DMBAlmanac.com²
   the dave matthews band tour almanac
home  |  contact  |  submit  |  support us  |  about
Tours / Stats Songs Lyrics Guests Venues Search Discography Lists  
 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 
 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 
Live Setlist
Type the Song title into the box to search.
Break Free

Also Known As: To Break Free
Evolved From: "ABC"
Times Fully Played: 69
Live Releases: 3
Broadcasts: 11
Date Last Played: 11.18.23 (122 days ago)
Shortest Version: 3:15 (06.07.23)
Longest Version: 8:37 (06.16.06)


Opener Count : 1
Encore Count : 2

Liberated 3 times:
9.13.066.25.11 (after 1746 days)
9.17.115.17.16 (after 1704 days)
11.27.185.11.22 (after 1261 days)
I'll drink your poison if you fill the cup
Composer
Beauford / Lessard / Matthews / Moore / Tinsley / Batson
Song History
Break Free was one of a handful of songs that sprung from early 2006 studio sessions with Mark Batson. It debuted on 6.13.06 in Toronto during a stretch of shows that also saw debuts of The Idea of You, Kill the King and Shotgun. Its lyrics are in the same vein as Hunger For the Great Light, with thinly-veiled erotic themes sung over a sleazy baritone guitar riff and Boyd's electric mandolin.

The original structure of the song contained a main portion that included verses and choruses followed by an extended loose jam featuring a reserved sax solo by LeRoi, then a trumpet solo by Rashawn that increased the intensity to a climactic ending. It was played this way only three times. On 6.21.06, it was played with a tightened structure that eliminated the final verse and LeRoi's solo. This edit reduced the song by a minute or so and accelerated the slow, patient build found in earlier versions. It stayed strong throughout the 2006 Summer Tour, mostly rotating nights with Idea of You. The two songs were played a combined 47 times on the tour after Break Free's debut, but only at the same show 5 times.

After the 2006 Summer Tour, it hadn't been played or mentioned again until it was played on the second night of the 2011 Atlantic City Caravan 6.25.11. The song was played three times in four+ stops giving hope that it would make a full come back. While there was no studio version officially released until 2023, a studio recording captured via IEM played at a soundcheck through the soundboard made its way around long before then. It is obviously a rough cut, with hardly final editing done. It contains backing vocals and overdubs, but no jam after the proper song concludes.

The song has two live releases, the first on Live Trax 6 from 7.8.06 and a version featuring future traveling band member Jeff Coffin on sax from 8.15.06 that was released on the Warehouse 5 vol. 8 fan club disc. There is no official release of a version with the original structure yet.
Color Legend
Show Type
Dave & Tim  (1)
Dave Solo  (1)
DMB  (67)
Personnel
Dave Solo  (2)
Boyd Tinsley  (30)
Carter Beauford  (67)
Dave Matthews  (67)
LeRoi Moore  (19)
Stefan Lessard  (67)
Buddy Strong  (37)
Butch Taylor  (19)
Eric Krasno  (1)
Greg Phillinganes  (1)
Jeff Coffin  (49)
Rashawn Ross  (67)
Richard Hardy  (1)
Tim Reynolds  (47)
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
6.13
6.14
6.16
6.21
6.23
6.27
7.1
7.4
7.8
7.29
8.2
8.6
8.12
8.15
8.19
8.25
9.2
9.9
9.13
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
6.25
7.9
9.17
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
5.17
5.20
5.24
6.7
6.22
7.13
7.19
8.27
2017
2018
11.27
2019
2020
2021
2022
5.11
5.13
5.17
5.25
6.6
6.18
6.21
6.24
6.29
7.9
8.21
8.30
9.3
2023
2.19
5.11
5.19
5.20
5.23
5.24
5.27
5.30
6.3
6.7
6.14
6.24
6.27
6.30
7.8
7.14
7.19
7.22
7.28
8.26
8.29
9.1
11.7
11.13
11.18
2024
All statistical information and computations copyright ©2002, Matias Nino and Rob Bokon. No portion of dmbalmanac.com may be reproduced without permission. Portions of the site, specifically lyrics and songtitles are copyright Colden Grey, Ltd., Bama Rags Records, Red Light Management, RCA and/or BMG. Show posters are copyright their respective artists.