Photo by Paul Citone
moe. guitarist Al Schnier will return to the road with the group on Thursday, January 19 as moe. opens their winter tour with a Jam Cruise Pre-Party at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale, FL. As he explains below, 2017 will be a busy year for the group, with the many more shows, a studio recording and the return of the band’s moe.down festival all in the works (oh yes, and more beer as well).
What will you remember most about 2016?
Election night. Watching the numbers roll in and seeing the impact it made, well into the morning, is something I won’t forget anytime soon.
Which album or albums have you listened to most this past year?
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats. We had the great luck of catching them perform with Pres. Hall at Midnight Preserves last year and I’ve been a huge fan ever since.
What was your favorite show of 2016?
Aside from the show mentioned above, I’d say Pearl Jam at Fenway. It reminded me of everything I love about great concerts – the same way Bruce Springsteen shows do. They have a great way of connecting with and elevating the audience. I think those Pearl Jam guys just might make it.
What emerging artists should we watch out for in 2017?
Aqueous. Who doesn’t love hard working bands from Buffalo?
Any big plans in the works for 2017?
2017 is shaping up to be a great year for moe. We already have a great Winter & Spring Tour lined up (with a few more dates to be announced). Summer Tour dates, including the return of moe.down (!!!!) are also on deck. We plan to write & record this year, and we’ll be making more beer.
Photo by Dean Budnick
Scott Metzger is currently on tour with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. In February the guitarist will spend some time on the road with his instrumental trio WOLF! (here’s a look at WOLF’s recent live at Relix performance). As Metzger indicates, he anticipates there will be plenty of additional projects in the offing for 2017 (Oh yes and really digs Julian Lage).
What will you remember most about 2016?
Sadly, all the great talent/musicians/heroes the world lost. From Prince to Gene Wilder to David Bowie to Muhammad Ali to Merle Haggard to Harper Lee to Leonard Cohen to Sharon Jones to Buckwheat Zydeco and the list goes on. Harsh…
Which album or albums have you listened to most this past year?
Nels Cline Lovers
Martha Argerich Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3
Jim Hall/Tom Harrell These Rooms
Roy Buchanan Buch & the Snake Stretcher’s
Dr John Live from Ultrasound Studios
Archie Shepp ‘The Magic of Ju-Ju’
The Boredoms ‘Vision Creation Newsun’
What was your favorite show of 2016?
That’s easy. My first time seeing Radiohead. Everyone whose musical opinions I really respect have for years told me that Radiohead’s live shows are practically religious experiences so I’d been dying to see them for a long time, but still I wasn’t prepared for what I saw that night at MSG. I have goosebumps just thinking about it. They shattered all of my (very high) expectations to bits. Just after Prince, probably the best arena show I’ve ever seen.
As far as 2016 shows I played, every WOLF! gig was special to me in some way. That’s my baby. All of the Almost Dead acoustic sets stand out. Each one of those we’ve done has felt really great and super satisfying.
My absolute favorite set of 2016, though, I’d have to say it was Andy Hess, Robert Walter, Joe Russo, and myself playing Brooklyn Bowl for Live for Live Music’s ‘Brooklyn Comes Alive’ festival. I thought we did something really special on that one.
What emerging artists should we watch out for in 2017?
Julian Lage. Julian Lage. Oh, and there’s Julian Lage…
Any big plans in the works for 2017?
Almost Dead gigs. WOLF! gigs. Pickup bands with awesome players backing awesome singer gigs. Metzger solo gigs. So to recap – gigs…
