Dave Matthews Band preserves the jams at Comcast Center

Of course, Matthews’s willingness to take chances is one of the reasons fans and critics alike have cheered along his group’s march from the jam-band scene to broader pop fame. Matthews could just lay out a set of radio hits, but he doesn’t; and the band has stayed true to its jammy roots, as most songs get stretched out, worked over, and generally pumped up by the deft interplay among Matthews, drummer Carter Beauford, violinist Boyd Tinsley, and bassist Stefan Lessard. Longtime DMB associate Tim Reynolds was on board to supply electric guitar against Matthews’s primarily acoustic delivery, and trumpet player Rashawn Ross joined sax player Jeff Coffin in thickening the horn section.

The musicians seemed to have as much fun messing around with dynamic range as with showing off their individual chops. “Proudest Monkey,’’ for instance, had a nice slow burn that eventually went full-boil, while that song’s follow-up, “Satellite,’’ eschewed any flamboyant solos in favor of a tight, streamlined delivery.

Newer songs such as “Why I Am’’ and a manic fusion of “Spaceman’’ and “Cornbread’’ became massive jam vehicles, allowing ample grandstanding opportunities. Matthews and his drummer expertly paced the show’s rhythm and flow, even when things seemed a bit off-kilter, as when a swirl of music at the end of the set tugged and pulled between “Too Much’’ and “Ants Marching’’ before finally settling into the latter for a spirited rendition of the band’s name-making hit from 1994.

Yup, the DMB has been around for a while, and not simply with recycled audiences of pleasure-seeking post-collegiate types (of which there is no shortage at “Dave’’ events). Instead, Matthews has retained and grown his fan base with songs that remain wryly catchy and dynamic.

Yonder Mountain String Band opened with a sharp set of bluegrass-based songs, steering the string tradition down some interesting bluesy and boozy byways.

Scott McLennan can be reached at smclennan1010@gmail.com.