Two Nights of Moe in Portland, Maine

Two nights and two terrific shows; I had driven a long way from Boston to Portland to cover the two nights of Moe’s performance in Portland. The first show was at Portland House of Music and Events on April 17, 2025. It was a sold-out acoustic night. The second show was at the State Theatre, on April 18.

Many thousands of fans came together to celebrate the two nights of music. It wasn’t only those who live in the area who were present. The audience was composed of music lovers traveling all around New England. Moe is a jam band and to bring that to acoustical rock is hard, but they did it. They were amazing. The music just flowed beautifully, and the enthusiastic crowd just loved it. The band was exceptional and uncommon.

The first night was unquestionably the revival of acoustic songs. Moe played a stripped-down version of a series of songs focusing on the core melody and lyrics. Guitars, pianos…any of those instruments weren’t plugged into amplifiers or other electronic equipment.

The second night was more about rock music. The popular genre originated in the U.S. in the 1950s and was spread globally by the 1990s. It’s characterized by a strong beat and diverse subgenres, including blues rock, hard rock, and alternative rock.

In Maine, during the second night of the live show, Moe had performed in all the three subgenres. The band has been mixing up a heady blend of classic rock influences with modern sensibilities and adventurous psychedelic improvisation, which had made the audience crazy. The followers were all there at the State Theatre on April 18, 2025.

The ambiance was just amazing, and this show was one of their best. People were dressed up in crazy costumes and they were dancing, singing, laughing. The music and the perfect sound permeated every inch of the venue to the delight of all. The band's sound was electric and their connection to the audience was strong. They are such a tight band who have been playing together for years. Each musician had contributed on his way to this incredible group.

In Portland, Moe played with high energy and passion. Rob Derhak (guitarist/vocalist), Al Schnier (guitarist, vocalist), Chuck Garvey (guitarist/vocalist), Vinnie Amico (drummer), Jim Longhlin (percussionist, vibraphonist), and Nate Wilson (keyboardist), were terrific on stage. Warmly applauded during the two nights of music, Moe’s members in Portland had left a lasting impact that had made the public rethink the limits of musical expression.