What moe. could you ask for? It’s been, oh, probably 15 years since I’ve seen the band Moe. live. Last Moe. album I purchased was Warts & All in 2001. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been an enjoyer of moe. music since then and I’ve even turned up the volume when JamON on XM starts playing some moe. but I’ve just not been chasing their music. So many options in the world to choose from, not everyone gets your full attention, no matter how good they are. After seeing them perform at the Fonda in Hollywood on Friday night…I think I might have to do that a few more times very soon. Not the moe. I remember but certainly a moe. I can wrap my head around and get into again.
Given my limited depth of knowledge of the Moe. catalogue (and we’re talking the shallow end of the kiddie pool, here) my “likes” and “dislikes” may not line up with you die hard moe.rons but, never the less, I gotta call em like I see em. First set came out of the box strong with a great song, Stranger Than Fiction into and equally entertaining Understand. The hard driving Gary is Awesome set up for, what I thought, the best jam of the night, Tailspin. Another tasty treat was their first set cover of Can’t You Hear Me Knocking by the Rolling Stones. First set wrapped with a tasty 16+ minute long Plane Crash.
Second set came out a bit on the lighter side, which I rather enjoyed the Widespread Panic meets Pink Floyd, grit meets groove, pace. Water->Hi & Lo->Big World->CalifornIA. Near 45 min of pure delicious jam. They turned it up for Runaway Overlude and finally set us all back down safely on terra firma with a closing Recreational Chemistry with the melodic tones of the xylophone.
Then the encore. After a few introductions and birthday wishes it was mentioned that we had lost Merle Haggard recently. The whole room now was hanging on the next note and the band erupts with Mama Tried by Haggard. Not a quiet voice in the room for the “I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole…” and by the end of the song, a thousand smiles paired with a thousand tears. A song called Akimbo closed out the night bringing the room to a full on dance party and sending everyone on their way happy.
I spoke to quite a few people at the show who shared a similar moe. history with me and equal to my opinion, they are sorry they’d been away so long and stoked they finally came back. Those who’d never been…well, let’s just say, they’ll be back again.
moe., Fonda Theater, Hollywood, CA 4/8/2016
Set 1:
