March 15, 2007 (Somerville, MA) - There’s rock shows, and then there’s motherfucking awesome rock shows. Shoot the Moon make it their business to know which is which, to the sheer delight of the Thursday night “moon troopers” gathered at the Abbey Lounge.
When I walk in they’ve just launched into “Over Again,” a spit-shined rock anthem that started 2007 by charting big on High Octane Radio. Speaking of high octane, front man Sammy Miami is in rare form tonight, swiveling his skinny velvet-clad hips and enticing the crowd to throw the rock horns, clap and sing along. Always a dynamic stage personality, tonight Sammy’s between-song banter pops with a particularly theatrical flair, likely made all the more energetic against the laid-back cool of the other guys. Roger Moon on bass, always fun to watch, oozes a super cool vibe matched only by guitarist Matt Sullivan. Speaking of Matt Sullivan, can you die from non-chalance? If so, this dude’s in danger. Maybe he needs all of his mojo to pull out his considerably smokin’ guitar licks, which when combined with those of fellow axe-man Adam Aufiero make for the most face-melting (yes, I said it) double-team guitar attack I’ve heard around here since the last time I saw The Hidden.
The thing about Shoot the Moon, the single most endearing factor, is their unapologetic, non-ironic full-on tribute to the gods of southern rock. This is a band with a boner for the free birds, the truckers and the back porch pickers that inspired the likes of BTO, Skynrd and Aerosmith. There are times during the set, such as during the coke addict rocker “Kick the Candy” and the Patriotic set closer “Blue Roots,” where the “stick it to the man” factor is almost too much, but their total committment to it just brings you along for the ride. Just go with it, man. Throw the horns, you know you want to.
The highlight of the set is of course “It’s All Good,” what you might call “the hit” given its big huge video, so professionally done and for such a great song that you cannot help love it.
Shoot the Moon will be at the Abbey Lounge on every Tuesday night in April 2007, so check out their songs and video on Myspace and get out to the show! If you don’t dig this band, check your pulse.
Myspace.com/thefirstbandonthemoon
(Photo by Sooz)
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