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I had three jobs. During the week I work as a paralegal for my father and I used to tend bar on weekends to finance my third job as a music fanatic. So, I come into my stressful "Office Space" job like usual and my mom, (who happens to be my dad's secretary), throw's a sheet of paper on my desk and says, "Ever heard of these guys?" The Willie Waldman Project is in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, I had no idea. I had to miss the Willie Waldman Project in Fayetteville to bartend so that I could pay my rent, and I really wanted to see Jim Loughlin (who plays with Willie Waldman and drums for moe.). So there I was watching one of the greatest xylophone players ever, Jim Loughlin, with my mom. This was very special because my 92-year-old grandma, from Tuscany, plays the xylophone. And this was the beginning of my run-in with moe.
I've seen about 20 moe. shows in the past four and a half years, and over the course of that time I've found that they always play something that is relevant to the city, venue, or crowd with every show. One of my most cosmic music experiences I've ever had occurred on a friend's birthday, May 16, 2001, at The Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KC. Right when we got in the car to make the five and a half hour drive, I gave my friend her birthday present. She had never heard of the unknown phenomena between the album Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd and the video The Wizard Of Oz. So I gave them both to her. It is known to be a big cliché to be seen and heard together-but have you ever done it? - It truly is unreal! Anyway, BAM! They kick me in my ass and moe. starts their show with "Money." I didn't even know they covered that song. To really make my mind spin as "Money" starts playing so does the film. This is a fascinating staple in the history of filmmaking and technology. The second song was "Stranger Than Fiction." I sat there in screaming silence for quite awhile.
So there I am on my home turf in Fayetteville this year looking at moe. "32 Things" kicks it off and sticks in my head for days to come. Then we are treated to "Shoot First," and "Okayalright," which is a new favorite of mine. Then into a heavy "St. Augustine" which is simply a jewel to me.
They start off the second set with a smooth boom bang into "Crab Eyes." Next were "Akimbo," "Captain America," "Waiting For The Punchline," "Bring You Down," and "Kids." "Kids" was a nice lead into a badass encore. It is very rare to have three covers for an encore, but that is just what moe. did. "Weight," by The Band (the year before in Fayetteville they played "Up On Cripple Creek" for the first time), "Yoshimi Battles, The Pink Robots (part I)" by The Flaming Lips, and "I Wanna Be Sedated" by the Ramones.
I was making my way around to the back "band" door when I saw Al. I was able to chat with him briefly. He wanted to know about Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa and if some of us were going to make it. I paused and said the "Cain's is great... the floor bounces, literally, it really does (he thought I was joking). But, it's the history that permeates the venue that makes it so beautiful." He nodded in agreement. He asked, "are you going?" I said "No I have to bartend." I'm thinking to myself on the way out of back stage "this is my only chance to thank Rob and Jim for doing what they did at Jazz Fest this year." So, I tell Rob "thanks for the awesome 'Tambourine' into 'Blisters in the Sun.'"
An hour later, I stop at the gas station to get some water between two late night parties. Rob is in the car next to me, he rolls down his window as he clearly recognized me as that girl that thanked him for "Tambourine" and says, "Hey what's going on?" I said, "I'm going to get some bottled water and then y'all can follow me to a party." Rob says "they've got water there" and Vinnie leans up from the back seat of the car and says "ya come on lets go- you can get it out of the faucet." I paused and said, "You guys drink water out of the faucet? - Just be gentleman and wait on me to get my water, and then I'll take you to the party." As I was walking into the gas station I was thinking "these northern rock stars are kinda cocky." It wasn't ten minutes into the party and Vinnie graciously asked me for a drink. I offered my bottled water. I was wrong about my first impression, northern rock stars aren't that cocky, at least these ones aren't, they just need a little patience.
The party was great, just enough people. We have pictures of Rob hanging out with "Tricky" the house dog. My buddy, Jeremy Scott, previously was the chief photographer for Arkansas Democrat Gazette now tours and takes pictures of his favorite musicians. He has quite a portfolio. Rob liked his work enough to let him and another person into the Tulsa show to take some shots. Jeremy asked me to go to Tulsa with him. I call to get a co-worker to cover my shift. Great! shift is covered-parties on!
Tulsa opens with a very nice "Spine of a Dog." A little "Buster," "Again and Again," (last heard in 1999) into "Tambourine" into "Bullet." I got my "Tambourine," again. It is said that moe. was greatly influenced by the songwriting of J.J. Cale when writing "Tambourine." It is also said that J.J. Cale has many roots in Tulsa. Last, but certainly not least was "Kyle's Song." Boy, I sure do love to dance my ass off to "Kyle's Song." It was at this point that I decided to go around to all the light and sound guys and give them the ole' thumbs up on a tight set.
Second set was prime moe.! Chuck came out rocking and said "we're bringing out our A game for this set." I guess that meant, "Prime Grade A Chuck." So they're head bangin' and jammin' right into a lengthy "Mexico" and "Opium." Chuck was making magic I'd never heard before with his pedals and the feedback off his guitar by rubbing it on the amplifier. The rest of the second set went as such, "lyleloveit," "Nebraska," "Understand," "Hi & Lo" and there were all kinds of sweaty highs and lows. Al was doing his funky five things at once - he's a genius. "Moth" finished the second set off with a lot of living.
Encore was "Godzilla." They said "In honor of the Cain's Ball Room and Bob Wills" they would rock out one of their best. That they did! I've heard of a "Godzilla" they did for a kid named Hunter. I wonder which one was bigger?
So I wake up the next morning and my boss, Bobby, from Tables and Ale calls and says "Don't bother coming in tonight-you've been touring too much." I was stunned and said "NO... can I change your mind?" Bobby goes on to say one of the sweetest things. "No, do your touring thing; write about it again, it makes you happy- you'll thank me later." My favorite things about Tables and Ale were the regulars that were like family and being the DJ for the bar all night. I'll miss both dearly. But that was a hell of a show at the Cain's Ball Room, and I'm glad I didn't miss it. So after four years of tending bar- it's over. So I dedicate this article to new beginnings, and as Andy Gadiel, founder of JamBase has stated, "To find a way to do what I love and call it a job." And that's also just one of the reasons why I have a cat named "Fate."
It makes me feel good to know that there are people all over the world having fascinating and extravagant things happening to them through music. This past week was truly extravagant to me. I was able to talk with the people that make the music I listen to. To know that magical musical instances are happening to other people at every show makes me feel good about life. These musicians bust their asses on stage night after night to take the edge off our "Office Space" days and make our lives a little easier and enjoyable. God bless the music makers. Buy them water.
"We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams." -Willy Wonka
Words by: Ginelle Cloar
Images by: Jeremy Scott
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