WEBVTT 00:00:23.820 --> 00:00:27.079 Welcome back to Shecky's Jam Bands, where we 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:29.579 shine the spotlight on the bands that make every 00:00:29.579 --> 00:00:32.619 night feel like a new adventure. Today we're 00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:34.939 talking about one of the most enduring and beloved 00:00:34.939 --> 00:00:39.240 names in the jam scene, the one and only Moe. 00:00:39.420 --> 00:00:43.320 If fish and dead laid the groundwork, Moe took 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:47.039 it strapped on some distortion pedals and built 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:49.990 a whole new playground. So let's dig into how 00:00:49.990 --> 00:00:53.070 they came to be, their signature sound, and of 00:00:53.070 --> 00:00:56.869 course, some of the most unforgettable jams. 00:00:57.270 --> 00:01:00.350 Moen got its start back in 1989 at the University 00:01:00.350 --> 00:01:03.549 of Buffalo in upstate New York. The founding 00:01:03.549 --> 00:01:08.849 lineup included Rob Durick on bass, Chuck Garvey 00:01:08.849 --> 00:01:13.290 and Al Schneier on guitars, and Vinnie Amico 00:01:13.290 --> 00:01:17.799 on drums, who joined a few years later to solidify 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:21.640 the classic lineup. Now, the name. Believe it 00:01:21.640 --> 00:01:24.379 or not, there's no deep mystical story here. 00:01:24.819 --> 00:01:27.420 Originally, the band was called Five Guys Named 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:31.680 Moe, after a Lewis Jordan song. But eventually, 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:35.079 they shortened it to Moe, with a period at the 00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:38.120 end. That period has become a part of their brand. 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:43.560 And morons, their fans, call themselves, wouldn't 00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:46.930 have it any other way. What sets Moe apart from 00:01:46.930 --> 00:01:49.569 the other jam bands is their blend of progressive 00:01:49.569 --> 00:01:53.689 rock, funk, and quirky humor. They can take you 00:01:53.689 --> 00:01:56.969 from zappa -like weirdness into blistering guitar 00:01:56.969 --> 00:02:01.109 duels, and then mellow it all out with beautiful 00:02:01.109 --> 00:02:04.709 ballads. While bands like Phish lean heavily 00:02:04.709 --> 00:02:09.150 into playful improvisation, Moe often feels heavier, 00:02:09.770 --> 00:02:13.069 edgier, and more guitar driven. which is why 00:02:13.069 --> 00:02:16.990 fans lovingly call them the jam band for rockers. 00:02:17.689 --> 00:02:20.669 If you're new to Moe, here are a few must -listen's 00:02:20.669 --> 00:02:24.889 to start your journey. Rebubbala, their magnum 00:02:24.889 --> 00:02:28.710 opus, a prog rock masterpiece with multiple movements, 00:02:28.830 --> 00:02:33.150 this track is a showcase of songwriting and improvisation. 00:02:33.650 --> 00:02:36.689 It's one of their most requested songs and a 00:02:36.689 --> 00:02:40.629 guaranteed mind bender live. Spine of a Dog is 00:02:40.629 --> 00:02:43.210 another song you should check out. An early classic 00:02:43.210 --> 00:02:46.389 that's both funky and strange, with plenty of 00:02:46.389 --> 00:02:50.889 room for improvisation. Okay, alright. A fan 00:02:50.889 --> 00:02:53.909 sing -along that's catchy, light -hearted, and 00:02:53.909 --> 00:02:57.729 pure mo -fun. Plane Crash, which is rocking, 00:02:57.930 --> 00:03:01.870 high -energy, and often a show highlight. And 00:03:01.870 --> 00:03:05.650 lastly, the song Mexico, an absolute jam vehicle. 00:03:06.229 --> 00:03:09.750 They can stretch this one past 20 minutes, filled 00:03:09.750 --> 00:03:12.930 with build -ups, breakdowns, and some jaw -dropping 00:03:12.930 --> 00:03:17.189 peaks. These songs show you both sides of Moe, 00:03:17.370 --> 00:03:20.729 the structured progressive side and the improvisational 00:03:20.729 --> 00:03:24.090 jam side. Now let's break down some of Moe's 00:03:24.090 --> 00:03:28.150 most unforgettable jams, the ones that keep fans, 00:03:28.530 --> 00:03:31.509 the morons, chasing shows night after night. 