Pat Warner (Warner Vineyard) has built an oasis in the heart of Paw Paw, Michigan, for those with discerning palates and musical interests. The venue is picture-perfect, with a beautiful river flowing through the site. Guests are welcomed by a green space with trees and gardens, wonderful staff who are happy to help, fresh food options, and, of course, beer and wine. What could be better? Add in tonight's lineup: Eggy and moe.
Eggy hit the stage in a new form. The band now numbers three as the bass player takes some personal time. Alex Bailey (drums, vocals), Jake Brownstein (guitar, vocals), and Dani Battat (keys, vocals) came out swinging with “Between You and Me” and “Come Up Slow” before breathing some new life into Chuck Berry’s “Let It Rock.” The crowd is vibing to the reformed Eggy, and the band seems laid back and in the groove.
Jake’s voice is clear as he sings “Broken Bluff,” and the trio brings us incredible harmonies on “Let Me Let Go” and “Smile.” The sun is finally setting, and the temperature starts to drop as the band plays Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels”—just sublime.
A quick break, and the stage is set for moe. The band arrives to a hero’s entrance, with each band member announced like the starting lineup of a sports team. Jim Loughlin leads the charge, with Nate Wilson close behind as fans raise a spirited cheer. Al Schnier and Rob Derhak enter to great cacophony, but when Chuck Garvey enters, the crowd erupts (we all love a winner, and Chuck is a real fighter). Vinnie Amico takes the stage and heads right to the drums; the show begins.
Out of the gate, moe. brings a hot take on “Plane Crash” that gets the crowd pumped up, then off to the spacey “Living Again.” The heat and good vibes have the crowd swaying and vibing along as the band breaks into “Chromatic Nightmare”—the trippy, spooky interlude gives the fans a rest.
Next up, we are treated to the classic “All Roads.” The band still has the magic harmonies and, of course, the singing guitar work of Chuck Garvey. Nate Wilson gets to show his immense capabilities on “A Band in the Sky.” The keys and guitar fit together like the gears of a Swiss watch—flawless.
Al Schnier is playing an amazing Gibson double-neck that gives him instant access to both the traditional 6-string sound as well as the chorused sound of the 12-string up top. This otherworldly sound is what drives “Fearless.” The set closes with another hot take on a moe. standard, “New York City.” The catchy, triplet-driven tune gets everyone up cheering and dancing. This is what we all look forward to—the ‘moe effect’—leaving fans happy and smiling ear to ear as the band heads off for a well-deserved set break.
Set two starts off with “Blue Jeans Pizza,” a song so moe. it is instantly recognizable and always well received. This is when you realize just how much Vinnie Amico and Jim Loughlin contribute. Always present but just at the level needed to move the band along, the dynamic duo of drums really shine on this track, building the foundation that lets Chuck fly. “ATL” is a great jam song, releasing all the players to jump in and take the lead. Rob Derhak is always front and center, giving his voice to the band’s greatest tunes, but he is also the all-essential bass player. He lets loose on “Farmer Ben,” giving funkiness to us all. The night is set to close out to “Brent Black,” another funkalicious moe. original—measured in happiness rather than time or space.
The fans are going nowhere until moe. comes back with an encore, and the band brings a great one: “Light Up.” It has been another great show by one of the best live bands touring today. Get out to see them this summer, as they are just starting out and have many dates left. You will be happy from head to moe.
