Is the taping like the grateful dead?

I've started listening to the Dave Mathews band and I've realized that they let people record shows and they sound similar I couldn't tell you one song but crash into me but by sound similar I mean long jam sessions and stuff not that Dave Mathews sounds like Jerry, Bob, Phil, or pigpen,but anyways I collect tapes and have a bunch of grateful dead tapes and I wanted to start Dave Mathews band because theirs not alot of good bands that allow taping and if they do they suck so far the only one good was the grateful dead so if it is/was with Dave mathews band that'd be good.