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Dave Matthews Band, The Jeff and Vida Band and October’s other best bests for live music.
Oct. 2 — Dave Matthews Band with Willie Nelson and Family
BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave.
Since their first show at an Earth Day rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 1991, Dave Matthews and company have played music that is as close to an aural “woobie” (e.g.: “Linus always carries his woobie”) as one can find. It just makes you smile.
DMB led the second wave of jam bands after the Grateful Dead. Since then, it seems as if there are more jam bands than there are people to see them.
And to be fair, calling DMB a jam band is a misnomer. The band’s influences are as far reaching as the scent of patchouli in the parking lot at one of its shows. But the group’s primary influence is jazz.
The complicated time signatures of Carter Beauford’s drums, the late LeRoi Moore’s saxophone used liberally throughout, along with Stefan Lessard’s steady yet “funktified” bass, Boyd Tinsley’s classically trained violin and Dave Matthews’ guitar, create one of the most successful jazz acts of all time — they just happen to be called several other things as well: jam, alternative, college, etc.
True to the band’s Earth Day roots, DMB will be hosting a “green” event in the parking lot around the BOK Center the day of the show — I hope taking enough parking spots so more people ride their bikes. Everything from alternative energy to local farming practices will be on display. And, after failing to gain entry into one of DMB’s shows in Kansas City a few years back, I can testify that the parking lot outside a show is a lot of fun.
DMB also allows anyone with a recorder to tape its shows. The tapes are traded like dirty looks on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” The rationale is that DMB would not be successful without the recordings of its early efforts being passed around so liberally; ergo, DMB consciously supports the practice.
Warning: Do not charge for the recordings, lest you meet your end in a hail of hacky sacks.
P.S. Get to this show on time as I heard the opening act might not be too bad, either.
Oct. 4 — The Decemberists
Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St.
Fresh from a show at Austin City Limits Festival the night before, The Decemberists come to The House that Bob Built.
The Decemberists have been the darlings of the NPR crowd, critics and brooding hipsters since their 2002 release, “Castaways and Cutouts.” This writer thinks their charm lies in their fresh-from-Powell’s-bookstore personality. One song might be an ode to Valerie Plame (CIA agent until the Bush administration got ticked off at her husband) and the next might be an 18-minute track based on obscure Irish myth (“The Tain”).
You can try to label them a myriad of things, such as progressive, alternative, indie and folk.
Go ahead, try it. I’ll wait …
See! Nothing sticks.
If I had to give it a name (and my editor says I do), I would go with “brain rock.”
They don’t snarl, grind, thrash or dump their budget on explosives — unless it’s a book on the history of explosives, then all bets are off.
They sing songs and tell stories that get your inner “school marm” all revved up.
Suggested outfit for the show? Anything black.
Oct. 10 — Joss Stone
Tulsa River Parks
The River Rush Concert will be the grand finale to what promises to be the first sensible use of the River Parks since the Great Raft Race.
This concert will conclude a huge weekend of river activity with runs, kayaking and a bevy of other events planned.
Joss Stone, England’s answer to Janis Joplin (and, let’s be honest, a lot easier to look at), will be packing them in on The Blair Estate’s (2800 S. Boston Ave.) front yard.
The concert will be a bit on the steep side ($75 for “seated general admission” and $50 for regular general admission). Bring a blanket while benefiting the River Parks. For tickets, rules and regulations, visit www.riverparks.org. 
Oct. 16 — The Jeff & Vida Band with Bill Erickson
All Soul Acoustic Coffeehouse, 2952 S. Peoria Ave.
The Coffeehouse series is in full swing with a return visit from Jeff and Vida, but they are bringing their entire band this time as they heard there were a few individuals with their faces still intact from their last scorching performance.
When asked about The Jeff & Vida Band, my long answer is that each and every skilled musician here could front his or her own band, but the adage about the “sum being greater than the parts” applies here. Jeff and Vida bring their modern take on old bluegrass and rockabilly music while playing off each other with the adept musical skill usually reserved for classically trained musicians. Throw in Vida’s pipes and you have a band that blows the roof off the joint.
My short answer is that you are wasting time listening to me; just get your affairs in order that night and go.
They will be playing to move some copies of their newest release, “Selma Chalk.”
Tickets: $15 ($13 for students and seniors).
Oct. 24 — Mutemath
Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St.
I dare you to play Mutemath’s song “Typical” in a car with a decent sound system and not break the posted speed limit (how I managed to talk my way out of that ticket, I’ll never know).
Allegedly, this band has its roots in Christian rock. I say “allegedly” because from the song I have listened to, I seriously doubt that anyone who rocks this hard could possibly go to church. Either you would not be able to hear anything or you would get “smited” upon entering the church.
Should be a great night of music — just find a designated driver.
