Matthews (2009)

Misc Release

Beach Ball was brand new song that was recorded during the Big Whiskey sessions and released on the Little Red Bird bonus disc included with the deluxe edition boxed set. Nothing was known about the song at all until its debut 4.29.09 mid-set night 2 in Alpharetta, Georgia. After that performance, a brief interpolation by Jeff and Rashawn was noticed in the 4.15.09 version of Two Step. It is played on the raised B guitar that is also used for You Never Know, Stay or Leave, Sister, etc. The version played that night was the same structure and length as the studio version but when it was played again at the next show two days later on 5.1.09 at The Woodlands, it contained an extended section in the middle that included a small, controlled Boyd solo and a duet between Rashawn and Jeff before coming back into the final pre-chorus and chorus. The version was two and a half minutes longer than the debut and was released as an online-only bonus track on August 11, 2009 to fans who ordered the Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King: iTunes Pass.

Despite the heavy play of Big Whiskey songs over the next three years, Beach Ball wasn't played again though it was one of the more well-received songs from the sessions. Signs at a show in Tampa on 7.28.10 prompted Dave to play an impromptu first verse and chorus, accompanied by some light percussion from Carter before it gave way in a segue to Stay or Leave. Finally, it was played for the first time Dave & Tim on 12.10.10 in Las Vegas. This version didn't contain the middle jam, though Tim solos replaced the horn lead between verses. However, the soft instrumental outro from the album was repeated a handful of extra times while Tim soloed over it. Before this version, Dave said that he liked the song, but didn't play it often and asked for luck. Afterwards, he said his puppy Angus would destroy his beach ball.