Dave Matthews Band Close Out 2023 in Cape Town with Vusi Mahlasela

Photo Credit: Bill Kelly

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, Dave Matthew Band closed their run in the namesake’s birth country. The concert saw the band return to the Grand Arena at GrandWest Casino in Cape Town, South Africa, for one final stand featuring special guest Vusi Mahlasela (who also joined during their Dec. 10 concert). Throughout the night, the group worked with a plethora of recognizable material that touched many corners of their extensive discography. 

The single-set performance commenced with “One Sweet World,” followed by “Old Dirt Hill (Bring That Beat Back)” and “Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin),” before following up with more originals, including “Madman’s Eyes,” “Straight Shot” and “Stay or Leave.” Stefan Lessard offered a bass solo at the start of “Crush.” Next, they worked into “All You Wanted Was Tomorrow” and an ensuing rendition of “What Would You Say.” 

“Virginia in the Rain” featured an extended outro that landed ahead of “Lying in the Hands of God” with an “American Baby” intro and interpolations of “Bourbons & Lacs.” The night’s initial cover took shape as Peter Gabriel’s original “Sledgehammer” flanked by “Looking for a Vein.” DMB continued with “You Might Die Trying” and “Satellite” before local legend Mahlasela took the stage and helped out on “Everyday.”

Following their sit-in, DMB paired “Jimi Thing” with Commodores’ “Brick House,” ultimately closing out the main frame after “Ants Marching.” For the night’s encore, Mathews delivered a solo take on Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away.” The full band helped end the night on Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” parsed with “Stairway to Heaven” for an epic conclusion. 

Scroll down to view the setlist via dmbalmanac.com. 

Dave Matthews Band 

Grand Arena at GrandWest Casino – Cape Town, South Africa

Dec. 12, 2023 

Set: One Sweet World, Old Dirt Hill (Bring That Beat Back), Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin), Madman’s Eyes, Straight Shot, Stay or Leave, Crush, All You Wanted Was Tomorrow, What Would You Say, Virginia in the Rain, Lying in the Hands of God, Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel), Looking for a Vein, You Might Die Trying, Satellite, Everyday+, Jimi Thing > Brick House (Commodores), Ants Marching 

Enc.: Funny How Time Slips Away (Willie Nelson)&, All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan)

Notes: 

+ With Vusi Mahlasela 

& Dave Matthews solo