Making Magic With Matthews

How on earth did a band with such an unusual folk-jazz-funk sound; a band with violin, sax and flutes; a band without even an electric guitar for heaven’s sake; become one of the hottest bands in America?

The formula was having no formula.

Matthews was tending bar in Charlottesville, Va., when he slowly began to acquire a band. He had no preconceived notions about what kind of band it would be.

“If I thought anything beforehand, I thought, well it would be cool to have a band with a wind instrument,” said Matthews by phone from the road. “But the way it came out was very different from what I imagined before. I just really loved the way LeRoi Moore (sax and flutes) played, and the same with Carter Beauford (drums).

“Then Stefan Lessard (bass) arrived, and he could come because he had afternoons free. And shortly after that LeRoi said we should get this guy to play some violin (Boyd Tinsley). Basically, it was a band that started together and the whole sound came out of the personalities rather than the instrumentation.”

That sound is almost impossible to pigeonhole and nearly impossible to describe. Here’s how Jon Pareles of the New York Times attempted to do so recently:

“Matthews and his band are fascinated by patterns and problem-solving: the music is transparent, revealing every detail. Their lineup is largely acoustic … and without the roar and sustain of electric guitar, their dance vamps aim for a true counterpoint of pinpoint, interlocking parts.”

Sounds like he is describing Vivaldi or Handel, which just happen to be what Matthews listens to the most these days.

“I’m crazy about Handel and Tchaikovsky,” said Matthews. “Vivaldi, I think I was in my mom’s womb when she was going through her Vivaldi stage, because he hits me every time I hear him. I live in this old mill in Virginia, on a river. Handel’s “Water Music” sounds really good there.”

But even if there are some classical influences floating around in his head, they share head-space with African music and Irish folk music. His father was a physicist and his family lived in South Africa for 15 years during his growing-up years.

“I grew up in a family that was listening to music all the time,” said Matthews. “A lot of classical music, a lot of folk music, a lot of Bob Dylan, a lot of Irish music.”

And a lot of rock ‘n’ roll, too. Young Dave got hooked on the Beatles early.

“I had my first Beatles album when I was 6 or so, and from there on it was an obsession,” he said.

All of these influences, plus a few more (jazz being the most obvious) can be heard on “Crash,” their most recent album. It is only their second studio album, the first being 1994’s “Under the Table and Dreaming,” which went triple platinum and earned two Grammy nominations with the single, “What Would You Say.”

However, like many bands that have been pegged with the neo-hippie jam band label, the Dave Matthews Band made its mark live before it made it on record and radio. It paid its dues playing 300 dates a year on the same Southeast college and fraternity circuit that produced Hootie and the Blowfish. Lately, the Dave Matthews Band has been a staple of the H.O.R.D.E Tour.

Matthews writes most of the songs himself, but beyond that, the band is a democracy. Everyone helps arrange the songs, and according to Matthews, every member is absolutely vital to the sound.

“If one of us got hit by a car, the band would stop,” said Matthews.

The band’s name came about through default - they simply never came up with another. With its suggestion of a leader backed by sidemen, it has been a source of frustration both for Matthews and the other members. “If it were a perfect world, it probably wouldn’t be called the Dave Matthews Band,” said Matthews.

Matthews plays guitar, but strictly acoustic guitar - percussive and driving. Tinsley’s violin plays many of the lead parts that are played by electric guitar in most other bands. Matthews said he’s not sure whether that’s because the violin is underrated as a lead instrument, or the electric guitar is overused. His hypothesis for that: It takes a lot longer to become reasonably proficient on the violin than on the guitar.

Opening the show will be Me’shell Ndegeocello, who shared a spot on the H.O.R.D.E. Tour with the Dave Matthews Band. This Berlin-born, Washington D.C.-raised singer-songwriter has an album called “Peace Beyond Passion,” which contains the controversial single “Leviticus: Faggot,” which condemns violent homophobia.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: The Dave Matthews Band, with Me’shell Ndegeocello Location and time: Spokane Arena, Wednesday , 7 p.m. Tickets: $25