The dedicated Los Angeles famoe.ly got their long-awaited show, the band’s first since 2020 in the City of Angels. The Friday night gig on January 19th was also the first time the band played at Teragram Ballroom. They made the best of it, opening with “West L.A. Fadeaway,” a nod to the Grateful Dead’s California roots and extensive history with the city.
The members of the band have been road warriors for all of their 30-plus years. They have overcome significant hiccups along the way – bassist Rob Derhak recovered from nasopharyngeal cancer in 2018 and guitarist Chuck Garvey suffered a stroke in November 2021. They were on hiatus while Derhak got treatment but continued to tour while Garvey recovered. He did not return to the band until their New Year’s Eve 2022/2023 show and has been back on tour regularly since January 2023. Most recently the band was in the news after a fatal car crash that occurred just outside their 2024 New Year’s Eve show in Rochester.
The band left their past troubles in the rearview mirror and delivered a stirring, strong performance at Teragram Ballroom. Derhak and guitarist Al Schnier handled the bulk of the vocals with recent addition on keys Nate Wilson singing lead during the Ghosts of Jupiter cover of “Yellow Tigers” early in the first set. Wilson, who was an occasional guest over the years, is now a regular part of the band after stepping in for Garvey for much of 2022. His organ fills, solos and vocal harmonies were a welcome addition to the band’s sound throughout the show.
Garvey’s impressive guitar forays dispelled any concerns about his ability to perform after the stroke. He and Schnier traded lead guitar romps all night. The band closed the first set with a classic, scorching “Moth>Lazarus” combo that featured complementary solos by Schnier and Garvey. Garvey’s wailing solo led the transition into “Lazarus” as Schnier’s trippy, overlapping notes enhanced the groove. Derhak’s vocals smoothly merged with Schnier and Wilson’s harmonies before ending the set.
The second set kept up the blistering pace. Derhak’s vocals on “Nebraska” gave way to Garvey’s inventive talkbox voyage. Garvey took on lead vocals for “Shoot First” and it was the only indication that something awry had happened to him. He used a tablet as a cheat sheet for the lyrics and faltered a couple of times singing the song – Derhak stepped in for him. Despite the hiccup, the knowledgeable, devoted crowd went nuts, shouted encouragement, and gave Garvey thunderous applause. That song also featured the only time Wilson brought out his flute for a melodic solo.
The latter half of the closing set exemplified why moe. are such a dynamic live act. Their distinctive ability to jump from structured to improvisational segments was on full display as they put together a marvelous sequence of songs. Derhak’s crushing bass line introduced “ATL” before Schnier and Garvey jumped in with some innovative, quick picking. Percussionist Jim Loughlin provided a magical vibraphone solo that led into another of Schnier’s creative solos before smoothly transitioning into “Meat.”
That song was a mostly instrumental, intense journey as several of the musicians took the spotlight – Schnier led off the featured solos before giving the nod to Garvey who handed it off to Loughlin before drummer Vinnie Amico pounded out a booming solo. Derhak closed the segment with a roaring, rhythmic bass line that segued into “Billy Goat.” Derhak’s lead vocals once again blended nicely with Wilson and Schier’s harmonies before some additional soloing led back to a brief reprisal of “Meat.” That maniacal riff unexpectedly transitioned back to the first set’s “Moth” for the conclusion of the set.
For the encore, Schier made the obligatory birthday and show attendance announcements before kicking off the distinctive guitar riff of “Downward Facing Dog.” Garvey’s slide guitar jumped in, then Derhak and Wilson’s voices joined the chorus. A duel guitar showcase featuring Schnier and Garvey playing paired slide solos closed out the impressive show.
moe.’s West Coast tour concludes in Seattle at the Neptune Theater on January 27th. The band will then take a short break before kicking off their Ski Tour in March 2024.
Live photos courtesy of Andy J. Gordon ©2024.
