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“So nice to run into you in the park here, the greatest park in the world, and the greatest city in the world."
——Dave Matthews

DMB SHOW IS PARK PLACE

Estimated 85,000 Pack Central Park for Free AOL-Backed Show Benefiting Schools
It's nice to know a rock concert can still make headlines around the nation.

At least it can when the act is RCA's Dave Matthews Band and the venue is Central Park. The jam ensemble's three-hour, AOL Concert for Schools benefit show drew about 85,000 attendees, according to a NYC Parks Dept. estimate cited by CNN.

AOL and other concert backers put up $2 million for schools—at the philanthropic behest of Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg.

AOL “street team” members are said to have distributed some 70,000 free tickets for the public, though the New York Post reports some scalpers getting $100 apiece anyhow. Though turnout was smaller than for Paul Simon's Central Park shows, both alone and with Art Garfunkel, it's important to remember that DMB's fame kicked off less than a decade ago.

The multiplatinum band’s “jamming,” as the kids call it, was introduced by Mayor Bloomberg, who called the event “a fantastic night” and may or may not have advised the crowd to “light a fatty and hand it to your neighbor.” Most likely not.

The Post also identified such celebrities Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, John McEnroe, Sarah Ferguson and cast members of The Sopranos in attendance.

“So nice to run into you in the park here, the greatest park in the world, and the greatest city in the world,” Matthews told the crowd.

A live album of the show, due on RCA 11/11, will not be free, though try telling that to kids with a high-speed Internet connection.