The Last Stop
Encyclopedia
"The Last Stop" is a song by Dave Matthews Band
and the third track from their 1998 album, Before These Crowded Streets
. The previous track, "Rapunzel
," segues into a cilp of saxophonist LeRoi Moore
answering his cell phone, which in turn leads directly into the song.
The song stands out with its Eastern influences, dark, violent themes, and harsh vocals. It also features Béla Fleck
on the banjo
. A reprise to the song is featured as an unlabeled track at the end of album, after "Spoon." When played live, "The Last Stop" often segues into the outro, which is performed with the whole band as opposed to the guitar-only version on the album. The outro is a stark contrast to the song, with a peaceful melody and simple, calming lyrics.
on electric guitar and Fleck on banjo. Closer to Christmas
time that year, Fleck was know to interpolate Johann Sebastian Bach
's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
" during the reprise outro, such as during the 20 minute plus performance released on Live Trax Vol. 1
.
The band did not play "The Last Stop" for almost three years after playing it at the Gorge Amphitheater on 8 August 2003. The song returned on 2 July 2006 during a concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre. It was also played six days later at Fenway Park, in Boston.
"The Last Stop" made a comeback at West Palm Beach's Cruzan Amphitheater on July 31, 2010. This was the first time in over 1400 days the song was played. After the comeback, it was played sporadically during the remainder of the 2010 summer tour and was played heavily during DMB's 2010 fall tour.
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
and the third track from their 1998 album, Before These Crowded Streets
Before These Crowded Streets
Before These Crowded Streets is the third studio album by Dave Matthews Band, released on April 28, 1998. It is the last official album by the group to be produced by longtime producer Steve Lillywhite and their first album recorded at The Plant Recording Studios in Sausalito, California...
. The previous track, "Rapunzel
Rapunzel (song)
"Rapunzel" is the second track and was the last single of the Dave Matthews Band 1998 album, Before These Crowded Streets. It is featured on the Dave Matthews Band compilation album The Best of What's Around Vol. 1....
," segues into a cilp of saxophonist LeRoi Moore
Leroi Moore
LeRoi Holloway Moore was an American saxophonist best known as a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band. Moore often arranged music for the songs written by frontman Dave Matthews...
answering his cell phone, which in turn leads directly into the song.
The song stands out with its Eastern influences, dark, violent themes, and harsh vocals. It also features Béla Fleck
Béla Fleck
Béla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
on the banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
. A reprise to the song is featured as an unlabeled track at the end of album, after "Spoon." When played live, "The Last Stop" often segues into the outro, which is performed with the whole band as opposed to the guitar-only version on the album. The outro is a stark contrast to the song, with a peaceful melody and simple, calming lyrics.
Live performances
During the Winter 1998 tour, the song often featured Tim ReynoldsTim Reynolds
Tim Reynolds is a Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist known as both a solo artist and as the lead guitarist for Dave Matthews Band...
on electric guitar and Fleck on banjo. Closer to Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
time that year, Fleck was know to interpolate Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is the most common English title of the 10th movement of the cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. A transcription by the English pianist Myra Hess was published in 1926 for piano solo and in 1934 for piano duet...
" during the reprise outro, such as during the 20 minute plus performance released on Live Trax Vol. 1
Live Trax Vol. 1
Live Trax Vol. 1 is the first release of the Dave Matthews Band's Live Trax series. This two-disc set was released on November 2, 2004 and features the band's live performance at the former Centrum Centre in Worcester, MA on December 8, 1998....
.
The band did not play "The Last Stop" for almost three years after playing it at the Gorge Amphitheater on 8 August 2003. The song returned on 2 July 2006 during a concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre. It was also played six days later at Fenway Park, in Boston.
"The Last Stop" made a comeback at West Palm Beach's Cruzan Amphitheater on July 31, 2010. This was the first time in over 1400 days the song was played. After the comeback, it was played sporadically during the remainder of the 2010 summer tour and was played heavily during DMB's 2010 fall tour.
Live releases
A live version of "The Last Stop" appears on the following albums:- Live in Chicago 12.19.98Live in Chicago 12.19.98Live in Chicago 12.19.98 at the United Center, also known as simply Live in Chicago 12.19.98, is a live album by the Dave Matthews Band, released by RCA on October 23, 2001. It was recorded at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois...
- Live at... A Limited Edition Companion to The Central Park Concert
- Live Trax Vol. 1Live Trax Vol. 1Live Trax Vol. 1 is the first release of the Dave Matthews Band's Live Trax series. This two-disc set was released on November 2, 2004 and features the band's live performance at the former Centrum Centre in Worcester, MA on December 8, 1998....
- Live Trax Vol. 6Live Trax Vol. 6Live Trax Vol. 6, unofficially known as Live at Fenway Park, is the sixth installment in the Dave Matthews Band Live Trax series. It features a four disc set of the band's two night performance at Fenway Park in Boston from July 7 and 8, 2006...
- Encore CD
- Live at Wrigley FieldLive at Wrigley FieldLive at Wrigley Field is a live album by Dave Matthews Band recorded on September 18th, 2010 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The album was recorded on the second night of a two night stint at the venue...
External links
- Performance of The Last Stop with Bela Fleck 12/5/98 YouTube.com
- Performance Of The Last Stop (as featured on "Live In Chicago") YouTube.com
- Live Song Stats — DMBAlmanac.com