Pop Quiz: moe.

Pop Quiz: moe.

Aidin Vaziri | Of all the bands that are likely to get trailed by the patchouli-scented masses and jam just a wee bit much when they climb onstage, moe. could very well be the least annoying. Yes, even though it insists on spelling its name in lowercase letters and flouting grammatical laws with that misplaced period. For its forthcoming album, "Sticks and Stones," the New York band did away with the frills, bunkering down in a rented church to write and record a set of songs in just three weeks - before the tendency to turn them into rambling psychedelic epics kicked in. Hurrah! We spoke with bassist Rob Derhak by phone from his home in Maine.

Rob Derhak of moe.
Q: All the reviews I read about moe. say that the band is better live than on record. Are you?
A: I don't think it's true. I look at it as two different things. If people like to see live music and don't like albums, then that's the case. I like albums. I like hearing what people can do in the studio.
Q: Plus, maybe the drugs aren't as good at home.
A: Right. Sometimes it's scarier, too. I guess it depends on the show.
Q: What's the most annoying thing about moe. fans?
A: Um, they love us too much? I don't know. I'm not annoyed by our fans. I feel lucky to have them, honestly. I get to do cool stuff because of them. Sometimes it's tough to live up to their expectations, but otherwise they can surprise you with what they'll let you pull off compared to some other so-called "jam-band" fans. They have given us a lot of freedom to do what we want.
Q: Are you sure you don't want them to stop playing Frisbee at your shows? Continue reading.