Adventures on moe.tour
It was a long journey, but I survived my first moe.tour. I've never gone on tour or followed around a band before and this was a blast. My adventure began at the same dropping off point where I started my trip across Canada, the Croton Harmon Train Station. The train ride up to Buffalo was beautiful! I wanted to continue reading The Lord of the Rings:The Two Towers, but since the weather and the scenery were so goregous I just listened to my Ipod and looked out the window the whole time.
The beginning of the ride went all along the Hudson River up to Albany. Then went west along the Mohawk River and through lots of forest. My favorite part about taking trains i that they go through areas that most humans set foot in or see. Most of the towns we passed through were in the Boondocks, but I'm a New Yorker so everything is the Boonies to me. By the time we were approaching Buffalo it was pitch black dark and there were no lights around either. That was when I truely realized I was in the middle of nowhere.
My friend Niels, who is a fellow yellow team member from Camp Bisco Color Wars , picked me up from the train station and we headed over to my Canadian friends’ hotel to pregame. We drank some beers and Jason played his guitar, then they let me play then we eventually headed to the Town Ballroom.
We found a great spot in the crowd on Chuck side and had enough space to dance too! I also ran into 2 boys that I had previously made out with, it was weird but fun. The show opened with “She Sends Me” a fun little ditty. “32 Things” was a treat. I was also happy to get a “Hi and Lo” as well as getting one of my favorite songs,“The Road”, which sandwiched a new song “Z nought Zed”. They segued right before the peak jam then back into it after ZO2. It was brilliant. The second set opened with a song I had never heard before, “Wicked Awesome” then into another song that has really grown on me, “So Long”. Then they busted out the disco ball for a rippin “George” and encored with “Raise a Glass” the new sing a long song and one of my all time favorites, “Recreational Chemistry”
After the show the Candians (Jason and Jake), Niels and I headed to an after show across the street. It was in someone’s loft and Jimkata was playing. A few of those kids went to Ithaca College, where I went to school. I really enjoyed the show a lot. They have a unique groove. Afterwards we got some latenight chicken finger sandwiches at Jim’s Steakout then we all headed in for the night.
The next morning it was snowing in Buffalo. At 10:30am Niels dropped me off to meet up with the Canadians (Jake, Rob and Pete) because I was getting a ride with them to Philadelphia. Luckily further down the road the snow turned into rain and it was a messy drive. We kept ourselves entertained with random jokes and good tunes.
We arrived in Philly around 7:30, I dropped my stuff off at my friend Lisa’s house then she went off to dinner with friends and The Candians and I went to pregame in their hotel. I met up with Lindsay and Amber at the Electric Factory too. Everyone was telling me horror stories about the security there, but the frisk wasn’t so bad, and they let me bring in Amber’s birthday present without opening (it was a necklace I made). The show opened with my favorite song “Head”! The whole set was really solid and I always love hearing “Spaz Medicine”. Then the set closed with Head. Gotta love the Head Sandwiches!
During the setbreak I met up with my friends Steve and Dan and his girlfriend, Sandy up in the balcony. We rocked out up there and had a great time. The set opened with “Jazz Wank”, another song I don’t think I’ve ever heard before. “Timmy Tucker” was really solid and I was really happy that Amber got her birthday “Buster”! The encore was “Raise a Glass” again, then they played “Faker” which has a really sick jam, I could care less about the lyrics to the song though. After the show I went back with the Canadians to their hotel, then my friend from High School, Erika joined us for a bit. It turns out Lisa and her live in the same neighborhood so we took a cab back together. When I got home I chilled with Lisa, my good friend from Ithaca until 5am, since we hadn’t seen eachother in awhile.
In the morning, Lisa took me to her place of business, a little fancy french cafe in her neighborhood. I was impressed that her rent is so cheap and her neighborhood is so nice! I had a baguette with ham cheese and butter, and a handy dandy vitamin water and some coffee. Then around noon Lindsay came to pick me up to head to Boston.
We started the trip off listening to the “Reality Bites” soundtrack, always a favorite of mine! And I decided that moe. should cover “My Sharona”! Anyway it was a beautiful day for a drive. We also listened to a random mix that I made when I was freshman in college. On the road we also saw Amber’s car, so I mooned them! Gotta love self entertainment.
At around 7:00 we arrived at the hotel, downed some beers then Linsday and I headed to the Beantown Pub in hopes of meeting up with our friend Rachel, but she wasn’t there. We got into the show late (we missed Crab Eyes!) and I found a great spot in the middle of the Orpehum by a main aisle. Whenever a security person would walk by I would just jump back out of the way, and they didn’t mind. By the end of the night I got away with being wherever I wanted around that section! Anyway, I must admit that the Boston show made the Buffalo show look like Amateur night! We came in during “Queen of Everything” a new song, and the jam was rippin. I wasn’t too impressed when I first heard it on the album, but they are really coming through. I was happy they played “Brent Black”. Its always a favorite of mine, and it sandwiched “Bring You Down”,. a song I’ve always wanted to see and the jam was roaring then it segued back into “Brent Black.”
Set Two began with “Skrunk”, a new jam I love, into “Lazarus”. This set was really dark, but was a rock n’ rollin dance party! A bunch of people groaned when they started “Lost Along the Way”, but the jam section in this song always delivers! “Four”>“Yodellittle”>“Rebubula” was probably the highlight of the show for me. Such dark tight extended jams. I was impressed. They encored with “Captain America” which I never would have called, moe. is unpredictable again. So I think! I got to see a bunch of my friends from random places at this show too. I love how small of a world it is.
After the show Amber, Lindsay and I took a cab back to our hotel suite that Lindsay got for free because she works in hotel accounting. There was a hot tub in there too so we had a hot tub party and rocked out.
I managed to pass out by three because after 3 days of being constantly in transit for an average of 7 hours a day, it takes its toll. After we all got dressed we hung out for a bit then headed into downtown Boston for a big lunch. I recommeded Durgin Park since we used to go there when I was a kid. The chowder was delcious! Then I got on the T and headed towards the Chinatown bus to get back to New York City. I was sad this was all over. I had been looking forward to this for so long, and I had such a blast , but I forgot that everything must come to an end.
I arrived in NYC around 8, then caught the 8:48 train back to Pleasantville. I sat and ate nerds and listened to moe. on my ipod longing to be in DC to see moe. again!
What an adventure!! Thanks to everyone who was there along the way.
01/31/08 The Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY
Set I: She Sends Me, Akimbo, Sticks and Stones> 32 Things, Hi and Lo> The Road> Z02> The Road
Set II: Wicked Awesome> So Long, All Roads Lead to Home> George, Big World> Shoot First> Big World
Encore: Raise A Glass, Recreational Chemistry
02/01/08 Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
Set I: Head> Darkness> St. Augustine> Good Trip> Spaz Medicine, The Pit> Head
Set II: Jazz Wank> Timmy Tucker> Can’t Seem To Find, Deep This Time> Gone, September> Buster
Encore: Raise A Glass, Faker> Timmy Tucker
02/02/08 Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA
Set I: Crab Eyes, Queen of Everything, Understand, All Roads Lead to Home> Waiting For The Punchline, Brent Black> Bring You Down> Brent Black
Set II: Skrunk> Lazarus, Lost Along the Way> Brittle End, Four> Yodelittle> Rebubula
Encore: Raise A Glass, Captain America