By: David Schultz


moe. followed up their guest laden benefit for World Hunger Year and Haiti with a formal celebration of their 20th anniversary. Dressed nattily in matching suits, moe.’s Saturday night set consisted almost exclusively of longtime live staples including the twangy “Yodelittle,” the zany “Dr. Graffenberg” and a lengthy revved up version of “Meat.” By packing the set with a treasure trove of moe. classics, the venerable upstate rockers reminded many fans of what made them appealing in the first place; a fine way to commemorate a momentous anniversary. Legions of bands hardly make it past their second album or go their separate ways at the first sign of adversity only to find a rekindled love of the music once the possibility of a lucrative reunion tour rears its head. In jamband circles, Phish and the Grateful Dead will always dominate the conversation but perhaps it's time for moe. to be invited on to the panel.

Since Terminal 5 opened its doors a couple years back, the Roseland Ballroom, once a mighty and vital stop for any jamband or rising indie act, has lost much of its luster with T5 coopting nearly all the shows that would once take place at the roomy midtown haunt. Revisiting Roseland for the first time in more than 3 years, all of the Ballroom’s perceived warts seemed trivial, especially in light of Terminal 5’s horrific sightlines, overcrowded floors and impersonal warehouse feel. To the contrary, Roseland felt like a venue with its own character: from the side stage that doubles as a VIP section to the hidden bar (I’m not telling) and the balconies from which you can actually see the stage, it’s a concert space that does not deserve to be forsaken. moe. reawakened a few of Roseland’s ghosts this past weekend, hopefully they don’t once again go dormant.

moe. moe. moe. Tonight at the Brooklyn Bowl, moe. will play a not-so secret show at Pete Shapiro's wonderful new venture in Williamsburg. No tickets will be sold in advance, so be there on line when the doors open at 6:00 and you'll get to see moe. at the largest mini-arena in Brooklyn.

Labels: moe.