Every time Dave Matthews Band comes to State College, people come in droves to see what has become one of the biggest bands around do what it does best, perform live. This time around, however, the show just didn't quench the thirst for a good rock concert.

The evening started with great promise. Dave Matthews himself stepped onto the stage promptly at 7 p.m. to introduce the opening band, Yerba Buena to the predominately empty Bryce Jordan Center.

"The early bird gets the worm," Matthews said.

Immediately thereafter, the band exploded with its fiery mix of traditional Spanish music and reggae, tinged with hints of rock and hip-hop. With resounding energy and captivating stage presence, Yerba Buena kept the crowd moving, even those still trying to find their seats.

Singer Xiomara Laugart had an entrancing voice, holding one note and making it sound like a symphony. The band backing her ebbed and flowed between upbeat songs and slower, powerful ballads. All the while though, the band raised the bar and proved to be worthy of its opening slot.

But then the audience got what it really wanted.

Three minutes of solid applause welcomed Dave Matthews Band to the stage, as it eased into a subtle intro. It finally climaxed into "Don't Drink the Water," but dramatically louder. Either the band members drank a lot of coffee before the show, or they just were building up potential energy in the bus ride. Regardless, the song hit the crowd like a rock hammer and pounded till the last note.

In between songs, Matthews would give the crowd a barrage of noises, usually accompanied by a few barely audible thank you's. The show even had a fair share of surprises, with the non-album track "Help Myself" and the not-often-played "Pig" from the band's 1998 release Before These Crowded Streets.

This heavy impact of sound continued throughout the night, as the band danced between new and old songs. However, it was disappointing that the latter seemed to be neglected, and songs from Everyday dominated the night. Though strong in performance, it seemed too polished for a band that could tout 15-minute jams in concert.

There were moments though when the band's true colors showed. The most powerful song of the night came toward the end with the new, still unreleased "Bartender." Dave Matthews Band wooed the crowd with the pensive tune but made its mark when the song went into an all-out jam session. Every member in the band was doing his own thing, but it was not chaos. It all came together, and it all made perfect sense.

As the jam neared a crescendo, the lights came on in the audience, and it was clear to see that everyone was aligned with the band. This was a band that could take music and coil it around its every whim, and make it sound right.

The band played every song with the same powerful synchronicity, but the songs themselves just were not the best selections. Most came in quick hits, cleaned and prepped to sound like a real band -- but it didn't fit. The music fed into the crowd's cheers, which only heightened the band's desire to perform at its best. It's just too bad they didn't play more like Dave Matthews Band.