7. Dodo

This song is a rarity to hear live. Almost exclusively played in the winter (almost), Dave has only played "Dodo" a handful of times, a majority after the release of his solo album, Some Devil. In fact, Dave hadn't played "Dodo" live for two years until the December 6, 2010 performance at McCaw Hall in Seattle. This song is almost always played mid set, with the two exceptions where the song was played as a set opener. This song is the lead track on Some Devil and has been a favorite of mine for many, many years.

Title: Dodo
Album: Some Devil
Show Stats: Fully played 25 times
Why I Love It: I have always viewed this song as an important piece of music with a real message. The lyrics speak of man's ignorance in the face of reality and science and how stubborn we are as a humanity. At the same time, the song could be about perception and how sometimes how we perceive things is does not always reflect reality. Beside the lyrics that I fell in love with immediately, the studio track has so many musical elements I love and are seldom heard in songs with Dave on vocals. I have a weak spot in my heart for tambourine which is used in excess, much to my delight. The vocals take on a sort of lazy, delicateness that seems perfectly fitting for the content of the song.
Memories: By far, the most exciting time I heard this song was after it's two year hiatus from touring when it was played at McCaw Hall in Seattle this past December. After the show, the four of us who had gone to the show were dumbfounded and shocked that we got to hear Dave and Tim (not Time, thanks Zach) play "Dodo" live! It was a song that I only dreamed of hearing, but had always written off as an improbability. I was excited to get to check this song off my list of stuff I've heard live.
Favorite Lyric: So I wonder this as life billows smoke inside my head/ This little game where nothing is sure, oh/ Why would you play by the rules?