The Dave Matthews Tribute Band

DMTB is a celebration of the music of the Dave Matthews Band. DMTB is a time machine to a funky tea party in the 90’s, a boisterous time of tape trading, sing-alongs, and exploration into a new sonic landscape spearheaded by complex guitar riffs, soaring violin melodies, smooth sax lines, and explorative-explosive drumming.

Dedicated to recreating that moment in musical history, the DMTB has been honing their craft for over 20 years. Since 2004, the band’s ruthless touring schedule has been unparalleled, playing over 2000 shows in 46 states and 10 countries. The Buffalo, NY based band has successfully paid tribute to the Dave Matthews Band, with heartfelt recreation of DMB’s musical spirit.

The DMTB aims to transport the listener back in time. The band takes inspiration from the classic DMB sound, with immense respect for the original quintet. While including material from the bands later and current catalogs, the goal is to create a well rounded and authentic tribute.

The attention to details, love for the music, and sense of community creates an atmosphere that causes concert goers to say “...wow, if I close my eyes, it's like I am there!”

Cousins Dave Schafer and Pete Vale bore the idea of forming a rock band late in 2011 as a therapeutic release from the pressurized day to day of New York City living. Adding on bass guitarist Andrew Wilkes, drummer Ben Selznick, and keyboard player James Gettinger, the band was complete in early 2012. For about a year, they would get together informally, sing, talk, and enjoy the company of each others’ talents, focused initially only on their favorite rock covers and whatever other melodies happened to pass before their minds. But the energy in the room soon developed into something more, and they began to write songs together: ones they liked so much that they felt compelled to share. In January of 2013 they played their first live show in the basement of a small club in Manhattan. From there, things took off quickly as crowds progressively got bigger and bigger. Denizen soon became a staple on the Lower East Side music scene, quickly moving from mid-sized venues like Arlene’s Grocery and Pianos to professional concert halls like Webster Hall, Bowery Ballroom, and Brooklyn Bowl. From there they began touring up and down the East Coast and have grown a strong regional following in cities from Boston, MA to Washington, D.C. 

Several lineup changes later, Dave and Pete have remained at the core of the band along with bassist Colin Harte, and drummer Joe Livingston and lead who joined in 2024. The band recorded its debut LP “Afterglow” in 2019 at Studio G in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.