Warts & All, Vol. 2

When the ever-popular Vermont band Phish went on hiatus in the late '90s, the steam was let out of the jam band movement, leading to dwindling live audiences and wholesale cuts by major labels looking toward the next trend. Don't tell the members of moe. that the jam band thing might have run its course, however. Dropped by Epic Records after a pair of decent albums for the label, moe. struck out on its own with encouraging results, touring constantly and slowly building a loyal following that revels in the band's instrumental virtuosity. Warts and All, Vol. 2 is a budget-priced three-CD set that captures the band in its natural environment (i.e., on-stage and playing in front of an enthusiastic audience). The second in a series of live albums released by the band's own Fatboy Records, Warts and All, Vol. 2 documents a February 2002 Atlanta performance in its entirety. The live setting allows the members of moe. to shine, the band kicking out a set list that includes material from each of its studio albums, from short, punchy rockers like "Okayalright" or "She Sends Me" to 20-minute-plus instrumental jams like "Kids." The band's mix of roots rock, blues, and jazz is refreshingly honest; Warts and All, Vol. 2 is a three-hour musical celebration of all that is right in the jam band genre. ~ Rev. Keith A. Gordon, Rovi