Moe Is on a Quest to Keep Progressing

When Jim Loughlin, the percussionist for Moe, is asked who most influenced him and his bandmates when they started in the early Nineties, you'd figure he'd point to another hard-touring jam band like the Grateful Dead or Phish. Instead, he gives New Times an utterly unexpected answer over the telephone, citing the punk act Fugazi.

"They were grassroots and did everything for their fans," Loughlin says. "They never charged more than $5 for their shows, and after the first chords, you felt like part of the band."

The band first came together in 1989 at the University of Buffalo as Five Guys Named Moe, but as membership fluctuated, they decided to shorten the name to just Moe. Loughlin joined in 1991, initially as the drummer and now as a versatile member, playing anything from vibraphone to washboard. "I can play seven or eight instruments decently. I have all kinds of stuff laying around my house I play," he says before humbly adding, "I tried to pick up saxophone and violin, but was not too good at those."

On Moe's new record, Circle of Giants, Loughlin says the band constantly tried to continue its quest to move forward musically. "There's so much keys on this record from Hammond to acoustic and electric piano, so soundwise, it's very different. There's a lot more openness. It's more 1970s old-school sounding with a darker frequency range," Loughlin explains.

Circle of Giants is Moe's 14th studio album but the first in five years — and a lot had happened during that gap.

"There was COVID. Chuck Garvey had a stroke. Rob Derhak lost a child. We brought Nate Wilson into the band. We figured it was time to get some new music recorded," he adds.
The band's creative process has been fine-tuned over the decades.

"Generally, someone comes up with an idea for a song that they sketch out themselves. Everyone else learns the vibe of the song and comes up with their own part. Then we come together and try to make it gel. Sometimes, we'll play it live for a while before we get in the studio. We've played together for so long that by the time we get in the studio, we usually get it right after four or five times."

Loughlin says he's proud that Moe has never been content with maintaining the status quo. "We constantly move forward both musically and in terms of gaining popularity. We're always willing to take the next step in progression," he says.

He admits that the constant travel of being in a band can take its toll. "Starting out going to all these new places is great. When you have a family and kids, it can become a grind," he says. "We wouldn't have traveled this much unless we get to play music every day, which makes it all tolerable."

The band's current tour, which started in Southern California, will end on March 15 at the Miami Beach Bandshell, the final date of this leg. Loughlin was happy to share what audiences can expect.

"Live, we incorporate a lot of improvisation. The songs are different every time we play them. Even though the skeletons of the songs are the same, there are some parts that are one hundred percent improv," Loughlin explains.

Though the band's music sounds completely different, Moe thinks the band's work ethic and attitude toward their audience would make Fugazi proud.

"We have a high-energy show — not like a heavy metal band, but we play a lot of up-tempo danceable songs," Loughlin adds. "We built a community at shows where people all know each other."

Moe. With Mihali. 6:45 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; miamibeachbandshell.com. Tickets cost $53.05 at dice.fm.