moe. - 08/31/08 - Main Stage

Well here it is: The Grand Finale. The end of moe.down last year was particularly bittersweet knowing moe. would be taking a break from touring for a undetermined amount of time. Nobody could say when we would be rockin’ out to moe. again. Would we have to wait until next year’s moe.down? If there was ever a time to leave it all out there, this was it.



After some fine tuning to get everything just exactly perfect, moe. launched into Tailspin to begin the show. It was an above average version of the song that had a little more of an edge to it than usual. As the song wound down it was apparent Timmy Tucker would follow. This Timmy featured the standard breakdown after the lyrical beginning that kept getting funkier as the tempo slowed. moe. found themselves right into the beginning of Understand instead of completing the chorus of Timmy.

Just like Tailspin, Understand had a more feeling to it. It’s nowhere near the excellence performed in Wallingford, CT in 2007, but it was still pretty good for Understand. Overall the three song segue was a solid start. After a fairly standard versions of Queen of Everything and Down Boy, al. invited Cornmeal to the stage and explained how it was a perfect time and place to try something new. And with that the two bands began Macintyre Range, a song moe. included on their album the Conch.


The song was written by al. about the Adirondack Mountains and has only been performed a handful of times since its debut, but never in a setting like moe.down. Only a couple seconds into the song it was obvious this was going to be something special. What followed is one of my favorite moe.ments ever at the .down. Ever. Period. It’s almost like this song’s entire purpose was to be performed on this night, with these ten musicians onstage, and everyone else on the mountain to serve as witnesses.


moe. took this song from its serene beginning to the overwhelmingly powerful end with Cornmeal to accompany them throughout the journey. The tempo began to increase as rob. took control and led the others into 32 Things. A fiddle, banjo, bass, guitars, and drums all crashing together in perfect harmony…it was madness! You have to listen to this twenty-five minute segment to really understand where I’m coming from. Hands down, it’s in my top three moe.ments of moe.down and very well could be my favorite.

Set two was also full of surprises after the obligatory mayor of moe.ville vote. In a closely contended race Tits and Whiskey edged out Bacon for the crown. George got things started, but was audibled quickly for Happy Hour Hero with Terry and Shannon Lynch on trumpet and saxophone. Horns are always welcomed in HHH. Shannon and Terry barely had time to exit the stage before the heavy bassline of Recreational Chemistry started. It was a welcomed heavy hitter to the set and very moog driven. Overall, this was a solid version of Rec Chem.

The final half of the set included New York City which segued into the last half of George seamlessly. Then in a big surprise the bad no huddled into Roll > Armageddon Jig > Strychnine Waltz. These songs are included in the Timmy Tucker Rock Opera. These three songs haven’t been performed since 4/22/01. The set concluded with a guest appearance from Homer J. Simpson on bass for Plane Crash.


The end was near but not before Wind It Up, some fireworks and version of Monte Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. It was a fitting way to end the weekend. Overall, this show was probably the best of moe.’s performances from moe.down 9.




Download or Listen from the Live Music Archive

Cornmeal - 08/31/08 - Main Stage

Cornmeal was the one band (other than moe.) I was most excited to see at moe.down. Their music is rooted with a traditional bluegrass sound, but it also has an element of folk rock to it. Cornmeal is known to bring a high level of energy to their shows, which is the biggest reason I was excited to see them. They had the difficult task of waking everyone up for the last day of the festival on the main stage. It’s a tough time slot because after two days of partying, somehow festival-goers have to gather every last bit of energy to face the day.

They wasted no time giving everyone some high octane music to shake off the grogginess from the weekend. Cornmeal came out with their guns a blazin’ with a fifteen minute version of River Gap and confirmed why we were here to see them: it’s all about the energy! The Way It Ought To Be > Johnny Put Your Gun Down kept everyone moving as more and more people began heading to the main stage. Working On A Building was a great example of Cornmeal’s “jamgrass” sound. About five minutes into the traditional song the band put their spin on it. Cornmeal extended the middle section to include a fast paced jam eventually returning to the composed ending.


The pace was eventually slowed down from ludicrous speed with one of their more traditional sounding bluegrass songs, Got To Be This Way. Even though a little slower paced, this one was still as uplifting as the rest of the set. The Chicago band wasn’t finished and turned things back up to warp speed as they segued into The Road (not to be confused with the moe. song). This was a true ballad in every sense of the word, spanning eighteen minutes of shredding. In case you’ve been wondering while listening to the recording that’s Allie Kral on fiddle and Wavy Dave Burlingame on banjo and they both straight up wail on this one! The dial was turned once more to ludicrous speed with the last song of their set, Hillbilly Ride.


Sure, my review is probably a little biased because I was really psyched to see these guys for the first time. But I can honestly say they lived up to my expectations and really do bring the energy level immeasurable heights. Luckily for us this wouldn’t be the last time we saw Cornmeal grace the stage with their enthusiasm.

