moe.

Ah, the annual moe. Texas run. It’s always one of the best musical weekends of the year, and it usually hits its apex at Dallas’ famed Lakewood Theater – a favorite venue of band members and moe.rons alike. This year was no different: Dallas got the best show of the run. After seeing a Houston show that was fantastic in terms of playing but disappointing in terms of song selection, I was confident that Friday’s show would combine the incredible musicianship of the night before with a much better setlist and the fact it was Rob’s birthday to form a night of epic proportions. I was not disappointed. Check out my review and video alongside Hash Browns’ pics after the jump.

One of my favorite jambands at one of my favorite local venues. House Of Blues layed host to New York quintet moe. for a Thursday night two-set performance. I walked in the dark venue to a meager crowd of about 50 or so. It was kind of early, but not nearly early enough to warrant such a small group of people at a moe. show. They came on pretty soon after I arrived, and thankfully a big chunk of people arrived who filled out the floor during the "Tailspin" opener. The show was great, and featured several of my favorites including "Happy Hour Hero," "32 Things," "Head" and a nasty rendition of "Brent Black" at the request of an some wook who'd been holding up a sign from the beginning of the show. They played for a good two-and-a-half hours, not including a thirty minute break, and each second of their playing was fire. Of all the times that I've seen moe., this might have been the most solid showing from the group. After seeing jam counterparts Umphrey's McGee on the same stage a few months back, who didn't seem too happy to be playing in front of a Houston crowd, watching moe. made me realize that they aren't just up there going through the motions – after twenty years as a band, they still visibly enjoy every minute of playing together. I'm glad I hit this moe. show up, because my love and following of jambands has diminished over the past year or so, and this only helped to reestablish the need for jam and improvisational music in my life.

I'm not sure what so many people's problems with jambands are. It might be their lack of attention span, or just pure distaste for anything that will make you dance, but for some reason tons of people have so much hate for improvisational music and the groups that are best at it. If more people would give bands like moe. a chance in the live format, I think they'd walk away surprised and satisfied. Come on hipsters, open up your ears and form your own opinions!

As always, I had my camera in tow – you can browse my shots after the jump.

moe. at the House Of Blues.
Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm.
Tickets are $20.

Houston's Meridian played host to veteran jamband moe. and tour support Tea Leaf Green on Sunday, March 30. It had been since last year's SxSW that we had a chance to see moe., so Cereal and I were truly looking forward to the event. Add to that the fact that San Francisco's Tea Leaf Green have made a huge name for themselves in the jamband scene, and I had yet to see them, and it's easy to see why the Meridian was the place for us to be that night.

Check out some more words and a whole lot of great pictures

Upcoming shows in the Houston area:

Thu Mar 27

Common at Hush Night Club
Show starts at 11; Tickets are $30(general)/$60(VIP).

Fri Mar 28

Les Claypool and Tim Fite at Warehouse Live
Show starts at 9; Tickets are $23.

D.R.U.M. and Zwee at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
Show starts at 10; Tickets are between $5 and $10.

One Tribe Nation at the Meridian
Show starts at 8; Tickets are $15 advance/$25 day of show.

Southern Culture On The Skids and Country Fried at the Continental Club
Show starts at 9; Tickets are $15.

The Western Civilization at Walter's On Washington
Show starts at 9; Tickets are $7 over 21/$10 under 21.

Find out what's going on the rest of the weekend