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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; With the Dave Matthews Band on hiatus in 2017, die hard DMB fans will have to turn to reputable tribute groups for their folk-jam/jazz fusion fix.</p><p>Hailing from Fairfax, Va., Crowded Streets: The Dave Matthews Experience will return to the Wyoming Valley for a 9 p.m. April 1 performance at the <a href="http://theweekender.com/insidestories/24136/former-beyonce-bassist-divinity-roxx-to-perform-at-jazz-cafe-in-plains-township" target="_blank">River Street Jazz Cafe</a> in Plains Township with supporting act Vine Street.</p><p>Crowded Streets frontman Gabe Matthews said the band&#8217;s Jazz Cafe performance a year ago was the first show for then new bass player Nick Soderstrom.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s more of a traditional jazz player, and he&#8217;s added a whole new feel,&#8221; Matthews said. &#8220;He&#8217;s a phenomenal bass player.&#8221;</p><p>Matthews said Soderstrom&#8217;s quiet, reserved personality is a welcome balance to the quirkiness of other band members.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s added a foundation we didn&#8217;t have in the past,&#8221; Matthews said. &#8220;We&#8217;re happy with the musical direction we&#8217;re going in.&#8221;</p><p>Matthews said Crowded Streets has, true to form, kept set lists fresh by revisiting traditional songs from their DMB repertoire and by adding new material.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve taken a two-prong approach,&#8221; Matthews said. &#8220;We&#8217;re blowing the dust off of some older songs and that will be our focus. In addition, we&#8217;ve reached out to our fans and said, &#8216;what do you guys want to hear?&#8217; &#8220;</p><p>Matthews said the band has posted on Facebook and received about 150 responses containing suggestions.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re focusing on the people who come to see us,&#8221; Matthews said. &#8220;They&#8217;re the reason we&#8217;re doing this.&#8221;</p><p>Matthews said performing the music of such a beloved group has its moments, letting the members of Crowded Streets know when they&#8217;ve performed well.</p><p>A recent instance, he said, came after a February performance at a small, intimate venue in Philadelphia.</p><p>&#8220;We were fortunate enough to sell the place out,&#8221; Matthews said. &#8220;When we were done, there were probably half a dozen folks that said, &#8216;you took me back to my days in college. It was so nice to reminisce.&#8217;&#8221;</p><p>Matthews said it is in those moments, reminding people of some of their best times, that he feels the band is going in the right direction.</p><p>&#8220;To me, that&#8217;s what it&#8217;s all about, making people feel carefree for an hour and a half,&#8221; Matthews said. &#8220;It&#8217;s more worthwhile for people as they go through life and get older and have children and more responsibilities.&#8221;</p><p>Matthews said the band&#8217;s sphere of touring has expanded over the last year, bringing it to Minnesota and into Ohio for the first time.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m an Ohio native, so I loved it,&#8221; Matthews said.</p><p>An outdoor concert series performance in Cincinnati drew a particularly good crowd, the singer and guitarist said.</p><p>&#8220;It speaks to the Dave Matthews Band&#8217;s ability to touch so many people,&#8221; Matthews said. &#8220;The crowd participation was phenomenal. We got into some uncharted waters and absolutely loved it.&#8221;</p><p>A three-day music festival Crowded Streets was slated for in Minnesota became an affirmation of another kind.</p><p>&#8220;We played half a sound check song and the skies opened up,&#8221; Matthews said.</p><p>Torrential rain cancelled several performances, but, Matthews said, organizers found another place for several acts to perform to satisfy fans.</p><p>&#8220;They carted us over to this neighborhood bar,&#8221; Matthews said. &#8220;Three hundred people in the venue migrated over there to see a mixed performance. Something horrible ended up being something fantastic. It was cool to walk away saying, &#8216;we did something good here.&#8217; &#8220;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Crowded Streets has played for audiences in various regions across the country, and the Dave Matthews Band tribute is returning to the River Street Jazz Caf&#233; on April 1. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_CrowdedStreets1_resized.jpg</photo0><caption0>Crowded Streets has played for audiences in various regions across the country, and the Dave Matthews Band tribute is returning to the River Street Jazz Caf&#233; on April 1. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times leader file photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_CrowdedStreets2_resized.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Frontman for Crowded Streets, Gabe Matthews said the addition of jazz trained bass player Nick Soderstrom has added a new feel to the band. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_CrowdedStreets2_resized.jpg</photo1><caption1>Frontman for Crowded Streets, Gabe Matthews said the addition of jazz trained bass player Nick Soderstrom has added a new feel to the band. </caption1><photoCredit1>Times leader file photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Dave Matthews tribute will return to Plains Twp.</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>IF YOU GO</strong></p><p><strong>What: </strong>Crowded Streets: The Dave Matthews Experience</p><p><strong>Where: </strong>River Street Jazz Cafe, 667 N. River St., Plains Township</p><p><strong>When: </strong>9 p.m. April 1</p><p><strong>Additional information: </strong>Admission costs $10 in advance and $12 the evening of the show. Tickets are available now at <a href="http://www.riverstreetjazzcafe.com/" target="_blank">riverstreetjazzcafe.com</a>. Doors open at 7 p.m. Patrons must be 21 and over to attend.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or on Twitter @TimesLeaderMatt.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Dave Matthews tribute Crowded Streets to perform at River Street Jazz Cafe