Listen or Download from the Live Music Archive

moe. - 08/30/08 - Main Stage

Saturday at the .down is always a busy day for moe. Besides the two sets they play at night, there’s always an hour and a half day set too. This set is usually the first music most people see on Saturday because it’s hard to get motivated after a Friday night rager. It’s always worth it to make sure you’re at the main stage for moe. appetizer.

The set started with Bring It Back Home to warm up, followed by Bearsong. We were invaded by Saranac inflatable bears for this version. Nadine LaFond of Swampadelica joined the guys onstage for All Roads Lead To Home which added that extra special something. She’s a perfect complement to moe. for many numbers off Sticks and Stones. Luckily it wasn’t the last we would see her all weekend. Captain America gave the kids a chance to show off their superhero costumes, which was the theme of the parade this year.


The rest of the set was more than an appetizer, it freakin’ rocked! Waiting For The Punchline was stretched out a little more than usual. Then we were treated to an early afternoon Brent Black with the Duo. I remember thinking as they started that this has the potential to be the best Brent ever with the addition of the Duo. As expected it was a GREAT way to end the set as the band ripped through the beginning as they usually do, but then came the drums section with the Duo. Macro added another layer on keys and helped steer the jam into uncharted waters. Good stuff indeed.


The evening portion of the show started with another rarity, Defrost. This instrumental hasn’t been played since 1997, and caught us off guard. I’d be lying if I said I recognized it. After Crab Eyes Nadine was back onstage to assist with Sticks and Stones and Deep This Time. I’ve always considered Deep This Time my favorite song from S&S, so the opportunity to hear it with Nadine was awesome. The rest of the first set was solid highlighted by a majestic Bring You Down with Jeff Austin of Yonder Mountain String Band on mandolin.

The second set got going with Buster, which is always a good sign of things to come. As the band segued into Runaway Overlude there was a very short instrumental played that almost slipped past the radar. A glimpse at the setlist after the show confirmed it was noted by the band as Shitly. This was the song's debut and after the “hiatus” moe. would continue to build on it and other instrumentals thoughout the year. I’m hopeful we may see some more this year. Runaway Overlude slipped right into She to complete a solid forty minute first half of the set.


The last half of the set was far from conventional. The first distinguishable notes of Hendrix’s Voodoo Child were a surprise and Nadine was out there for her last appearance. She led a vocal chant throughout the song that added her own spin on the classic. Then without little to no warning again (just like the Highline), Fishbone took over the stage. The complete band switch gave Fishbone a solid half hour to jam…and jam they did. I think it was one of the better band switches from recent years because it was cohesive improv with Angelo free styling. The night was capped off with Seat Of My Pants, Spine Of A Dog, and a short Yankee Doodle. It’s tough to say which set of the three I liked best. They were all exceptional for various reasons.

Listen or Download from the LMA

The Brew - 08/30/08 - Beer Tent

The Brew is one band at moe.down that may have been hyped more than anyone in recent years. Primarily by word of mouth this group has gotten their name out there. With the exception of Chances Reaching that plays constantly on Jam On, many haven't even heard a note of another song. This was solely because of the dedication of a small but growing group of hardcores. It payed off because The Brew received a generous three sets in the beer tent.

I don't mean to sound negative. I really have nothing against The Brew, in fact I find it admirable. I found it amazing that they built that kind of loyal following in a short amount of time. After talking with a couple of these diehards before their sets, they had me convinced The Brew had something special planned. The first set started off nicely with Hunters Moon and followed shortly after with their first cover of the day. It was Queen's Princes of the Universe.


The Boston based four piece had a really tight sound. Not only could they sing but they wrote some interesting lyrics that I liked. Some of my favorite were in Machine to open the second set:

I don't know if your life is like mine but
I think that its moving too fast
Pressure of tomorrow keeps pressing my mind
I got no time to think about the past

For my money, the second set was the best. Beginning with Machine and continuing through Birds on the Window and Sharks in the Pool, it was money. Then The Brew busts out the ole' Fourplay> Longtime by Boston. They did the often covered (but always rockin'!) song justice. It probably couldn't of been done better. Swiss Radio to end the set was pretty bad ass too.


The ____ as they are sometimes referred to now made me a believer with the second set. I'd check them out whenever they come around, but it seems like they're never visiting Philadelphia (with the exception of Awesometown). They do travel south of Boston and will be at The Note in West Chester with The Heavy Pets and Codename in October. That's sure to be a great show!

Download or Listen from the Live Music Archive

The Bridge - 08/31/08 - Beer Tent

There was a Rolling Stone article published in April 2008 that proclaimed Baltimore to have the best music scene in the country. I don’t think I was the only person scratching my head at that one. It’s not that I have anything bad to say about the Baltimore music scene; in fact I frequent many venues in the area like Sonar and Rams Head Live, but to declare it as the best is a pretty bold statement. The article points out how much of the scene in Baltimore may go unnoticed nationally because of the underground nature of punk and hip hop that thrive in the area.

