Dave Matthews gets political in Richmond (with video)

By Olympia Meola
Media General News Service

Published: October 27, 2008

Dave Matthews had the audience’s votes locked up. Barack Obama might not.

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So, during the acoustic show Matthews played in support of Obama Sunday night at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center, he mixed a modest dose of politics with his music. (Watch video above.)

“I think there are all different kinds of people here . . . but I must say it is my opinion that if Obama becomes the next president that the screams of celebration that will come from all over the world to this country will be audible without microphones,“ he said early in the show.

He and long-time guitarist-friend Tim Reynolds took the stage for 2½ hours, playing crowd favorites from “Gravedigger” to “Don’t Drink the Water” to “Crash.“

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine brought the crowd to its feet early in the evening, joking that he could tell just by looking at the thousands of faces that 82.3 percent of them were not of voting age the last time a Democrat carried Virginia, which was in 1964.

In the closing days of this tight presidential race, Obama’s camp is hoping events like the free concert will help spread Obama’s message to voters who still are undecided. Matthews’ show was one of several organized to encourage Virginia’s voters to hit the polls. The Beastie Boys are headlining the nonpartisan Get Out and Vote ‘08 tour, coming to Richmond Tuesday.

At Sunday’s show, which was free to the estimated 6,000-plus in attendance, the crowd seemed largely on board with the junior senator from Illinois, but there were some Republicans in the crowd.

Austin Ziletti and Ciaran Maguire, both 19 and students at James Madison University, are supporting Republican presidential nominee John McCain. They disagree mainly with Obama’s economic plans. “It’s almost like he’s trying to take away the capitalist system,“ Ziletti said.

Matthews, who resided in Charlottesville for many years and still maintains a home there, talked between songs about being OK with higher taxes because he makes more than $250,000 a year. Obama has said he would roll back President Bush’s tax cuts for people making more than $250,000 a year and reduce taxes on middle-class families.

“I’m well-compensated for doing what I love to do,“ Matthews said, “so go ahead and tax me heavy so someone else can take a little break.“