Moreland sounds off during homecoming show
Every show has hiccups. Some flubs are just easier to hear than others.
As John Moreland’s backing band— the always stellar John Calvin Abney (piano and guitar), Aaron Boehler (bass) and Paddy Ryan (drums)— exited the stage to make way for a few solo numbers, something went wrong.
The venue’s house music kicked in while Moreland strummed the fragile opening notes of his original tune, “Cherokee.” The 400 or so Diamond Ballroom patrons nervously chattered while Moreland abandoned the song and emptied his hands. The sound engineer panicked over a switch board. This flub followed another sound issue that took several minutes to fix.
These are the kinds of moments that define a professional musician who gets dealt a raw hand. Moreland could’ve walked off, and I don’t think any fans would’ve blamed him. Sure, it was someone’s honest mistake, but an artist of this caliber deserves far better. A few seconds later — which felt like an hour — the Tulsa songwriter cradled his acoustic guitar again. He leaned into the microphone.
“Does anybody remember which f——— song I was playing?” he asked while readjusting his seat.
That’s the glue that makes Moreland more than just a great songwriter. He’s an entertainer, and there were plenty of plaintive rock songs left to play.
Moreland always has been able to cut through the noise. His shows have gotten rowdier with his backing band, but it’s the pin drop silence from his solo performances that pack an emotional gut punch. Kudos to Moreland and Co. for pressing through the technical issues.
I’m glad that sleepy week night didn’t end with a sour note.