NIGHT 1

Certain venues evoke a mystique and intrigue with the very mention of the name, Mishawaka, State Bridge, Red Rocks, Town Park Stage, and Pine Creek Lodge to name just a handful. These intimate and often majestic venues find homes surrounded by mountain peaks and river valleys. In the case of Pine Creek Lodge the actual creek itself flows through the venue. I had heard whispers in the wind about PCL for years now and with a small window for a family vacation we pulled the trigger on two nights of moe. We made our way north through The Grand Tetons National Park and onto Yellowstone. We spent a little time in Big Sky and Bozeman before landing in Livingston for the shenanigans. One of the more incredible aspects of Pine Creek is that they have onsite camping and converted storage containers complete with decks that you can reserve on show nights. So when the band leaves, you stay. We found our way to Bunkhouse #5 and got ready for night one.

The venue itself is a modest stage on the same level as the fanbase. A small rise to the soundboard and the space is complete with a small cafe and several bars to serve thirsty fans. The creek runs from behind the stage and there is car camping adjacent to the venue. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Doors opened around 6 PM and fans skittered in towards the stage. A pair of gentlemen were wearing “Let Vinnie Sing” shirts, indicating their seemingly unlikely request. Just after 7 PM the band took the stage with a warm greeting from the audience. The opening notes of “Stranger Than Fiction” wafted out of the speakers prompting everyone to put on their boogie shoes. “All Roads Lead to Home” was an appropriate song selection given that this is their 4th Annual sojourn to Pine Creek. It has a down to earth vibe whether it’s your first or fiftieth time on the grounds.

As the sun dipped behind the horizon temps dropped quickly. moe. like many of the older jambands has been focusing on new material and ‘keeping it fresh.’ They have a slew of fresh songs that are finding spots in sets across the country. “Skitchin’ Buffalo” off their recent album This Is Not, We Are, is Rob’s homage to his youth in upstate New York.  Their Pink Floydesque “Silver Sun” has become a huge vehicle for the jam and this night in Montana was no different. “Three Eyed Serpent” another new tune was the perfect launching pad for a ridiculous set closing “Recreational Chemistry.”

No moe. fan should ever be upset to spot a flying pig on the horizon, for me personally this second set was the absolute bee’s knees. A chunky “Buster” kicked it off before “Kyle’s Song” stole the spotlight. Jim got to slap the mallets on a sexy “Ricky Marten” before the whole thing clicked during “Billy Goat.” Nate continues to be a innovator in the band incorporating not only his original material but his musical taste in the form of various covers. Traffic has become a mainstay in the last couple years and this time around it was a spot on rendition of “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys.” “The Road” was another high point before they put a button on it with “The Pit.”

It would appear that at long last they would in fact ‘Let Vinnie Sing.’ Our clandestine drummer took over mic duties on a bouncy version of The Grateful Dead’s “Casey Jones.” This was a perfect end to night one and this time the weather actually cooperated. That would not be the case on night two.

moe. Pine Creek Lodge – June 26th, 2026 

SET I:  Stranger Than Fiction, All Roads Lead to Home, Skitchin’ Buffalo, Silver Sun, Three Eyed Serpent> Recreational Chemistry

SET II: Buster, Kyle’s Song> Ricky Marten> Billy Goats, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, The Road> The Pit

E: Casey Jones

AUDIO RECORDING by Jesse D. Scott – https://archive.org/details/moe2026-06-26.FOB.neumann.140.MBHO.300/02+All+Roads+Lead+to+Home.flac 

NIGHT 2

We slept onsite and woke up to sounds of birds chirping in the cool Montana mountains. We spent the day driving up to the Yellowstone Hot Springs then continued on to the Mammoth Hot Springs for a short hike around the calcium carbonate. We made it back to Pine Creek with plenty of time to catch opening act, Roadrunner. They are a Jerry Garcia Band cover act from Bozeman that had their own local following. It was a great delivery with demonstration of why the music of Jerry Garcia’s solo performances have their own distinct feel and vibe that is completely separate and different from that of the Good Ol’ Grateful Dead. I miss you Jer Bear. It was a nice start to the Saturday but weather came in early and stayed late. Waves of rain that ranged from a drizzle to big fat drops came in sporadically throughout most of the show. They treated us to a few standards like “Cats Under the Stars” and a stellar version of The Miracles’ “Second That Emotion” before inviting up Al Schnier to sit in. Al lent his talents to a searing “Ain’t No Bread in the Breadbox” and a set wrapping “Midnight Moonlight.”

There was a large bubble machine attached to the Cabin # 4 that would occasionally disperse a wall of soapy fun, the rain made that sort DIY effects a bit more challenging but the Bubble Operator persisted. moe. picked up exactly where they left off the prior evening. “In Stride” off the 2025 release Circles of Giants is quickly becoming a tight little jam vehicle / crowd pleaser. “Same Old Story” was another quick rip before the boys dug in deeper with a spicy “McBain.”  They kept ducking and moving with a quick and effect “Yellow Tigers” which moved cleanly into “New Hope For a New World.” “Puebla” was a rocking little jaunt that worked as the starting point for a musical journey through the Allman Brothers’ “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed.”

They took a short set break and got right back to work with a massive “Brent Black” sandwich with the explosive percussion banger “Mar De Ma” acting as the ample meat. “Time Ed” was a highlight but this show was pretty much fire the entire way through. Nate again gave us a classic rendition of Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home.” “Jazz Wank” was the bridge to a mesmerizing set closing “Rebubula.” The band came back for a quick but effective version of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.”

moe. continues to reestablish themselves as a dominant force on today’s jamband scene. Every time they take a hit either physically or spiritually this band comes back stronger and tighter than before. The addition of Nate continues to drive creativity and innovation in their set lists but moreover moe. Is in it for the long haul. It’s been fun to watch their evolution continue over the last quarter century. They are the elders and torchbearers of jam and they are showing no signs of slowing down.

Roadrunner – Pine Creek Lodge – June 27th, 2026 

SET I: Cats Under the Stars, Second that Emotion, That’s What Love, Sitting Here in Limbo, Valerie, Ain’t No Bread in the Breadbox*, Midnight Moonlight*

*w/ Al Schnier

moe. Pine Creek Lodge – June 27th, 2026 

SET I: In Stride, Same Old Story, McBain> Yellow Tigers> New Hope For a New World> Puebla> In Memory of Elizabeth Reed

SET II: Brent Black> Mar De Mar> Brent Black> Time Ed, Can’t Find My Way Home> Jazz Wank> Rebubula

ENCORE: Immigrant Song

AUDIO RECORDING by Jesse D. Scott- https://archive.org/details/moe2026-06-27.FOB.neumann.140.MBHO.300/01+In+Stride.flac