Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

It’s a twist of irony a guy named Noel Coward coined the phrase, “The show must go on.” The stalwart phrase remains a consummate attitude of professional musicians out on tour who endure a great many roadblocks just to make it to the show on time, and remain poised enough to deliver a performance patrons have paid to see.

Moonalice, the phenom jam band, appeared at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center in Whippany, New Jersey, Sept. 26 under some testy circumstances. The power in the venue apparently continued to go off and on, prior to, and during the first several minutes of the show. Watching this performance in real time via http://www.moonaliceTV.com/, it was hard to determine for sure what issues the band was dealing with.

Regardless, this group of seasoned pros took it all in stride and delivered their best performance to date. Without electricity, ostensibly, an impromptu acoustic set was the best hope Moonalice had of pulling a rabbit out of a hat – exactly the type of topper Pete Sears is noted for wearing.

Sears opened the show with his signature tune, “Kick It Open,” and just when the party got started the power blipped out. The band rebooted “Kick it Open” and a little later the lights went out again while crews shone flashlights on the stage so the audience could see as the band played on.

It’s hard to keep a good band down.

“Blink of an Eye” was as elegant as I’ve heard before, followed by  a stellar performance of “Silver Lining.” I’ve only heard this piece live a time or two, but it held considerable weight in this performance. When it ended, Roger McNamee said, “That’s an old chestnut from the closet.” Whether or not the tune was planned for the set list, it lent significant meaning to the phrase “every cloud has a silver lining.”

“Greenport” is a Moonalice classic the audience always enjoys, putting a little bounce in the step with Ann McNamee on lead vocals. What followed was something like a bolt of lightning. Totally unexpected and out of the blue, Roger McNamee casually asked the audience, “Do you believe in miracles? This will be a miracle if I can pull it off. It’s a drummer’s request.”

Everyone appeared spell-bound waiting for the miracle. Lo and behold, McNamee did a solo version of Leonard Cohen’s, “Hallelujah.” Looking back on the moment, I have to say it was categorically the most honest performance I’ve ever seen. Stripped and bare, it’s a breathtaking piece to begin with, and this was so genuine you could hear tears drop in the space between the notes. Both stunning and chilling, I hope this song is revisited on occasion, but not so often the spell is broken.

Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale” is a staple in Moonalice’s pantry of classic offerings, which morphed into a rendition of “Tell Me It’s Okay” a definite crowd pleaser. The difference this time was drummer, John Molo, contributed some vocal chants that lent even more credibility to his legacy as a monster player. The guy is unstoppable and often contributes the energy of two drummers rolled into one, especially during long instrumental passages. In the eyes of the Livestream audience, he is Big John.

Sears and Barry Sless always shine in Willie Nelson’s “Stella Blue.” Recently Sears has taken to the keyboard as the lead instrument for this tune which suits his performance style beautifully.  Sless (s-LESS) complements Sears’ vocals and keys eloquently on pedal steel in a style that is inimitable and you just have to hear for yourself. There are just no words to describe the magic.

Finishing their set with Canned Heat’s “On the Road Again,” Moonalice wrapped up one of the most difficult shows they’ve navigated with a certain luminosity you’ll be hard pressed to find on any stage.

Hallelujah.

All photos used with the permission of James R. Martin