moe. Performs ‘Four’ For 1st Time With Chuck Garvey After His Stroke In 2021

moe. guitarist Chuck Garvey had a rare turn on lead vocals at the Borderland Festival near Buffalo on Sunday. Garvey, who had only fronted the band twice previously since suffering a stroke in November 2021, sang “Four” towards the end of the band’s second of two sets to close out the three-day festival.

Chuck Garvey’s two post-stroke instances of singing lead were versions of “Shoot First” at the High Sierra Music Festival back in June and then at The Caverns a few weeks later. “Four” came amid the “Rebubula” set closer on Sunday.

moe. debuted “Four” live on January 25, 1996 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The band included a studio version on their major label debut full-length album, No Doy, later that same year.

The sextet brought the “Rebubula” jam to near silence on Sunday night at Borderland. Garvey then lit into “Four” for the first time since October 16, 2021 at The Town Ballroom in Buffalo. moe. did perform the song once without Chuck on December 11, 2021 at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York.

The Borderland “Four” spanned just over 10 minutes and included a transcendent guitar solo from Chuck Garvey. Keyboardist Nate Wilson added powerful accents on organ and electric piano throughout “Four” on Sunday. moe. picked up where they left off in “Rebubula” following the bust out to end their second set and the 2023 installment of the Borderland Music & Arts Festival.

Other highlights from moe.’s sets at Borderland on Sunday included the opening pairing of “Tubing The River Styx” and “The Pit,” a Wilson-helmed cover of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again,” a well-jammed “Lazarus,” the fitting “Skitchin’ Buffalo” and guitarist Al Schnier shredding through “Mexico.” Additionally, moe. bassist Rob Derhak dedicated “Blonde Hair And Blue Eyes” to his daughter, Emma Derhak, in honor of her birthday.

Listen to official audio of moe.’s sets at Borderland 2023 via nugs.net below:

Setlist (via Phantasy Tour)

Set One: Tubing The River Styx > The Pit > Rise, Blond Hair and Blue Eyes, Gone, Do It Again > George, Lazarus

Set Two: Skitchin’ Buffalo, Mexico > Ups And Downs > Silver Sun, Rebubula > Four [1] > Rebubula

[1] – Chuck on vocals. 1st time played since Chuck’s stroke.