be sure these days continue … Things we cannot change …
I have a lot of respect for Matthews, who has weathered the premature deaths of close family members, and has lent his support for farm aid, rebuilding New Orleans, and other worthy causes. But who knew that he could dance like James Brown flat footing at the local jamboree?
The fact that my husband and I didn’t stay till the end wasn’t a reflection on the show. 
As performances go, it was one with a big impact, a spectacular light show, and the big brass and rousing fiddle jam sound that the Dave Matthews Band is famous for. But after three hours of high volume music and crowded dancing, I was tired and hungry.
We had taken our bikes to the concert to avoid the stadium traffic. As we pedaled off into the warm night, the band was well into their second hour of playing. We could hear them singing the familiar refrain from Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.” … Don’t worry about a thing … Every little thing gonna be all right … Singing: don’t worry about a thing … cause every little thing gonna be all right.
The song trailed off as we glided downhill in search of good pizza and a cold beer.
Video clips: 1. John Mayer sings “Waiting on the World to Change” at Tech HERE. 2. Hokie Spirit Cheer HERE. 3. Dave Matthews Band sings Two Step at Tech HERE. The above was published in The Floyd Press on September 13, 2007.
September 7th, 2007 9:07 pm
I admire Dave Matthews endeavors the last 20 years a lot. He is just who he is..I did not know this background thanks
September 7th, 2007 11:43 pm
Michele sent me to read all about our concert and tell you how envious I am – I love both Dave Matthews and John Mayer.
Sounds like a fabulous time was had by all.
What a great experience!
September 8th, 2007 1:28 am
I had no idea they’d done this, thank you so much for sharing it. How incredible, how wonderful.
Glad you went, so glad you brought it back for all of us.
Brava.
Thank you.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
September 8th, 2007 6:02 am
Glad you had such an enjoyable time!
September 8th, 2007 10:58 am
Nice blog. Your blog triggers some memories for me. I’m from Virginia. I went to Tech one semester (long story, short really.)
I remember going over to Radford to see The 10,000 Maniacs.
I saw Driving and Crying at Tech.
I saw Dave Matthews in Virginia Beach – I had heard he had just broken a rib that week – horsing around – trying to catch a grape in his mouth, and he fell over a chair. Who knows if it was true. He played a great show, I know that.
Nice blog. I followed links in.
September 8th, 2007 11:54 am
I can just see him doing that.
I missed 10 Thousand Maniacs but saw the Indigo Girls play at Tech (in the auditorium not the stadium). And I saw Ziggy Marley in Radford.
DMB does put on a blockbuster live show.
September 8th, 2007 1:54 pm
Sounds like it was a great event – and smart of you to take your bikes to avoid the traffic.
September 8th, 2007 3:40 pm
Thanks for sharing, colleen. Those of us who couldn’t travel over or tackle a crowd like that for 3-4 hours appreciate your efforts on our behalf.
September 9th, 2007 6:59 am
Hi Colleen, Sounds like a very successful evening and a great night.
September 9th, 2007 3:18 pm
We had been invited to the game last weekend and I understand it was very moving. I heard that when they released the balloons for the victims everyone…even the other team visitors choked up.
I think this was a wonderful thing for Mayer and Matthews to do. I like people who give back when they have been successful in life. I love the photos and I am sure the students were inspired by this uplifting.
September 10th, 2007 1:27 pm
colleen…. sounds incredible! seeing DMB in concert is on my ‘to do’ list. there are very few big name bands that i feel compelled to see live, but his is one of them.
“I’m a dancer who needs a big space to move around in, but our seats were set up for watching football. I’m sure I stepped on my neighbor’s toes a time or two, and I might have knocked over someone’s drink while dancing”….. that is SO me! i chuckled when i read it. the night i ran into josh in asheville, i danced all night b/c i hadn’t been out in forever…. the band was so good, but i kept stepping on people’s toes and eventually realized i had backed someone up to the bar and they couldn’t get around me…i was oblivious! 🙂
September 10th, 2007 1:58 pm
Ha! It doesn’t help that I usually close my eyes when I dance. Also, I get so into it that I ignore anyone I’m with.
DMB was on my list too. Now I can check it off.
September 11th, 2007 8:58 am
I would love to see John Mayer in concert. I LOVE him. Dave is good as well.
September 11th, 2007 3:16 pm
Thanks for your wonderful remebrance and photos. I was there, too. It was the best show I’ve ever seen–and I danced till the end in spite of other people’s feet (sorry guys). I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun. It was a real turning point for me after the events of last April.
I am extremely grateful to Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Nas, Phill Vasser, and the sponsors for bringing this event to us, and I admire them for going out of their way to make a difference.
DMB will stay on my list. I hope to see them again and again.
September 12th, 2007 3:49 pm
Wish I could have been there. Glad that you were.