Back over Labor Day weekend 2000, I packed up the old Volvo 240 (I’m pretty sure that’s what I was driving at the time, just shortly before that car’s tragic end) and lit out for the territories. My itinerary included two festival stops.

First up was moe.down, which premiered that year at the Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin, NY. I can remember pulling in to the parking lot by the little lodge there and seeing Chuck Garvey just hanging out, chatting with friends and fans. It was that loose, familial vibe that would go on to define moe.down (I’m psyched that they’re returning to Turin this year).

I spent a day and a half at the fest and then it was off to New Haven, VT and Addison County Field Days for the Garden of Eden Festival. This show would be the band’s final gig with Reid Genauer before he left the group to pursue his MBA at Cornell. Nile Rodgers (Chic) who produced the group’s final studio album A Great Long While was on hand for an event that felt much more like an celebration than a wake, although there was certainly disappointment in the air as well- a weird vibe all in all.

For the decade and change to follow, Reid and his longtime bandmates pursued parallel paths, even as some people I know remained optimistic that they might return to the stage together.

It will happen tonight thanks to the urging of the ever-animated Peter Shapiro (Brooklyn Bowl/Capitol Theater/Relix/The Hoodie Shop/Much More), who was at that Eden. I won’t get to see the band at the Bowl but I will be there for the climatic final night in Portland and I am optimistic about all that is to come…

So check out my interviews with Jon Trafton and Reid Genauer and I’ll see you out there…

later days and peace,
Dean