With a set listing culled largely from the pop-oriented Crash and more internationally experimental Before These Crowded Streets, the proceedings held some promise. But, like most arena bands before them, the DMB generally amps the nuances right out of the mix here. "The Last Stop" recalls where Led Zep's own world-music pretensions led them, while "Pantala Naga Pampa" skirts dangerously close to Kenny G. territory before finding its jazz-funk stride. Though they groove mightily and consistently throughout, the DMB's oft-criticized jam-band ethos often seems strangely burnished and studio-overdubbed to homogenous extremes here. And while legend Maceo Parker's sax further ignites the crowd-pleaser "What Would You Say," as guitarist and frequent Matthews collaborator Tim Reynolds plays guest guitar god throughout, it's Matthews's own shamanic, oft-trancelike vocal excursions that barely keep this one from lapsing into DMB's McLive album. Try Budokan next time? --Jerry McCulley

I have had this show on cd for a couple of years (due to trading of course), and when I listened to the new cd it sounds like a completely different set (especially on Lie In Our Graves, where Boyd's violin playing gets incredibly subtle; this is not apparent on the pre-mixed version of the show). There are some great gems on this disc, most notably The Last Stop, The Maker (which is an incredible song by Daniel Lanois that Dave covers beautifully), and Lie in Our Graves. All in all, a great live cd that we have come to expect from DMB, and I recommend it to all, davehead or not. You just have to appreciate brilliant musicians to appreciate the show. (Hopefully the next live release will have some Lillywhite Sessions on it, because I am sure the entire Dave community is anxious for that).


Possibly DMB's finest live release   October 24, 2001
Music Fan (Salt Lake City, ut)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

The amazing thing about Dave Matthews Band is the fact that they can release the number of live albums that they do, without saturating their fanbase with too many concert albums. DMB only has four studio albums (five if you include the fabulous unreleased "Lillywhite Sessions") while now having three two-disc concert albums available (their first ablum, Remember Two Things, is somewhat of a hybrid of live performances and in-studio tracks). Three live albums is alot for a band with only four studio albums, but that's just the thing - DMB can do this because they - and their fans - know that the live shows are where it's at.
When looking over the track listing for Live In Chicago, you might think that it's not worth the price since several tracks appear on one or both of DMB's previous live albums. While this is a sensible concern, I advise you to disregard it. First of all, as most DMB concertgoers know, each show is different; no two versions of any given song are identical. Secondly, the songs on this album are simply played better than on previous releases. Songs like "Don't Drink the Water," "#41," "Rapunzel," and "Stay" all are included on Listener Supported, but are not performed nearly as well on that disc as on this one. "Rapunzel" is played at its proper tempo on Live in Chicago, unlike on Listener Supported where it is slowed down to a snail's crawl for some reason. "Stay" is performed on Live in Chicago without the Lovely Ladies (the band's backup singers that frequently perform live with them), and so Dave is left to handle what is normally a five-part vocal all by himself....and he nails it beautifully. If you're not a fan of the backup vocalists that play with DMB, this is the show for you.
It's important to remember that Listener Supported, by DMB standards, is a rather lackluster show. The only reason it was even released is because PBS (the network that broadcast the show in its entirety in a televised special) intended to release it with or without the band's approval, so the band decided to jsut go along with it rather than fight it. live in Chicago, however, is a band-selected performance that shines throughout. This is the first live effort to include the song "The Last Stop," and to hear this performance of this song is worth the price of the disc alone. It also has the rarely played and previously unreleased "The Maker." Do yourself a favor and buy this album. You WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!


Back to the basics for Live in Chicago   October 27, 2001
Kevin Cohn (New York, NY USA)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

Dave Matthews Band's third complete live recording made commerically available (following 1997's Live at Red Rocks and 1999's Listener Supported) falls somewhere between the two. While Red Rocks is considered by many to be one of the band's finer performances ever, Live in Chicago doesn't fall too short. Including a couple of concert rarities (The Last Stop, The Maker, Christmas Song), some amazing guest musicians (Victor Wooten, Tim Reynolds, Maceo Parker), and a good mix of songs (all of the band's studio albums pre-Everyday are represented), it makes for a great live disc. One can argue, however, that the sound quality is not as high as that of Listener Supported (at times the mix seems a little off), and the argument can always be made that, "We've heard Watchtower enough now." Regardless, I'd still recommend this album to anyone interested in hearing what Dave Matthews Band sounds like live. This is raw and pure live Dave Matthews Band.


The best live release by the Dave Matthews Band   October 24, 2001
Michael W. Brindley (Keene, NH United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Recently, I have been listening to a lot of other music besides DMB. The release of Everyday really didn't please me, and I thought the band was headed in a really bad direction. While this still may be true, the release of "Live In Chicago 12.19.98" has brought DMB back up to being one of my favorite bands. This album is right up there with Red Rocks in terms of energy, setlist, and special guests. The energy is just incredible. With a Last Stop opener, you know the show is gonna be rockin. And with songs like #41, Lie In Our Graves, What Would You Say, Rapunzel, Jimi Thing, So Much To Say...how could anyone complain? While this album may have some repeats from Listener Supported, there is one major difference: TIM REYNOLDS. This man controls the entire show with his extremely unique style of guitar playing. His solos on Lie In Our Graves, Jimi Thing, and Watchtower are worth the price of the album alone. Also guesting are Victor Wooten and Maceo Parker, along with Mitch Rutman on The Maker, a song which makes its official debut on this album. All in all, I would say this is a must have. A live album capturing DMB in its prime.


Best live album..... maybe   September 8, 2005
Chris Watkins (Lancaster, Ohio United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is the first album that I bought. Well, second. I bought Everyday and my younger brother bought live Chicago at the same time on the way back from Myrtle Beach (traveling back to Ohio). We listened to Everyday maybe once and listened to this album almost nonstop. This was the first time that I heard DMB besides Space Between (the song that got me into the band is now one of my least favorite songs).
Last Stop is really good on this album, great energy. Don't drink the water is great, but I still think that Folsom Field has the best version of it (Folsom Field also has the best version of All Along the Watchtower - the ending is absolutly stunning, you've gotta hear it!) The song that stands out is #41. This song is my favorite upbeat DMB song, it's so smooth, and Victor Wooten guest stars and rips some phat solos on the bass. If you play bass, buy this album! This version of #41 far surpases all other version, just read the reviews. It's hot! Chrah is great, too. It's one of the better versions. Tim Reynolds play on most, if not all of the cd. So, if you play electric guitar, buy this album. It's hot!
All Along the Watchtower is a very good version, one of the best, and Too Much has so much energy. This is also the only cd where you can find the Maker.
Conclusion: This cd highlights the first 3 releases. It has less of a pop sound and more of a jazzy, bluesy, and rock sound.
If you want a cd that has a great collection of songs that include the more poppy stuff (digging a ditch, space between, big eyed fish, when the world ends, I did it, if I had it all) as well as some of the most energetic upbeat stuff (Don't Drink, Warehous, AATW, etc.) - buy the Folsom Field cd (one of the best -maybe better the Chicago, it has more catchy songs, but the good songs of Chicago outshine most every other album).
If you want the most expansive collection minus two staples (#41 and Crash) get the Central Park Concert. 20 songs, hours of music, possibly the best version of Don't Drink the Water, and the only cd with Cortez the Killer, a bluesy song that is one of the best guitar solo songs of all time (wicked 11 minute song that does't get old - Warren Haynes stars as one of the best blues guitarists of all time). This cd is in my opinion the best place for a newcomer to start, and an essential album for anyone that considers themselves even a casual fan.