Dave Matthews (Extended)

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Dave Matthews (Extended)
Date: March 30, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode of The Late Show Pod Show, Stephen Colbert welcomes back Dave Matthews, frontman of the legendary Dave Matthews Band. The conversation weaves together stories from the road, formative musical inspirations, personal heroes, and the band's enduring tour legacy. Matthews discusses his profound admiration for artists like David Byrne and Pete Seeger, recounts unique moments with Jane Goodall, and reflects on the meanings behind his music. The tone is warm, humorous, and at times, deeply heartfelt—a testament to Colbert and Matthews’ shared appreciation for music, artistry, and meaningful experiences.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Warm Welcome and Familiar Surroundings

• Reunion Vibes & Banter
  • Colbert greets Matthews, remarking on his polished appearance and their shared history at the Ed Sullivan Theater.
  • Matthews jokes about his “pre-stressed” shoes and how he “got all dolled up” for the appearance.

    “They're stressed. They're pre-stressed.” — Dave Matthews (01:52)

2. Onstage Collaborations and Backstage Moments

• Musical Camaraderie
  • Matthews highlights past jam sessions with members of the show's band, referencing how much he loves their musicianship and past shared performances at iconic venues.
  • Recounts a spontaneous recording session with band members just before the show.

    "Cato and I were playing. We just played upstairs. We were having a little… Oh yeah, we had a little." — Dave Matthews (02:34)

3. Live Performances That Shaped Matthews

• Influence of David Byrne
  • Matthews recounts attending David Byrne’s concerts, especially the emotional impact of seeing Byrne’s innovative stage shows with his family.

    “I got… I was… I was in crying the whole time. I just… I'm just so… I'm so happy. I'm just crying the whole time. My kids… Anyway… the… I love David Byrne so much.” — Dave Matthews (03:34)

  • Shares admiration for Byrne as a multidisciplinary artist—visual, lyrical, smart, and funny.
  • Both Matthews and Colbert express having never truly met Byrne, despite mutual admiration.

4. Friendships with Remarkable People: Jane Goodall

• An Unlikely Adventure
  • Matthews describes a close bond with the late Jane Goodall, including a legendary photo of them in a bathtub for a bird-watching trip in Nebraska.
  • Stories involve playful anecdotes, like Goodall initiating the bathtub photo and her memorable chimpanzee greeting during the Live Earth concert.

    “She just went out and then she just said hello like a chimp. …it was the loudest. The crowd lost their… the crowd's like, ah.” — Dave Matthews (06:01)

  • Their relationship revolved around shared environmental advocacy and mutual respect.

5. First Concert Experiences and Pete Seeger’s Legacy

• Formative Inspiration
  • Discusses how Pete Seeger was the first concert Matthews remembers attending, performed on the back of a flatbed truck.
  • Shares an intimate and humorous story of Seeger (late in life) sliding down stairs via banister at a hotel, exemplifying simplicity and character.
  • Both Matthews and Colbert describe Seeger as a principled, eloquent figure who lived with integrity.

    “He was a perfect human.” — Dave Matthews (07:47)
    “He got onto the banister and he slid down the banister and then, and then slid down the other banister.” — Dave Matthews (09:21)

6. “Don’t Drink the Water”: Meaning and Reflections

• Song’s Message
  • Matthews explains the song’s theme:

    “I think the polite term is genocide, but I mean it… I’m the villain in the song. And nowadays it feels like a lot of us are villains… or at least a part of villainous world.” — Dave Matthews (09:50)

  • Expresses the way music can prompt reflection on collective responsibility and the darker sides of history.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On David Byrne’s Influence:

  “He's the truest... He's all round. I mean, he's all... He's a visual artist and he's lyrical and he's subtle and he's smart and he's funny… he's all good things wrapped into one.” — Dave Matthews (04:43)

• On Jane Goodall's Showmanship:

  “She just said hello like a chimp. She did that whole, she did that whole thing and it was the loudest. The crowd lost their… It was un… She was.” — Dave Matthews (06:01)

• On Pete Seeger’s Character:

  “He lived in a house with no electricity until his end.” — Dave Matthews (07:56)

• On Their Own Role in Challenging History:

  “I don't mean to be the villain, but that's what the song's about [‘Don’t Drink the Water’].” — Dave Matthews (09:56)

• Closing Mutual Admiration:

  “Thank you. And I love you.” — Dave Matthews (10:21)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:05 — Dave Matthews joins; playful banter and wardrobe jokes
• 02:15 — Reminiscing with the band; backstage jam session
• 03:19 — Dave Byrne’s influence and emotional concerts
• 05:12 — Tribute to Jane Goodall: bird-watching, bathtub photo
• 07:25 — Pete Seeger as first concert; stories of meeting Seeger later in life
• 09:41 — Discussing "Don’t Drink the Water," song’s meaning
• 10:21 — Closing thanks and expressions of mutual appreciation

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Overall Tone & Style

The episode balances humor, warmth, nostalgia, and genuine emotional candor. Matthews is self-effacing, often deflecting praise with humility and wit, while Colbert’s questions and storytelling encourage personal reflection and laughter. The conversation is both accessible and insightful, making it engaging for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

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For further insight and exclusive content, the episode suggests visiting The Late Show’s YouTube channel.

