Pisgah Brewery is becoming well-known in the region for its large, handmade outdoor stage that has hosted some large names such as Steel Pulse,Toubab Krewe, Umphrey’s Mcgee, Bruce Hornsby, and most recently, moe. The jamband scene has many faces and places but moe. has become a cornerstone of epic guitar solos, funky xylophone, head spinning drums, a master bassist, quirky songs, seamless segues and a killer light show. An Asheville- style crowd arrived quickly, anticipatory of the promise of moe.’s newest album No Guts No Glory as well as some classic moe. tunes.
Anchoring the heavy and groovy sound of moe. are its three longest-term members- (bassist/vocalist) Rob Derhak, (guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist) Al Schnier and standout (guitarist/vocalist) Chuck Garvey, who provided more than one epic solo during the evening. Rounding out the rhythm section are drummer Vinnie Amico and long-time percussionist Jim Loughlin, who banged on the conga drums and provided several xylophone interludes (it’s hard to imagine someone rocking out on the xylophone, but Loughlin manages to do it).
The show began with “The Road”, which, usually ambient and leisurely, gave off a mellow vibe to the crowd and first set a slow beginning. Gaining momentum, “Bring It Back Home” was next, whichh is a moe. setlist requirement and usually expected at most shows. “Captain America” picked up the pace substantially and got the beer pouring and feet moving. “Annihilation Blues” which is the first track off their new album and a Chuck filled killer tune that the crowd seemed to enjoy. Another unhurried melody, but classic song, “Hi and Lo” sent listeners into a trance all about Chuck, which you can’t go wrong with. “Recreational Chemistry” was the first set closer, as this particular version lasted a blissful twenty-two minutes and showcased moe.’s unbelievable talent to blend their instruments and become a unified sound.
Second set opener, “Paper Dragon” had an eerie cranking sound with every silence where there would usually be a “snap”, which went in motion with the rotating lights, making for one perfect sight to adhere to the song. Another new tune, “Do or Die”, written by Al, gave us a special drum solo by Jim on a multi-tenor drum set, which was a refreshing and new sight.
“Faker” came next which is a very introspective song, ambient and steady and was beautifully done as Al highlighted the tune with an amazing guitar solo. “Kyle’s Song”, which was made apparent that it was a crowd favorite, and a Rob tune, gave the old school moe. fans their dose of what they came for and let Al show off his dance moves, particularly “the robot.” “Waiting for the Punchline”, just as the title states, always starts off as a monotonous theme then rears its ugly head and slaps you with doubletime moe.-style bluegrass energy with the ever-present jam undertone. One of the most popular songs, “Planecrash” ended the second set and left the crowd screaming for more of its high energy and harmonization. Lights dimmed, moe. left stage and returned for one anticipatory epic cover of “Godzilla”, of which, they play often. Adding to the ambiance was moe.’s always amazing, bright, psychedelic light show, featuring a ray of spot lights and strobes all aimed at the audience rather than the band, enveloping the crowd in a sea of colors and flashes that seemed to only fuel the fire happening on the floor.
SETLIST:
I:
The Road, Bring It Back Home > Captain America >(nh) Annihilation Blues, Hi and Lo > Recreational Chemistry
II:
Paper Dragon, Do or Die > Faker > Kyle’s Song > Waiting For The Punchline, Plane Crash
ENC:
Godzilla
Photos by Brad Kuntz
