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Words by: Brian Heisler :: Images by Tobin Voggesser
moe. :: 01.25.07 :: Fox Theatre :: Boulder, CO
moe. :: 01.25 :: Colorado |
A new album, a new tour, might as well begin the year in the Rocky Mountains. Easing into 2007, moe. played three nights in Colorado at The Fox, The Gothic, and The Fillmore. The Fox, a big name but a small venue, always brings back artists that have outgrown it. The show was (not surprisingly) instantly sold out and every inch of the hall was occupied.
The night was a good mix of new tunes and old favorites. "Y.O.Y." into "George" began the night, but it was "Stranger Than Fiction" that got the crowd singing and moving. Sound doesn't get much better than the Fox, with bass bouncing off the walls and speakers right in your face, there are few places that compare. The stage was extended for moe., peeling the curtains away and giving the band a little extra room to work.
Rob Derhak :: 01.25 :: Colorado |
With the momentum of their new album, The Conch, and the excitement of that first show of a big tour, moe. was pushing hard, playing like they had circled this date on the calendar months before. "It's good to be back, especially here at the Fox Theatre," bassist Rob Derhak said. Guitarist and vocalist Al Schnier added, "This place has a special smell to it." "Kyle's Song" incorporated crowd clapping, and an extended jam brought on more dancing by the very sweaty crowd. A segue into "The Road" would do it for the first set and the audience filtered out to 13th St. to cool off in the winter air.
"This is the second phase of the moe.-volution," said guitarist/vocalist Chuck Garvey at the start of the second set, which turned out to be one long jam without a single break between songs. "This is the first night of Steve Young being back," referencing their longtime front-of-house soundman who recently returned after time away this past year. "Moth" exploded into a frenzy. During the bridge in "Moth" the band stopped while Al sang the children's song "Itsy Bitsy Spider." With Rob moving to upright electric bass, Al to acoustic guitar and eventually to keys and synth, moe. segued into "Shoot First." "Recreational Chemistry" segued into "Blue Jeans Pizza" which had the best jam of the night with Chuck ripping guitar and percussionist Jim Loughlin adding an extra bass to the mix.
Al Schnier :: 01.25 |
The encore opened with an abbreviated version of Little Feat's "Willin'," its first appearance at a moe. show since May, 1999. A surprising "Kids" closer included excellent mallet work by Jim. Despite the dehydration and exhaustion of the crowd, it was left wanting more. Fortunately two more nights in Colorado were to follow.
1.25.07 | Fox Theatre | Boulder, CO
Set 1: Y.O.Y. > George, Stranger Than Fiction, Crab Eyes, Kyle's Song > The Road
Set 2: Moth > Shoot First* > The Pit** > Recreational Chemistry > Blue Jeans Pizza > Recreational Chemistry
E: Willin'#, Kids
Last "Willin'" 5/22/99. * Rob on upright electric bass. Al on acoustic guitar. With "Gil's Theme". ** Unfinished. # One verse only
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