moe., treasured jamband and local heroes, returned to their guitarist Al Schnier’s hometown of Utica, N.Y., for an exhilarating weekend of music. The two-night run at Saranac Brewery saw moe. deliver exceptional performances with a little help from their friends Tim Palmieri on June 9 and Shannon Lynch on June 10.

The first night kicked off with a burst of energy as moe. took the stage, ready to rock Utica with fan favorites and surprises. Opening with “Crab Eyes,” they set the tone for an incredible evening before launching into “Happy Hour Hero,” which seamlessly flowed into “Not Coming Down” and a captivating cover of Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home.” The band then treated the audience to a mesmerizing journey through “Wormwood,” “Deep This Time,” and “Downward Facing Dog.” The set concluded with the infectious grooves of “Haze.”

For the second set, moe. continued to dazzle the crowd with their musical prowess. They kicked off with an epic rendition of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Jessica,” showcasing their technical and improvisational skills. The momentum carried into “Silver Sun” and “LL3,” before they were joined by a special guest, Tim Palmieri of Lotus and Blue Star Radiation–the latter of which includes moe.’s Vinnie Amico and Rob Derhak–for a mesmerizing performance of “Puebla.” The band then delved into the enchanting combination of “Tubing the River Styx,” “Billy Goat,” and “Tailspin.” The encore featured the energetic “Farmer Ben” and the crowd-pleasing “Okayalright,” leaving the audience on a high note.

The second night of the hometown shows for Schnier was filled with even more surprises and musical brilliance. They opened the first set with “Skitchin’ Buffalo,” setting a lively and vibrant atmosphere right from the start. The energy continued with “Bearsong” and “White Lightning Turpentine” before they flowed into the crowd-favorite “Big World” and then seamlessly transitioned into “Ricky Marten.” The set took an exciting turn when old friend Shannon Lynch of Conehead Buddha joined them on stage, adding soulful saxophone to a captivating rendition of “The Road.”

As the second set began, moe. kept the energy flowing with the upbeat and funky “Prestige Worldwide.” They then unleashed an impressive display of musicianship with “Jazz Wank” leading into “Spaz Medicine.” The crowd was thrilled as the band moved through “Opium,” “She,” and “Don’t Wanna Be” before diving into the epic “Brent Black.” The encore brought the night to a close with a soulful and heartfelt cover of Eric Clapton’s “Let It Rain.”

Both nights of moe.’s Utica shows were a testament to their enduring musical talent and the unwavering support of their hometown crowd. With special guest appearances from Palmieri and Lynch, the band elevated the experience to new heights while highlighting their seemingly effortless ability to make a sense of community flourish where ever they play.

moe. will perform next at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, N.M., on June 15.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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moe.
Saranac Brewery–Utica, N.Y.
June 9, 2023

Set I: Crab Eyes, Happy Hour Hero, Not Coming Down > Can’t Find My Way Home (Blind Faith cover) > Wormwood > Deep This Time > Downward Facing Dog, Haze

Set II: Jessica (The Allman Brothers Band cover), Silver Sun > LL3 > Puebla (with Tim Palmieri), Tubing the River Styx > Billy Goat > Tailspin

Enc.: Farmer Ben, Okayalright

moe.
Saranac Brewery–Utica, N.Y.
June 10, 2023

Set I: Skitchin’ Buffalo, Bearsong, White Lightning Turpentine, Big World > Ricky Marten > Water, The Road (with Shannon Lynch on saxophone)

Set II: Prestige Worldwide, Jazz Wank > Spaz Medicine, Opium > She > Don’t Wanna Be > Brent Black

Enc.: Let It Rain (Eric Clapton cover)