Transcript

[Stephen Colbert]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Folks, my next guest tonight is a Grammy award winning artist who with his band has sold over 30 million albums and 25 million concert tickets. Please welcome back to the late show, Dave Matthews. Hey, welcome back.

[Dave Matthews]

Thank you very much.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nice to see you again.

[Dave Matthews]

It's nice.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nice to see you back in the forgotten.

[Dave Matthews]

I got all dolled up for you.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, I know. You look spiffy. You got the shirt matches the jeans and the jacket's all gray and somber and everything. Thank you so much. Let's get. And you put on your almost polished shoes.

[Dave Matthews]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you.

[Dave Matthews]

They're stressed. They're pre stressed.

[Stephen Colbert]

Pre stressed. Yeah. You're going to pay extra for that. You got to pay extra for that. Okay, now, you know, get you a nice pair of wing tips from Floor Shine. So just stick around. Yeah, I could. It comes at a price, unfortunately. Nice to see you. Nice to see you too. And listen, you're familiar with the Ed Sullivan theater. This is, this is old home week for you, especially since you also know these people over here.

[Dave Matthews]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And they play with you sometimes, too. Look at this. You're familiar with these two faces right here. Look at that.

[Dave Matthews]

We, we played. They came and played with us at the, at the Gorge in Washington and we've. You've come at the Garden. This is also awesome. You guys sound great too. And then you're just playing like my favorite song. John, you Guys are. Cato and I were playing. We just played upstairs. We were having a little. Oh, yeah, we had a little.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you record that?

[Dave Matthews]

I think he. Yeah, someone was recording it.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right.

[Dave Matthews]

And we ran into each other in the elevator. Oh, hey. Hello, everyone. That's enough of that now.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, but I just like a guest who has good taste, that's all.

[Dave Matthews]

Yeah, right, Exactly. I love this band. I'm sure all the. Everyone says hello. All of us. Tell him you guys said hi.

[Stephen Colbert]

Dave Matthews Band. Dave Matthews Band Summer tour kicks off. The band has toured every summer for years now. I'm. I'm just curious as people love your live performances. Are there live performances that you've seen, like, that blew you away and really influenced you, what sticks out to you?

[Dave Matthews]

So. And I know you also love him, but I. I love. There's a lot of great shows in my life, but the one that's in my head right now is. And my family went with. We went to see David Byrne. Sure, sure. And.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Dave Matthews]

And at his most recent tour with the screens and with this crazy dancers in the band, it just was the most. And I was. You know, and I'm like, I'm real emotional and I got. And I was. And I was in crying the whole time. I just. I'm just so. I'm so happy. I'm just crying the whole time. My kids. Anyway, it's the. I love David Byrne so much, but. But I saw the first tour that he did with St. Vincent. Oh, yeah. I saw the first show in New York and then I saw the last show in Seattle. I felt very special. Wow.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Dave Matthews]

I've never.

[Stephen Colbert]

We had them on together. I felt very special.

[Dave Matthews]

Yeah. I've never had the courage to somehow insinuate myself into a handshake or anything, but.

[Stephen Colbert]

You never met David Byrne.

[Dave Matthews]

No.

[Stephen Colbert]

Go get him right now.

[Dave Matthews]

I get really.

[Stephen Colbert]

I got pretty nervous. I'm probably a little bit older than you are, but your look. Thank you. Fantastic.

[Dave Matthews]

Exactly.

[Stephen Colbert]

But I was in college. I was in college when, like the Stop Making Sense movie came out and like, you know, Speaking In Tongues album, which was before that. Just unbelievable. First time I ever met, I could barely talk.

[Dave Matthews]

Yeah, he's the truest. He's the truest of artists. I just love. Cause he's an art. Like, he's all round. I mean, he's all. I don't know. I lose my mind. I just. I'm just like.

[Stephen Colbert]

You mean all around when you all. He's all round.

[Dave Matthews]

I think he's visual artist and he's lyrical and he's subtle and he's smart and he's funny and he's. Anyway, he's all good things wrapped into one.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, you could be describing yourself, Dave Matthews.

[Dave Matthews]

That's very generous.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. You were close to a remarkable person that humanity lost not that long ago. Jane Goodall.

[Dave Matthews]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Here is, this is a. Listen. This is a well rounded person. If they're friends. Look, talk about well rounded getting in a tub with Jane Goodall. Not everybody has to do that.

[Dave Matthews]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Where is that?

[Dave Matthews]

That's in Nebraska. We used to go a few times

[Stephen Colbert]

when we used to go. You and Jade go. Would just go places together. How did that. No, stop talking. How did that start? How does something like that start?

[Dave Matthews]

Whiskey. Whiskey.

[Stephen Colbert]

How'd you guys meet? Like, what was the.