00:03:32.129 --> 00:03:35.849 Rebubble -ah! This is the quintessential Moe 00:03:35.849 --> 00:03:39.460 journey. It starts mellow, builds tension, shifts 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:42.020 into improvisation and often stretch into 20 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:45.580 plus minutes. It's not just a song, it's an emotional 00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:48.639 arc that feels like it tells a story every time 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:51.860 they play it. Mexico, another live jam you should 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:54.800 check out, one of the most reliable jam platforms. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:59.159 Mexico has a groove that's both chill and expansive 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:01.819 and gives the band space to take it anywhere. 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:06.169 Some versions veer into spacey exploration, Others 00:04:06.169 --> 00:04:09.110 turn into raucous guitar shredding dance parties. 00:04:09.990 --> 00:04:11.849 Another one you should check out, another one 00:04:11.849 --> 00:04:15.550 of their jams would be Meat. Another fan favorite 00:04:15.550 --> 00:04:18.670 jam vehicle often broken up across multiple sets 00:04:18.670 --> 00:04:23.569 or woven into other songs. It's funky, meaty, 00:04:23.769 --> 00:04:28.230 pun intended, and always unpredictable. Last 00:04:28.230 --> 00:04:30.350 jam you should check out is called Brent Black. 00:04:30.829 --> 00:04:33.970 This one turns into a monster live. It usually 00:04:33.970 --> 00:04:39.040 features Extended solos, bass bombs, and tons 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:43.360 of interplay between Garvey and Schneier. A true 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:46.759 face melter. What makes Moe's Jams unforgettable 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:49.680 is their risk taking. They're not afraid to lean 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:53.399 into chaos, get weird, and take a song anywhere 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:56.980 completely unexpected. That's why hardcore fans 00:04:56.980 --> 00:05:00.939 compare their shows to a high wire act. You never 00:05:00.939 --> 00:05:04.339 know what's coming, but you know it'll be worth 00:05:04.339 --> 00:05:08.800 the ride. Some cool Mo facts for you. Mo has 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:11.740 hosted their own festivals like MoDown in upstate 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:15.339 New York, which became a staple of the jam band 00:05:15.339 --> 00:05:19.319 calendar. Their fans, Molrons, are one of the 00:05:19.319 --> 00:05:22.579 most passionate fanbases in the world. They've 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:24.660 been around for 30 years, making them one of 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:28.160 the longest running active jam bands still touring 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:32.329 regularly. Guitarist Al Schneier and Chuck Garvey 00:05:32.329 --> 00:05:36.029 on one of the most underrated duos in rock. Their 00:05:36.029 --> 00:05:40.949 guitar interplay is telepathic. In true jam fashion, 00:05:41.250 --> 00:05:45.069 Moe has a huge live archive available online. 00:05:45.470 --> 00:05:48.230 So if you want to dive in, there's decades of 00:05:48.230 --> 00:05:52.029 shows to explore. So whether you're a long time 00:05:52.029 --> 00:05:56.389 moron or brand new to the band, Moe offers the 00:05:56.389 --> 00:06:00.149 full jam band experience, progressive compositions, 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:03.899 wild improvisation, a fan community that loves 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:08.519 to party. Start with Rebubala, dive into live 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:11.620 Mexico, and before you know it, you'll be plotting 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:15.480 your summer tour following the band around. That's 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:18.139 all for today's episode of Shecky's Jam Bands. 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:21.319 Thanks for hanging with me. Until next time, 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:24.399 keep on jamming, and remember, the period in 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:26.259 Moe is not optional.