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“The Dave Matthews Band rules!”

“Dude, the Dave Matthews Band sucks!”

Admit it, whether mega-fan, super-hater or any variable, you’ve come across this conversation. It’s no surprise – it happens with nearly all longstanding, mega-popular acts, and perhaps most notably with those in the vague hippie, jam-rock vain like Matthews. Just ask The Grateful Dead or Phish.

However, heading tonight’s DMB show at the Gorge Amphitheatre – the first of three consecutive bills with Jason Mraz, Jem and Ari Hest – there’s a new debate on nearly everyone’s mind.

Does the Dave Matthews Band stink?

For the past several weeks, the Dave Matthews Band has reeked of one of the most bizarre events in pop music memory, one of its tour buses accused of dumping a large load of human waste from a Chicago bridge onto a Chicago River tour boat.

According to a civil lawsuit filed against the band last week by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, one of the band’s drivers, Stefan Wohl, is responsible for dumping nearly 800 pounds of raw sewage onto about 80 passengers on a Chicago River architecture tour.

Last week, Chicago police also showed the media videotape it says identifies one of the band’s buses passing over the bridge at the approximate time of the dumping. Authorities are still investigating whether criminal charges will be filed.

Earlier this week, in an unsigned statement posted on its Web site ( www.davematthewsband.com), the Dave Matthews Band intended to clarify where the members stand regarding the Chicago incident.

“We are not attempting to avoid any responsibility we may have for the incident,” reads the statement. “We would never do anything to offend the people of Chicago or any of our fans. If we were responsible for what happened, we will work quickly to make amends, with the people on the boat and with Chicago.”

The statement also asserts the band members have “fully and voluntarily cooperated with the Chicago authorities,” even offering to supply DNA to determine their involvement.

As a result of the surreal turn of events, this weekend’s shows at The Gorge come packaged with a unique sense of anticipation.

Don’t forget, the Dave Matthews Band loves The Gorge – its most recent release, a double-length CD/DVD live offering at The Gorge, was culled from three 2002 shows at the venue. And rock ‘n’ roll history tells us that epic performances commonly come under intense public scrutiny.

So whether you love or hate them, the Dave Matthews Band stink makes for a dramatic script at The Gorge. Bets are the guys will come up smelling like roses to their fans.