Call ’em a jam band, a groove band, whatever-moe. mostly plays really long (10- to 20-minute), highly rhythmic jams loaded with lots of lead guitar (by Al Schnier and Chuck Garvey), anchored by an excellent high-energy rhythm section (bassist Rob Dershak, drummer Vinnie Amico, percussionist Jim Loughlin). Their “songs” are usually just jumping-off points for extended improvisations that take the group into some very interesting terrain, ranging from skittering melodic romps influenced by African guitar-pop to harrowing metaloid conflagrations, with plenty in between. Schnier and Garvey keep the noodling purposeful for the most part and their jams always have an interesting arc to them. What they do over the course of the 23-plus minutes of “Timmy Tucker” is positively awe-inspiring. This live double-CD is a fine introduction to one of the more interesting groups out there right now, and sonically, it’s a masterpiece. For adventurous ears.
Producers: John Siket and moe. Engineers: Bill Emmons, Andy Tori (two tracks) and John Siket (mixing). Recordings facilitated by Big Mo Recordings, Boulder Theatre Recordings, House of Blues L.A. Studio on Wheels, Bob Skye Mobile Recordings. Mastering: Fred Kevorkian/Absolute Audio (NYC).
