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Kelly Egan/Executive Photography Editor
Moxy Früvous performs music from their album, "You Will Go to the Moon," on Nov. 8.
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Music Critic
No matter how many Moxy Früvous CDs one buys, nothing compares to seeing them in concert - especially since a Moxy concert is less like a pop concert and more like a four-man variety show with lots of music.
The Toronto-based Früvous Four began by rapping Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham" on streetcorners five years ago. The band has since released two full length albums - "Bargainville" and "You Will Go to the Moon." A third, "Wood," was released a few years ago in Canada and is due in U.S. music shops in 1998.
During this fall's tour, Moxy is also recording a live album to be released early next year.
Moxy stopped in Rochester Saturday to play to a sold out Harro East Ballroom.
The opening act was Toronto's Tory Cassis, who warmed up the very diverse crowd, which was made up of elementary school children through middle-aged yuppies. Cassis, a very mellow performer, seemed more suited for a coffeehouse atmosphere than for the hyperactive Moxy crowd, but they didn't seem mind.
Moxy came onstage to the riotous cheers of the packed house. They opened with an a capella version of "I've Got a Message to You."
Highlights included "Michigan Militia," "Get in the Car" and the title track "You Will Go to the Moon" from "You Will Go." Moxy also played "Lazy Boy," "B.J. Don't Cry" and "Video Bargainville," the title track from "Bargainville."
Frülad Dave Matheson commented that everything sounded better with accordion. Moxy then launched into bits of Marilyn Manson, Beatles and R.E.M. songs.
At the suggestion that the Spice Girls might sound better with an accordion, Moxy member Jian Ghomeshi quickly replied, "I don't think the Spice Girls sound good with anything."
Of course, toward the end of the set, Moxy brought out the old favorite, "King of Spain."
After closing with "Psycho Killer" and leaving the stage, Frülad Murray Foster returned for the first encore, silver metallic baseball cap in hand. Moxy veterans knew that it was time for the band's "Green Eggs and Ham." The crowd got almost unruly during Moxy's rap rendition of Dr. Seuss' children's book.
After playing "My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors," Frülad Mike Ford assumed the persona of Lou Reed and Moxy played a version of ABBA's "Dancing Queen" meets Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side." They left the stage only to return for encore number two to play "Fly."
Of course, no Moxy concert would be complete without "The Drinking Song." The Frülads invited all of the concert-goers to sway and sing along.
Moxy played two solid hours of vocally strenuous numbers, threw in a couple skits and sketches here and there and had a great time playing to the appreciative audience.
This is, after all, the best part of a Moxy concert - the Frülads seem to have just as much fun as the concert-goers.
