The giant, fan-filled stadium appeared dim and smokey with a large curtain at the edge of the stage. In no time I would be in the presence of a man I have admired for years. Suddenly the curtain flew up as the crowd roared and there stood Dave Matthews. Surrounded by cheers and clapping, many fans danced around as the band began to play. A night to remember began.

My sister, dad and I, accompanied by our friend Maggie, attended the Dave Matthews Band concert at the Save Mart Center, Aug. 31. Before the show started, Matthews, the lead singer, came on stage to apologize for his hoarse voice and announced that he would try to perform the best he could. Some fans feared this might affect the performance and the duration of the show.

However, in my enthusiasm, I barely took notice of his announcement. Jason Mraz, the energetic opening act, kicked off the show with an exceptional performance. His music has a new-age, pop feel with a refreshing Latin background. He played a variety of popular songs, including “Butterfly” and “I’m Yours,” for about 30 minutes.

The crowd seemed to indicate approval to Mraz’s music as they danced in the aisles and smiled in a carefree manner. I was so anxious to see Matthews walk out on stage that I could hardly pay any attention to the opening act.

Adding to my anticipation, Dave Matthews Band recently acquired a new saxophonist, Jeff Coffin. The previous saxophone player, LeRoi Moore, who had been a part of the band for years, passed away this summer. I worried whether or not this new band member would live up to the former’s reputation.

The center performance finally began, leaving me nothing short of amazed. Listening to Matthews’ music for years, I was finally able to see him live. A dream had finally become reality as I was present at the concert. I’ve always admired the raspy voices of the singers, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Despite the eight or nine minute duration of each song, I enjoyed the performance. The band is famous for their live music, and most of their records are recordings from past performances. The talented musicians typically take three-minute songs and turn them into ingenious extended works.

My favorite song, “Tripping Billies,” contained a three-minute saxophone solo. The new saxophone player proved himself worthy of playing alongside the legends in the band. I enjoy the song most out of all Matthews’ pieces because the sounds the band produces, along with the lyrics, are happy and nonchalant. The song speaks of being content, enjoying friends company and living on a whim.

One of the reasons why my sister, Chessa, and I are so fond of the group is because we’re both musicians. We really appreciate artists who are poetic performers and write lyrics that speak of ideas we admire.

For the musically-inclined, Dave Matthews Band is an excellent choice of music. The unique sound they produce is completely infectious. My dad, who had hardly heard the band before, thoroughly enjoyed the concert as well.

I would attend another performance by them in a heartbeat. I had an amazing time and would recommend the show to everyone.