Revisiting moe.’s All-Star 2005 Tsunami Relief Benefit Concert At NYC’s Roseland Ballroom

Thirteen years ago yesterday, moe. hosted a charity concert at New York City’s now-defunct Roseland Ballroom to benefit Tsunami survivors. The Buffalo-based band invited a number of high-profile guests from the jamband world to join them on the bill, which included keyboardist John Medeski, mandolin extraordinaire Sam Bush and most notably Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio – who sat in with the band for first set closer and the entirety of the night’s second frame.

With moe. making their triumphant return to the stage last weekend and Anastasio kicking off his first extended solo tour a few days ago it seemed like a great time to revisit the now ‘instant classic’ night from back in 2005.

This edition of Sunday Cinema we return to that night with a number of fan-shot videos from the days before the invention of smartphones.

The evening’s festivities got underway with moe. taking the stage sans guests opening things up with a 17-plus minute take on “Rebubula,” The band would invite their first guests of the night out next with Medeski and Bush emerging for “Mexico.” This night’s version saw Bush lay down some impressive fiddle work throughout. Medeski would have his time to shine next on “Plane Crash” and the blues classic “I’ve Got My Mojo Working.” Bush delivered a solo take on Little Feat’s “Sailin’ Shoes” with moe. backing him on his own “Same Old River,” The set-closing turn on Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads” saw Anastasio make his highly anticipated appearance, as he traded verses with Bush and laid down his first guitar solos of the night.

It was the second set where things got really interesting as Trey emerged with TAB bandmates Jennifer Hartswick and Ray Paczkowski as they teamed up with moe. on a must-hear version on Big Red’s “Night Speaks To Woman.” Standout takes on moe. fan-favorites “Spine Of A Dog” > “Buster” followed with Hartwick returning for Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie On Reggae Woman.” Later in the set, Anastasio performed a pair of songs solo acoustic offering up “Wilson” and “Chalk Dust Torture.” Medeski and Bush would return to close out the frame with a half-hour-plus version of “meat.” with the show coming to an end with a two-song encore of Frank Zappa’s “Peach En Regalia” and J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight.”

Watch fan-shot footage of a portion of the night’s second set captured by Bohfunk, along with full-show audio below:

[Night Speaks To A Woman Pt 1]

[Night Speaks To A Woman Pt 2]

[Spine Of A Dog w. Trey Anastasio]

[Buster w. Trey Anastasio]

[Boogie On Reggae Woman w. Trey Anastasio]

[Wilson (Trey Anastasio Solo)]

[Chalk Dust Torture (Trey Anastasio Solo)]

Audio | Taped by ericv

Setlist

Set I: Rebubula, Mexico *, Plane Crash ^, Got My Mojo Workin’ ^, Sailing Shoes **, Same Old River ^^, Crossroads #

Set II: Night Speaks to a Woman $%, Spine of the Dog $ > Buster $, Boogie On Reggae Woman $% > drums, Chalkdust Torture $$, Wilson $$, meat. *$

Encore: Peaches En Regalia > *$ After Midnight *$%

* with John Medeski on keys, Sam Bush on Violin, ^ with John Medeski on keys, ** Sam Bush solo, ^^ with Sam Bush on mandolin, # with Sam Bush on mandolin, Trey Anastasio on guitar, $ with Trey Anastasio on guitar, $$ Trey Anastasio solo acoustic, % with Jennifer Hartswick and Ray Paczowski keyboard most of SET II