Photo: Paul Citone

Late last week, moe. took its Spring Tour to the Portland House of Music in Portland, Maine. During the two-night run, on April 17 and 18, the Empire State-natives used their stage time to dust off specific numbers, including rarities. In addition to the group’s special choice in material, they also made the final night a family affair by inviting Rob Derhak’s daughter, Emma, up to add back vocals during Friday’s first set delivery of “Yellow Tigers.”

On Thursday, April 17, the ensemble performed an entirely acoustic concert, offering stripped-down versions of select songs from their independent repertoire and beyond. The concert began with “Not Coming Down,” which seamlessly transitioned into “Wormwood” and “Okayalright” without pause. moe.’s ensuing move stole the initial half of the concert by offering the Al Shnier-penned “Me and Pat and Bill and You,” for the first time since June 23, 2001. 

From the depths of their archive, they pulled in a debut next, Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan” before another deep cut and subsequent bust out of “Day Dream,” last performed on April 8, 2011, before arriving during last week’s gig. They continued with live staples, which ran into the evening’s set break. 

Thursday’s second half was a relatively standard affair to start, as the band revisited frequent plays before the arrival of “Smoke,” last played on Oct. 30, 2021. Before ending the live performance, the group added a debut to their encore, their first ever take on Pink Floyd’s ponderous “Mother,” and ultimately the Chuck Garvey-written “Shoot First.”

Night two in Portland, Maine, consisted of standards, apart from the concert’s guest slot, which vocalist Emma Derhak filled during the Ghost of Jupiter original, turned Circle of Giants feature, “Yellow Tigers.” 
The band continued its tour on Saturday night, at The Fynn in Burlington, Vt., and will continue its live commitments on April 29 during the Daze by Night event at the Toulouse Theatre in New Orleans. The concert will feature members of moe. and Umphrey’s McGee. Buy tickets.

moe.

Portland House of Music – Portland, Maine 

April 17, 2025

Set I: Not Coming Down > Wormwood > Okayalright, Me and Pat and Bill and You, Planet Caravan, Day Dreaming, Band In The Sky, Lazarus

Set II: Deep This Time > Tambourine, Tomorrow is Another Day, Going To California, Chromatic Nightmare, Smoke, Calyphornya, Moth+ > Turn On Your Lovelight > Moth

Enc.: Mother, Shoot First

Notes 

Acoustic concert 

+ Jam, no lyrics 

moe.

Portland House of Music – Portland, Maine 

April 18, 2025

Set I: Blue Jeans Pizza > ATL > Yellow Tigers#, Ups And Downs, Hi and Lo > Big World > Ricky Marten > Tailspin

Set II: Rebubula > Can’t Find My Way Home > Haze, Puebla > In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed > Skrunk > Rebubula

Enc.: In Stride, Locomotive Breath

Notes: 

# with Emma Derhak on backing vocals

Setlists via www.phantasytour.com.