Two, or even three, nights of suffering through blistering cold while intoxicated and wandering State Street to celebrate Halloween may be remotely appealing in that, of course, you’ll spot your average Joe dressed as a cheerleader, hundreds of Outkast look-alikes and your classic devil. However, there is a perfectly good and ridiculously exciting alternative for any music enthusiast just two hours away, an evening or two if you so choose, with the Buffalo, N.Y., quintet moe.
Several other bands fitting into the “jam-band scene” are playing Halloween shows in the Chicago area such as North Mississippi Allstars, Rusted Root and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe; however, moe. is your must-see for the weekend.
Formed in 1990, moe. has experienced changes in members, sounds and the like and is now settled with guitarist Chuck Garvey, guitarist Al Schnier, bassist Rob Derhak, Vinnie Amico on drums and Jim Loughlin on percussion, flute, bass, washboard and acoustic guitar. Chuck, Al and Rob all add to the vocals and contribute other instrumental techniques as well.
Moe.’s fall tour, Wormwood, is making a two-night stop in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom to celebrate Halloween with an evening of heavy metal Friday titled, “The Headbangers’ Left Ball: An Evening of Heavy moe.tal” and a normal show, so to speak, the following evening. The theme show will open with San Francisco rockers AC/Dshe.
For those who haven’t had the chance to get in a good moe. show in recent months, a night with Derhak busting out Metallica and Stryper hits may be more of a tease than a fulfilling concert experience. Most of us jam-band enthusiasts aren’t big in the metal scene. However, that’s not to say it won’t be enjoyable; it just won’t be the moe. we’ve all grown to know and love.
However, Saturday evening will be a definite pleaser for any moe. fan or jam-band devotee, filled with originals and improvisational jams, something moe. fans have come to love and expect from the group. What fan doesn’t enjoy cutting a rug to a 30 minute “Recreational Chemistry?”
Moe. has the ability to take a time slot of just over an hour, as it did at Bonnaroo, or a three-hour-plus time slot, as it has at most past shows, and make it unique, jam-packed and memorable.
Recent setlists have included fan favorites like “Plane Crash” and “Spine of a Dog,” as well as songs off of its latest release, Wormwood, such as “Kyle’s Song” and “Shoot First”– all tunes with quality improvisation possibilities and classic segue jams.
The band has set out on its tour to promote Wormwood, on which songs were recorded live and then taken back to the studio where the guitar and bass lines were kept and overdubs applied. This final technique was done to bring the tightly packed aspect of a studio album to the final copy. This method also kept the album to one disc as opposed to the usual three it takes to record a full, live show, while still bringing favorite live aspects from shows to the album, something not found on other studio works.
Although its studio albums are classic, they don’t do the band justice. Only after a good concert will you truly be able to appreciate what moe. can do. However, if you are like most who are restricted to shows in the Madison, Milwaukee or Chicago area during the academic year because of classes, work and the daily drama of college, then this is your last chance to see moe. before spring. After Chicago, the quintet is heading out to Michigan and finishing up on New Year’s Eve in New Jersey.
So, hop on the bus, in your car or whatever your preferred method of transportation is and trek it down to Chicago for a fun-filled evening or two with the boys. Regardless of whether it’s your first or 41st show, frontmen Al, Chuck and Rob will be sure to please.
