Wasif's story:
I had bid on two front-row, dead center seats for a Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds show in Boone, NC, at Appalachian State University through the band, which donates all that money to a charity that Dave Matthews started called Horton Foundation.
I knew I probably wouldn’t be sitting front row at another show in quite some time so I figured I’d do something that I thought might get some recognition from Dave himself. This was my sixth show of the tour, so I had an idea what to do. Throughout the first five shows I had gone to, Dave spoke a lot about the war in Iraq and how he condemned it. I was also strongly opposed to the war, so I was extremely pleased every time Dave said something against it. My plan was to make my own shirt for my front-row show and hopefully get a nod or possibly a smile from Dave.
So, half the show went on, and nothing — no look, no smile, nothing. I felt kind of pathetic too, because I was sort of sitting there stretching out my shirt so he could get a look at it. Then, during “The Maker,” he saw it. He had a huge grin on his face and kept smiling at me. I know I probably sound like a 12-year-old girl when in fact I’m a 24-year-old young man, but I can’t help it; I’ve admired him for years, and being that close had me starstruck.
At the end of the song, he started pointing at me. I didn’t know what to do, so I pointed back. He then spoke a little against the war, which I felt I triggered.
BACKSTAGE INVITATION
Tim Reynolds then played his solo, which is when Dave goes backstage and takes in Timmy’s unbelievable talent. Then Dave came back and they started playing “Gravedigger.” In the middle of the song this man crawls up to me out of nowhere and asks me my name. I thought I was in trouble because of my homemade “WAR SUCKS” t-shirt. I told him my name, and he then introduced himself as the band’s tour manager. My heart started pounding as I didn’t know what to expect next. He says, “While Dave was backstage he told me he really admires your shirt and wanted to know, if you weren’t busy after the show, if you’d like to come backstage and meet him.” Being a fan for as long as I’ve been, seeing as many shows as I have, traveling the country as much as I have for this band, it’s hard to describe what I was feeling at that time. He gave me two backstage passes, one for me and one for my buddy, and said to come on back after the show.
After the show I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off looking for anyone to sell me their disposable camera. I finally found one and we proceeded backstage.
DAVE WAS COOL AS HELL
Apparently I was already known to the crew as “the War Sucks Guy.”
We waited for a solid 20 minutes that felt like an eternity. This huge bouncer told us to follow him into this hallway, which we assumed lead to the room where Dave was. However, as soon as we entered the hallway, Dave was right there in the corner, sort of hiding out waiting to surprise us.
My friend was really nervous. I was pumped though and almost jumped on him. Dave was mellow and cool as hell. He said he just wanted to thank me for wearing my shirt, and that he knew how many people must’ve been giving me dirty looks and comments for wearing it.
I immediately thanked him for taking the stance that he had and speaking out, however being respectful of everyone’s opinion. He commented how he had to be very careful of not offending people, but when it came down to giving interviews on paper he was a little more aggressive. I couldn’t have imagined him to be more polite, kind and humble than he was. We got a couple pictures and autographs and we were on our way. March 29, 2003 was a night I’ll never forget.
