moe. at First Avenue
As I made my way downtown to First Avenue for moe. last night I decided to stop at The Depot next door and have a couple of beers with some strangers. “Minnesota nice” was all around me. The bar was filled with jubilant mid-week music seekers looking to blow off some steam inside the dark cavern that is First Avenue. Showtime came and went. I wasn’t in a hurry. I knew that the Buffalo, N.Y.-natives would take their time getting on stage as the club filled up. Around 8:45 I walked into the venue to meet a rambunctious mob of hooligans soaking in every ounce of anticipation. moe. took the stage shortly thereafter and put on a hell of a show.
From my upper-level view, my eye couldn’t help but notice a specific individual front and center. A plump, bearded man decked completely in tie dye attire. He sums up this show entirely – loud, proud and dance-happy. Bassist Rob Derhak belted out well known moe. classics with a sly smile coming after each lyric. A surprising rendition of “New York City” made the first set, and got everyone moving. Lead guitarists Chuck Garvey and Al Schnier also took turns wowing the crowd as percussionist, as Jim Loughlin moved from xylophone to bongos to who knows what.
As I watched the tie dyed young’n dance his face off below I couldn’t help but smile. An out-of-town couple here on business complimented me on my wonderful city and historic music venue. Simply put, everyone was happy to be there, and that’s how you know it was a good concert.
-- Adam Marks
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