[Dave Matthews]

We met at Live Earth, which was a giant carbon emitting series of concerts that happened all over the world. And, and she was there and I was there. And, and she was the high point. And so Leroy, my late sack, our late sax player and I, we were both sort of overwhelmed and sort of a little, you know, like, teary again, but because she was there and then she said, I, you know, I don't know what to do. I don't, I, I, I don't know how to talk to 60, 000 people. And so then she just went out and then she just said hello like a chimp. She did that whole, she did that whole thing and it was the loudest. The crowd lost their, the crowd's like, ah. I mean, it was. We, we are.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, chip mine. I mean, everybody hit the chip mine right away.

[Dave Matthews]

Everyone touched. It was, it was, it was un. She was. Anyway, so then we fell in love. And then I did a few shows together. We did a few shows together. So I would go and we, you know, raise money for the institute. And, and, and then we went. And, and we went bird watching in Nebraska to watch the cranes, the sandhill cranes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Cranes come in.

[Dave Matthews]

And you know, and, and we did that a few times. And then one time, Tom Man, Thomas Mangelson, the photographer, said, let me get a photo of you guys out here. And she says, let's get into the bathtub. She didn't. Yeah. So it was her idea.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. I got, I got one other thing is that I understand you actually when, you know, you saw Pete Seeger perform when you were a kid.

[Dave Matthews]

That was my first concert that I remember.

[Stephen Colbert]

Pete Seeger was your first concert?

[Dave Matthews]

Yeah. On the back of a flatbed truck. He was up there playing.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Dave Matthews]

It was Unbelievable.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you ever get any time to spend any time with him?

[Dave Matthews]

No, not then.

[Stephen Colbert]

No. No, I mean like old.

[Dave Matthews]

Oh, since.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, yeah, yeah. I got to interview him once. Let's talk about me. I got to interview him once and I was completely blown away. I rarely get intimidated, but boy, is Pete. Yeah.

[Dave Matthews]

I mean he's, he's so. Because he's like you. I don't want to say because he's the. He was a perfect human.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. You know his banjo, what it said around the outside of the banjo.

[Dave Matthews]

And he's. And he spoke with. He was so eloquent. He had such a clear idea of what right and wrong was. He lived in a house with no electricity until his end. And, and I was. He actually played. The last concert he played was Farm Aid and we played together and, and we, but we met. I got a good story. I'll squeeze it in.

[Stephen Colbert]

Squeeze it in.

[Dave Matthews]

I squeeze it in. I got a good story. He came and this is very embarrassing too because I was staying at the Peninsula Hotel just like Pete Seeger wouldn't. And then, and then he couldn't find

[Stephen Colbert]

a wood fired hotel.

[Dave Matthews]

He said, he said, you're in, you're in, you're in the city. He said, you know, I'd like to come find, I'll come find you. And then I learned later that he drove from, he was. Drove from upstate where he lived all the way down to the city to come and meet me. So I was like, I was deeply embarrassed. But, but then we were in the Peninsula and I don't know if the Peninsula Hotel, it's got his fancy stairs that go down like this and then they go down to the outside. And that's how you get in and out of the Peninsula, I think. I'm sure gangsters have been there. And, and then, and we got, we went to, had. And he had lunch and then at the end of lunch he said, I can't really go downstairs because of my knees. He was, he was getting up there at this point and, and, and, and so everyone's like, where is there a. Is there an elevator we can get him in? He said, and then he goes, oh no, if there's nothing, it's okay. And he got onto the banister and he slid down the banister and then, and then slid down the other banister.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I was like, we should all, we should all.

[Dave Matthews]

I was, you ought to slide down the banister. I wasn't going to do it as well, cuz it. A guy made it. I would have, I Would I could myself up?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Good.

[Dave Matthews]

Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

You'll be performing a song for tonight. Thank you. Don't drink the Water in just a moment. What's. What's Don't Drink the Water about?

[Dave Matthews]

I think the polite term is genocide,

[Stephen Colbert]

but that's the polite term.

[Dave Matthews]

But I. But I. But I mean it. Well, it's just like I'm the villain in the song. And nowadays it feels like a lot of us are villains and. Or at least a part of villainous world. And so I thought, like, I'd play that song because I mean it. I don't mean. I don't mean to be the villain, but that's what the song's about.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, thank you so much for being here.

[Dave Matthews]

Thank you. And I love you.

[Stephen Colbert]

I was very kind of.

[Dave Matthews]

Sorry your show is coming to an end.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, there'll be other stuff. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Steven Colbert tickets are on sale now for Dave Matthews. Thank you for listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives. Me and my brother, we grew up off the grid.

[Dave Matthews]

A new Paramount plus original documentary explores the wild true story of two brothers. They were dubbed the Wild Boys.

[Stephen Colbert]

There's no driving records, nothing tangible. What's their story?

[Dave Matthews]

Who shook a small town after they emerged mysteriously from the Canadian wilderness?

[Stephen Colbert]

Are they criminals? Maybe they're in a cult. Who are these guys? Why are they here? It's not my job to tell you the truth.

[Dave Matthews]

Wild Boys, Strangers In Town now streaming on Paramount plus.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm back. I'm really back.

[Dave Matthews]

School Spirits returns.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why am I here?

[Dave Matthews]

Not dead, right? This place is an absolute death trap. We need to get out of here now. School Spirits new season. Now streaming only on Paramount plus.