If you’ve ever stood in a grassy field at 11:00 PM with 40,000 sweaty strangers, you know the feeling. The house lights stay down. A familiar, percussive acoustic strumming starts—fast, aggressive, almost violent. Then comes that haunting violin or a wailing sax. It’s not just a cover. It’s an exorcism.
Dave Matthews Band all along the watchtower live has become more than a concert staple; it is the definitive closing argument of their shows.
Most people know the song belongs to Bob Dylan. Or they think it belongs to Jimi Hendrix. But for the DMB faithful, this song is a fifteen-minute journey that usually ends with Dave screaming his lungs out while Carter Beauford tries to break his drum kit.
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The Evolution of a Giant
DMB didn’t just start playing this yesterday. They’ve been at it since the early 90s. Back in 1991, it was a scrappy bar band version. By the time they hit the Listener Supported era in 1999, it had transformed into a gothic, folk-rock monster.
Honestly, the way the band approaches the song has shifted as the lineup changed. In the "Roi Era" (referring to the late saxophonist LeRoi Moore), the song felt jazzier, more ominous. When Boyd Tinsley was on the violin, that middle solo was a screeching, high-energy focal point.
Today? It’s a wall of sound.
With Tim Reynolds on electric guitar, the Hendrix influence is much heavier. Some old-school fans miss the acoustic-driven versions of the 90s, but you can’t deny the power of the current "Watchtower." It’s loud. It’s big. It’s meant to shake the back of the lawn.
Why Does It Work?
The chord progression is simple: Am, G, F. It’s a loop. This is the perfect canvas for a jam band.
- The Intro: Dave usually starts with a solo "finger-picking" or heavy strumming intro. It builds tension.
- The Verse: He sings it with a sort of frantic desperation that Dylan never had and Hendrix replaced with cool.
- The "Stairway" Mashup: This is the part that blows people's minds. For years, the band has interpolated the "Stairway to Heaven" solo or outro into the end of "Watchtower." Why? Because the keys match and it feels epic.
- The Scream: If you know, you know. "The hour is getting LAAAAAATE!"
Which Version is the Best?
Ask ten fans and you’ll get twelve answers. It’s a debated topic on every message board from AntsMarching to Reddit.
Many point to the Central Park Concert (2003) as the gold standard. It’s iconic. The energy of that New York City crowd, the way the "Fire" outro (a nod to Hendrix) blended in—it was peak DMB.
Then there’s Live at Red Rocks (1995). That one is raw. It’s the sound of a band that knows they are about to become the biggest thing in the world. Tim Reynolds is there, and his chemistry with Dave is already telepathic.
But don't overlook Live at Folsom Field. It’s got a grit to it that some of the more polished recordings lack. Basically, if it’s on a Live Trax release, it’s worth a listen.
The "Watchtower" Statistics
The numbers are actually pretty staggering. According to setlist tracking sites, the band has played this song over 770 times. That makes it one of their most-played covers, second only perhaps to some of their own radio hits.
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It’s almost always the closer or the encore.
There were a few years, like 1997 or 2017, where it almost disappeared from the rotation. Fans noticed. The vibe felt off. When it came back, it felt like a homecoming.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of casual listeners think DMB is just "copying" Hendrix. Not really.
While the electric guitar solos definitely tip the cap to Jimi, the rhythmic foundation is pure Carter Beauford. It’s polyrhythmic. It’s swinging. Hendrix’s version is a psychedelic freight train; Dave’s version is a tribal dance that eventually catches fire.
Also, Dave often forgets or rearranges the lyrics. Dylan purists might cringe, but for a DMB show, the words are secondary to the emotion. It’s about the build-up. It’s about the release.
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How to Experience It Now
If you’re heading to a show in 2026, there is a high probability you’ll hear it.
The current lineup with Buddy Strong on keys adds a soulfulness to the song that wasn’t there ten years ago. Buddy’s B3 organ swells during the "Stairway" transition? Absolute chills.
Actionable Takeaways for the Fan
- Listen to the Transitions: Don't just wait for the chorus. Listen to how Stefan Lessard holds the bass line down while the rest of the band goes into orbit.
- Check the 1.15.94 Version: If you want to hear a truly unique, early take with Phish's Trey Anastasio, look for the Dave and Tim archives.
- Watch the Drum Cam: If you can find a YouTube "drum cam" of Carter during Watchtower, do it. It’s a masterclass in how to play a simple song with complex intensity.
Next time you’re at a show and you see Dave swap to that specific acoustic guitar for the final song of the night, get ready. You aren't just hearing a cover. You’re witnessing a thirty-year tradition of rock and roll theater.
To truly appreciate the evolution, compare the 1995 Red Rocks recording with the 2003 Central Park version back-to-back. You’ll hear a band growing from technical prodigies into a stadium-filling force of nature, using a Bob Dylan poem as their vehicle.