moe.’s Al Schnier & Cabinet Trio’s CAB 3 Unite At Bears Picnic

The Bears Picnic Festival on Friday included a special team-up between the Cabinet Trio's CAB 3 and moe. guitarist Al Schnier. The set at the 20th annual event in Blain, Pennsylvania saw the quartet cycling through Cabinet tunes, along with some choice covers, including two reggae classics.

CAB 3 is a slimmed-down version of the currently on hiatus Pennsylvania-bred Americana group featuring multi-instrumentalist Pappy Biondo, bassist Dylan Skursky and drummer Brian “Nugget” Gorby. Al Schnier, who was on hand to perform with headliners moe., joined the trio for the full set. The quartet kicked things off with a 12-minute rendition of live favorite “My Gal,” led by Biondo.

CAB 3 then turned to Cabinet’s 2022 LP The Sugarhouse Sessions with “Cards” and “Molotov Cocktail Blues.” Schnier and the trio then went “Stealin'” on a version of the blues oldie which has become a string band favorite as well.

“Sunset In Stone” and “Old Farmer’s Mill” came next, the latter appearing on Cabinet’s 2012 self-titled debut studio album. A version of Toots and the Maytals “54-46 Was My Number” with Biondo on lead vocals followed. Toots passed away in 2020 and Cabinet along with Keller Williams honored the reggae pioneer with a rendition of the early reggae tune during an outdoor, pandemic-era drive-in concert in Pennsylvania.

Toots and the Maytals contributed to the soundtrack for the 1972 film The Harder They Come, starring reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, who also wrote the movie’s title track. CAB 3 and Schnier delivered the Cliff classic at Bears Picnic with the moe. guitarist leading the way. “The Harder They Come” was also a favorite of Jerry Garcia, whose birthday was on Friday. The four musicians sealed the set with Cabinet’s “Silver Sun.”

Find full-set video of the CAB 3 and Al Schnier collab below:

Setlist (via Archive.org)

Set: My Gal, Cards, Molotov Cocktail Blues, Stealin’, Sunset in Stone, Old Farmer’s Mill, 54-46 Was My Number, Hey Baby, The Harder They Come, Silver Sun