Dave Matthews Band Offers Free Download From New Album

Early this week, we mentioned Twitter as the new vehicle for artists to release new songs and other content to fans. Not all musicians have caught on, but today, Dave Matthews Band joined the club.

After last night’s inspiring show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden (which featured a special guest appearance from Gregg Allman on a cover of the Allman Brothers‘ “Melissa”!) to kick off a lengthy tour, Dave Matthews Band announced via Twitter the release of “Funny The Way It Is,” the premier single from the bands upcoming album, “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.” The song is available for download on the Dave Matthews Band website.

The song’s melancholy lyrics over an upbeat, danceable guitar melody characterizes much of the music that fans can expect from “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King,” Dave Matthews Band’s first studio album in five years. The band has indicated that much of the songwriting revolves around the death of one of the band’s founding members, saxophonist LeRoi Moore, who passed away in August 2008. But those familiar with the group’s music should expect celebratory songs – not lamenting ballads.

Dave Matthews Band’s spirit of giving doesn’t stop with the single. When fans pre-order the new album, they will also receive a copy of the band’s upcoming live album, “Live Trax 15,” as a free gift. The album was recorded August 9, 2008 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI.

The full list of summer/fall tour dates is too long to print here, but check it out on the band’s tour page. If you can only make one show, I’m willing to bet that DMB’s headlining slot at this year’s Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park will be a true mindfuck (in the best sense of the word).

What do you think of the new single, “Funny The Way It Is”? After five years away from the studio, will the new material match up to past recordings?