At one point, Matthews left the stage for what he called his "favorite part of the show" to allow Tim to let loose. The uneducated fan found this to be a perfect opportunity to hit the restrooms or grab a beer. What transpired, however, was a face-melting ascent into the clouds, pushing the limits of both human imagination and musicianship, well-deserving of the first standing ovation of the night.
The main set ended with a rousing version of "Dancing Nancies" that featured a guitar race to the finish. Shortly after, the duo returned with a familiar guitar twang, a cover of Neil Young's "Down by the River." Matthews' vocals were spot-on, and Reynolds delivered some tasty slide licks on the low end. After years of touring, Matthews' voice has aged into a raspy baritone, sometimes limiting his range, but on this night, his voice was as playful as it was on his only official release with Reynolds, Live at Luther College (1999). "Two Step" was a fitting closer, sending all 3,600 in attendance home feeling grateful for the opportunity to see a musical icon in such an intimate atmosphere. A-
Spring Break