One band from Baltimore that has branched out of the area is The Bridge. After this article was written and their performance at moe.down, The Bridge released their third album titled Blind Man’s Hill. Like most grass root efforts, The Band has built up a solid fan base by touring relentlessly and getting their music out there. They have brought a brand of bluesy rock to the appropriate audiences and continue to have success because of it.



The Bridge wrapped up a busy month of touring that included opening for Mike Gordon with a performance at the Beer Tent on Sunday. They showcased some tracks from the new album including Let Me Off This Train and Poison Wine. Although most of my memorable moments included the bluesy rock numbers like Brother Don't, The Bridge still displayed their array of influences throughout the set. Heavy Water, also included on the newest release, was the last tune they played and let the band stretch out and build some intense layers with the blues/funk incorporated. I remember a lot of happy and impressed people leaving the tent after their performance.

Listen or Download from the Live Music Archive

Macpodz - 08/31/08 - Beer Tent

"LAST CHANCE TO DANCE!"

I've always believed good things really do come to those who wait. For the Macpodz and the eager fans with their dancin' pants on, the wait was a little longer than expected at the Beer Tent Sunday night. Levon Helm and his band took more than the allotted time to setup and subsequently cut into the Podz first of two sets. It was no matter to this young promising band from Ann Arbor. They still had two sets surrounding moe.'s performance to unleash their self-proclaimed "disco bebop."


So what is "disco bebop?" I think the entire first set served as a good primer, but the real exhibition didn't get underway until the second. The Macpodz wasted no time jumping right into their improvisational, jazz infused set with 89 Miles. This and Give Me The Heat are two of my favorites from the first set. The horns are the first thing that grab you as they take most of the leads, but the rhythm section fills in nicely to form some nice grooves. A "jamband" without a guitar in the mix is a rarity, however it's really unnecessary this this group. The Podz got a lot of hype leading up to this weekend and met those expectations nicely.


The second set was practically a complete segue starting off with a rippin' You Got Me. I gotta admit these guys can groove! I think they definitely won some fans on this night. Unlike some other larger scale festivals, moe.down really gives more attention to up and coming bands like this. With the two stages practically yards from one another, everyone is inclined to migrate to the music. This was the kickoff to the Macpodz east coast tour and continuing in 2009 they expanded in other regions too. They've got my endorsement... Check'em out when they make a stop in your town.

Listen or Download from the LMA

Fishbone - 08/30/08 - Main Stage

It's after midnight at the Highline Ballroom in New York city. moe. was wrapping up their second night of a five night engagement to open the new venue in 2007. Just as they were sinking into a transient Time Ed we notice more people gathering side stage. There wasn't much warning, just a barely audible chant repeated by rob. "Fishbone...fishbone..." moe. left Fishbone an unsuspecting audience to have their way with. For the next twenty minutes Fishbone hit us with an onslaught of ska rhythm and punk rock, while finding an opportunity for a stage dive or two. It was so intense moe. decided it was too tough of an act to follow and decided that was the end of the show. We never knew what hit us.

At least when Fishbone took the stage at moe.down we had ample warning. Although sometimes forgotten in the discussion, this band was responsible for pioneering the reggae, rap, rock, punk movement (Whatever you want to call it...think Sublime) in the early nineties. But before Sublime was topping the charts Fishbone was playing a packed Wetlands till 4am or later. It has been said by al. that Fishbone was one of the bands moe. aspired to be like as a young, upcoming band. It must have been very humbling to have them play at the .down. I guess one of the best parts about throwing your own festival is you get front row seats for any act you want:


It didn't take long for this unruly irreverent bunch to get the crowd moving. I still can't believe the energy Angelo brings to the stage! He can give anyone a run for their money when riling the crowd onstage in his iconic garb. Fishbone celebrated the beautiful weather in their own way with a killer version of Everyday Sunshine. Ma and Pa was dedicated to all the hopeless hot nuts mother fuckers who let the baby come through and don't know what to do..."Hey ma and pa what the he'll is wrong with y'all?" The band played homage to Sublime with a cover of Date Rape citing "It's so good I wished I wrote it." Premadawnutt and Bonin' In The Boneyard kept the set nice and classy covering subjects like rainbows coming out your ass and, well, I don't think the latter needs explaining.


It was expected that Fishbone would be one act to steal the show and they certainly didn't disappoint. After singing about fat chicks, alcoholics and endorsing Tits and Whiskey for Mayor of moe.ville they ended the set with Party At Ground Zero. I can only imagine what it was like seeing their original lineup packed tightly in the Wetlands twenty years ago. You would be lucky to leave in one piece with the piercing horns, chest thumping low end and airborne band members.



Download Torrent

Download mp3 Part 1
Download mp3 Part 2