People in Every Direction: The Ants Podcast

The current extreme heat may or may not be a result of DMB's recent run of form. It’s been a month of shows and news and we're here to recap all the highlights and do some deeper examination, from Camden, the Northeast, Deer Creek, Alpine and SPAC and everything in between. There have been over 20 new tour debuts, including a song last played in 2012. Plus we get a new behind the scenes glimpse into a tool Dave uses for selecting songs for each show, ie the "Yellow and Red Songs". We explain and break it down.

We must discuss the current hot topic right now: the recent Dave comments made on SiriusXM. "Kiss my a**." The guys offer their reaction to the comments, plus Boyd lawsuit news and implications. We touch on all the latest DMB happenings including a new show download and new Come Tomorrow single. And we end with a discussion on your listener comments and questions.

It's that time of year, DMB are out on tour with the first 10 shows and it gives us a lot to talk about. Let's discuss the setlists so far. Is there justification for pitchforks or praise? Then we quickly recap and discuss all the latest DMB news like the return of DMB Radio on SiriusXM and new vinyl coming.  Plus an update on the Setlist Game and what it tells us about the sets so far.

Now that the European Tour is complete and our schedules have aligned, there’s a lot to discuss. We cover the latest DMB news, plus we dive into the current heated topics among the community. Including discussion of the song selection during the European show and implications (or not) for the upcoming Summer Tour. And a look at how the band’s sound and setlists have changed over the years. Plus we take your questions!

Lot of DMB stuff to cover over the last two months and we have a whole episode devoted to it!  We wrap up the Gorge and give our final thoughts on the Summer Tour, plus a number of one-off Dave shows, and finally get deep into the upcoming Fall Tour.  A look into the good/bad of how the Fall Tour ticketing, including pricing, floorplans, upgrades, premium, and scalper prevalence. Plus the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub. (And yes, we skipped episode 100, we are saving that milestone for an Ants History episode coming soon.)

Two discs that contain genuine unreleased studio recordings from the Mark Batson era are making their rounds on the Internet. And so we had to call an emergency podcast session to talk about this latest development. In this pod we talk about the history of these sessions dating back to 2006 and what we know up to this point. Also high-level feelings about the recordings, but a much deeper look into why there is a stark difference between the amount of music the band creates vs how much it releases.

Gorge Night 2 gets blessed with a new guest, and an amazing performance of Last Stop. Where did that come from, and will they sustain this momentum for night 3?

Matt and Joe have arrived in George, WA and are ready to get down to business! They broadcast live from poolside at Sunserra resort and offer their thoughts on the upcoming three night stand at the Gorge. Matt drops an interesting theory about how you are introduced to the band ultimately affects your perspective and taste in DMB (or any band). We're psyched for an amazing weekend!

We try not to let the loss of an Ants staple get us down, so we remember the great times it created. We say goodbye to Mono Loco, the Ants HQ of Charlottesville, VA and a place where so many Ants met and celebrated together. But back on tour, four new shows are in the books and we discuss if there is such a thing as a SPAC hangover. Plus, the tour takes on a new ‘guests’ theme, and one particular show gets some unwanted attention. Also, Dave makes new comments about Boyd’s exit, drama in the setlist game standings, and we take on your #AntsPodcast questions.

Man, has the band put in some extra work recently. Days after the Creekend, DMB plays the first two Canada shows, followed by the tour staple 2-night stand at SPAC, immediately capped by the final Canada show. The run produces the most interesting week of shows we've had all tour, so we must Dive In. Also, live show streams become more frequent than shows attended by Matt, but some exciting news on that front. And it wouldn’t be an Ants Podcast if we didn’t go on a bunch of tangents throughout. Plus we announce some new DMB Hub Stubs coming out!