Dave Matthews rocks out during Fetterman rally

Slight rain and strong winds didn’t seem to sway Dave Matthews as he belted a dozen songs Wednesday night to a crowd of more than 3,000 people at Stage AE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

The one-man concert was part of a get-out-the-vote rally hosted by Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee in Pennsylvania’s upcoming U.S. Senate election, which occurred just a day after a televised debate between Fetterman and Republican celebrity physician Mehmet Oz. Fans and supporters began lining up as early as 10 a.m. for the 7:30 p.m. rally.

Prior to Matthews’ performance, Fetterman, clad in his typical shorts despite the weather, addressed the crowd and highlighted many of his policy priorities, such as getting rid of the filibuster, defending marriage equality, expanding health care access, protecting Medicare and Social Security, codifying Roe v. Wade and raising the minimum wage. 

“We all believe that there’s all dignity in all work, but there must be dignity in every paycheck,” he said to cheers from the crowd. “We all deserve that. That is part of the American bargain, and we know that Pittsburgh is a union town.”

Fetterman took familiar jabs at his opponent, commenting on Oz’s New Jersey ties and pushing of sometimes dubious medical advice.

“Dr. Oz has never let me ever forget having a stroke,” Fetterman said. “Let me ask you, what kind of doctor that has somebody that was sick, wants [them] to stay sick?”

Fetterman didn’t shy away from speaking about his stroke, which he suffered just days before the May primary. Looking out from the stage, Fetterman asked attendees to raise their hands if they or their loved ones had experienced major health challenges.

“I hope you didn’t have a doctor in your life making fun of it or ridiculing that, but unfortunately I do, but if we don’t do what we need to do, we’re all going to have him for the next six years,” Fetterman said. “By January, I’m gonna be feeling even better, but he will still be a fraud.”

Gisele Fetterman said her husband is “still the same small-town mayor who shows up and cares deeply about the people he represents,” noting his 13 years as mayor of nearby Braddock.

“He’s the same lieutenant governor who has traveled to every single county multiple times, just to listen, to meet with you and to listen,” she said. “For many Americans, health care is on the line. The union way of life is on the line. Kindness and decency are on the line, even puppies are on the line and our democracy is on the line.”

Guy Rocco — a volunteer at Free Store 15104, a charity founded by the Fettermans which redistributes surplus goods — also noted Fetterman’s ties to Braddock and Pennsylvania, more broadly.

“John is real Pennsylvania, not some traveling snake oil salesman,” Rocco said. “We know where John lives, we know where his heart is. In a divided Senate, he can tip the balance of power toward the preservation of our democracy.”

Before the start of his set, Matthews, frontman of rock group the Dave Matthews Band, said he had been looking forward to performing at the event in support of Fetterman. He said Fetterman was the “clear choice” for voters.

“John is such a rare kind of person that is willing to go and fight for all of us because he’s a real person,” Matthews said. “He’s not an act, he’s not trying to pull something over our eyes. He really, legitimately, works for everybody else. He’s a working man and he works for working people. He’s an incredible inspiration and I hope we get it right.” 

Accompanied only by his own guitar, Matthews then jammed to “Don’t Drink the Water,” “Grey Street,” “Crush” and more before closing down the night with “Ants Marching.”

At the rally, Fetterman shared that his campaign had raised over $2 million since Tuesday’s debate.

“I’m running to serve Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said. “He’s running to use Pennsylvania and here’s the thing also about that debate. I may not get every word the right way, but I will always do the right thing in Washington D.C.”

“I have a lot of good days, and every now and then I’ll have a bad day. But every day I will always fight just for you. Send Oz back to New Jersey, and send me to D.C.”