Exclusive Q&A with moe.’s Vinnie Amico

We here at Brotherly Love Produductions are huge moe.rons and annually attend moe.down and any other moe. event within our reach. My first moe. show was at the Electric Factory in Philly 6/12/1998 when they shared the stage with both String Cheese Incident and Strangefolk and has a strong footing in my Top-10 all time shows. It is our pleasure to help promote their Florida shows and really appreciate their participation in this exclusive Q&A. They were introduced to many in South Florida at the very first Langerado and although they’ve also played another Langerado or two since, have been neglecting this market for far too long. Coming off a yearlong 20th Anniversary tour that included Bear Creek, the band has never been more on fire. Focusing much more on their improv and song segues; their shows are definitely something you’d dig music fan. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into drummer Vinnie Amico‘s mind and that we see you at any or all of their Florida shows next week (Tues 4/5 @ Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale, Thurs 4/7 @ The Ritz in Tampa & Fri 4/8 at House of Blues in Orlando)!

photo by Jay Blakesberg

BLP: Music starved South Florida always seems to get a lot of shows at once…to the point that it was downright comical when Furthur and moe. announced the same date 20 miles apart within hours of each other. Did you change the Culture Room date to avoid competing with Furthur? Was there much debate? (Yes or no, we’re glad you did!)

Vinnie Amico: Yes we did, and I am glad we did.

BLP: What does it mean to you that you’re able to provide such a plethora and variety of unique experiences to your fans and famoe.ly such as annually book ending the summer with Summer Camp in IL and moe.down in upstate NY, snoe.down in Vermont, Tropical throe.down in the Dominican Republic as well as next year’s Jam in the Dam? Do you have a personal favorite?

VA: I think it is a great experience for our fans and really makes the vibe of moe. very family oriented. We all have families and like to include them in as much of what we do as we can. If we can provide the same feeling for our fans, making us all even and like-minded. I really enjoy them all for different reasons…

BLP: Bear Creek is a FL favorite. When moe. garnered the late addition, there was quite a buzz of excitement. You hadn’t played south of St. Augustine in several years and it’s no secret that you guys have been on fire of late. Knowing a large part of Florida’s music family, I can say this: longtime fans were jonesing and stoked; skeptics were ready to give you another shot; and there now exists a large base of potential young, new fans. Did you feel that mix of energy at Bear Creek? Did it influence your quick return?

VA: Well, we usually like to follow up a festival play with a full moe. show to try to build, or rebuild that market. Since we hadn’t played Florida in a while and had such a great response at Bear Creek, we felt it was time to get back down there and play for the fans…

BLP: You’ve been consistently debuting new tunes. Any truth to the talk of a new album? Is there a time frame?

VA: Yes. I think we would like to get an album of new material out before the end of the year, or the beginning of next…

BLP: Favorite up-and-coming band? Who’s getting the most play on your iPod right now? Who’s at the top of your dream “band-switch” list?

VA: Consider the Source is a really good band out of New york, and The Rubblebucket Orchestra, which I saw at Bear Creek was really good. I don’t listen to a whole lot of new music so my iPod has a bunch of older rock, jazz and raggae…I haven’t really thought much about the band switch. Maybe Further….I really like the Grateful Dead and Further has been killing it so I think that would be a fun one…

(BLP: WOW…fingers crossed. Oh wait, they’re in Orlando that night. Doh!)

BLP: Are you still suiting up in your 21st year?
VA: Nope!

(BLP: moe. donned suits for every show last year in celebration of surviving 20 years, legen…dary)

BLP: Have you ever been touched by Captain Creepy?

VA: I don’t know what you are talking about.

(BLP: Well, now he has!)