After validating our tickets, we rolled out our picnic mat and lawn chairs, plopping ourselves down right behind the VIP area at the Boardwalk stage. I thought we had scored a prime spot. I mean, we arrived a full six hours early, and for general admission tickets that set us back $80 each, we deserved a little luck. But as the crowd thickened, we found ourselves inching closer and closer to the stage—past the barricaded VIP area with its own fancy porta-potty. Apparently, non-VIPs don’t need to relieve themselves with any urgency and must brave the masses to reach the general potty zone. Can you sense the bitterness? Somehow, we ended up a mere 30 feet from the stage, and I was practically pinching myself. It was my first time seeing DMB live, and I wouldn’t even need the concert screens to see their faces. They were going to be right there, practically swimming in a sea of 25,000 fellow fans. And we didn’t even have to elbow our way in! I still don’t quite know how it happened, but it did. So, eat your heart out, Very Important People.

Around 4 p.m., G. Love and Special Sauce took the stage to the delight of many, including yours truly. His bluesy, funk-rock vibe definitely set the mood. After a night of hard labor (read: binge-watching Netflix), I had planned to catch a quick nap on the field before DMB took the stage to reserve my energy for the main event. But G. Love had other ideas. People began rising from their mats and chairs, swaying to the infectious beats. They were simply that good. At one point, G. Love announced, “I’m buying drinks! I hit it big last night!” I’m back in Baltimore now, in my living room, still waiting for those drinks. Despite that little letdown, I thoroughly enjoyed their set, especially the catchy ‘Booty Call,’ which had the crowd clamoring for its “dirty version.”

Not long after, Ray LaMontagne graced the stage. By then, the sun had grown more forgiving, and a pleasant breeze picked up. I was happily working my way through two 24-ounce lagers, feeling quite content. But, here’s the thing: for one of the main acts of the day, Ray LaMontagne was, well, average. Don’t get me wrong—I think Ray is a genius and an incredibly talented artist. However, from where I was sitting (and dozing off), the crowd’s energy dipped a bit. People began flopping back onto their mats and chairs, and after being awake for over 24 hours, I felt the siren call of sleep. I guess Ray’s soulful tunes, while beautiful, sometimes tread a bit too close to the sleepy and gloomy side.

Fast forward an hour and a half, and the crowd was buzzing with anticipation for DMB. Folding up lawn chairs and mats became a frantic dance as everyone scrambled to get closer to the stage. The sun was setting, and people were cutting in like they were trying to board a plane. Porta-potty visits became a game of “now or never,” as finding your spot again after leaving was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Cheers erupted for every little movement on stage, and for the first time that day, I felt like I was truly one of the 25,000.

Without so much as a preamble, the Dave Matthews Band took the stage, and the crowd lost its collective mind—me included. They kicked off with ‘Don’t Drink the Water’ from their third album, followed by ‘You Might Die Trying.’ Jeff’s saxophone burst forth like a glorious fanfare, reminding everyone that despite their name, the band isn’t just about Dave Matthews. Their music is just as much about the incredible instrumental talent on display. Throughout the show, they showcased their prowess on the electric and acoustic guitars, percussion, bass, sax, and even the violin. Sure, sometimes it bordered on self-indulgent, but honestly, if I could play like that, I’d be flaunting it too.

Now, I can’t recall the exact order of their setlist, but they definitely hit all the essentials: ‘Seven,’ ‘Proudest Monkey,’ ‘Shotgun,’ ‘Cornbread,’ ‘Funny the Way It Is,’ ‘Jimi Thing’ (with David Ryan Harris joining in), ‘Shake Me Like a Monkey,’ and crowd favorites like ‘You and Me,’ ‘Satellite,’ and ‘Crash Into Me.’ For the encore, Dave teased us with a solo cover of Procol Harum’s ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’ before the band joined him for ‘Stay or Leave,’ ‘Grey Street,’ and a cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Good Times Bad Times.’ All in all, it was a rock-solid set. Dave’s voice was as flawless live as it is in the studio—possibly better. You’d almost think he made a deal with the devil. Dressed in jeans and a black shirt, sweating like a marathon runner, Dave got right down to business without any flashy effects. DMB delivered the goods—raw and authentic. I couldn’t have imagined it any other way. With top-notch artists like O.A.R., Damien Marley, Kid Cudi, Ben Folds, Liz Phair, The Wailers, and The Roots on the lineup, this event is one for the books.

We left Bader Field looking like we’d just survived a dust storm. Somehow, every inch of us was coated in dirt, and we all desperately needed a shower. So, of course, we insisted on driving home straight. My friend and I did make a pit stop for some Bi Bim Bop, spicy Korean beef noodles and kimchi, before heading home. I was exhausted and filthy, and as I was scrubbing away in the shower, the residue literally turned black-ish. How that happened, I have no idea. Despite my body begging for mercy, I couldn’t stop smiling. After being awake for over 30 hours, I felt fresh and clean again. As I hugged my buddy Ed to sleep, I couldn’t shake the thoughts of the day—the lights, the sounds, the swaying crowd, the dancing, the cheering, the moments. I slept happy, convinced that this good time would never end.