BY MAUI CABRAL Some shows are important because of the artist. Some shows are important because of the photos. And then there are shows...
BY MAUI CABRAL
Some shows are important because of the artist. Some shows are important because of the photos. And then there are shows that become important because of the people standing beside you while it all happens. This was one of those shows.
Walking into Coastal Credit Union Music Park to photograph Dave Matthews Band, I knew it was going to be special. Not just because of who was on stage, but because sitting out in that crowd were my in-laws, people who absolutely love Dave Matthews Band. For them, this wasn’t just another concert. It was their band. And honestly, getting the opportunity to photograph a band they love while they watched from the audience meant more to me than I can properly put into words.
For over three decades, Dave Matthews Band has occupied a unique place in music. Formed in Charlottesville, Virginia, in the early ’90s, the band blended rock, jazz, folk, funk, and improvisation into something completely their own. While most bands chase radio hits, Dave Matthews Band built one of the most loyal fanbases in music history through live performances. Every show is different. Every setlist changes. Every night becomes its own experience. That’s why fans keep coming back year after year. And after seeing them live, it’s easy to understand why. Just Dave and Raleigh. No openers. No distractions. Just Dave Matthews Band and thousands of people gathered together on a summer night in Raleigh. There’s something refreshing about that.
The entire evening felt less like a concert and more like a shared experience. Families, longtime fans, first timers, couples, and entire groups of friends all singing along to songs that have been part of their lives for decades. The atmosphere felt warm. Not just because of the Carolina summer. Because of the people.
I’ll admit it. The entire night I kept thinking about Dave Matthews in Just Go With It. Every time I saw him smiling on stage, I kept laughing to myself thinking about how badly I wanted to bring a coconut to the show just to see if he’d catch the reference and crack up. Probably not the most professional thought to have while working. But there I was. Camera in hand. Trying to focus. Wondering if Dave Matthews would laugh at a random guy holding a coconut.
One of my favorite moments of the night wasn’t a song. It wasn’t a lighting cue. It wasn’t even a crowd reaction. It was a detail. Looking through my lens, I noticed the stitched lettering on Dave’s pants. Special shout-out to my in-laws for letting me know to try to spot it while he performed. One word. LOVE. Simple. Quiet. Easy to miss. But in a strange way, it ended up feeling like the theme of the entire night. Because when you looked around, that’s what you saw everywhere. People sharing memories. Families spending time together. Friends singing songs they’ve known for years. And my in-laws smiling through every moment of a band they’ve loved for decades. For all the complicated things in life, Dave somehow had the strongest word in the world stitched right there in plain sight. Love.
As photographers, we spend so much time chasing technical perfection. Sharp images. Perfect lighting. Perfect timing. I took the liberty of shooting both digital and film for this show. Just for that reason. If in the case I fuck up. I just go with it. But every now and then a show reminds you that photography is really about connection. And that’s what this night became for me. Yes, I was photographing Dave Matthews Band. Yes, I walked away with images I’m incredibly proud of. But the thing I’ll remember most is looking out at the crowd and knowing my in-laws were out there experiencing one of their favorite bands while I was fortunate enough to be documenting it from the pit. That’s not something I take lightly. Dave Matthews Band delivered exactly what they’ve built their reputation on for decades--incredible musicianship, genuine connection, and a performance that felt personal even in front of thousands of people. But for me, this night became about something bigger. It became about family. About gratitude. About realizing how lucky I am to do what I do. And somewhere between the music, the crowd, the stitched word “LOVE,” and the thought of throwing a coconut on stage just to make Dave laugh, this show became one of the most meaningful I’ve photographed all year. Not because it was the loudest. Not because it was the biggest. But because it meant something. And those are always the ones that stay with you.
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- JOSH "MAUI" CABRAL
Hey! I'm Maui. Originally from Queens, New York, now making Raleigh, NC my new home. I'm a touring photographer and Nomadic Motorcycle Rider, obsessed with seeing the world through different lenses!
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