John Medeski, Nels Cline, Stanton Moore, and Skerik presale codes

This collaboration pulls John Medeski, Nels Cline, Stanton Moore, and Skerik into the same room for free-leaning groove experiments.

Old-school grit meets new shapes

John Medeski grew out of downtown New York improvisation and funk-jazz with Medeski Martin & Wood, while Nels Cline brings avant guitar colorations from Wilco and beyond. Stanton Moore anchors it with New Orleans second-line snap from Galactic, and Skerik adds snarling sax run through pedals.

Tunes bent, not broken

Likely pillars include stretched takes on Bubblehouse, a greasy sprint through Chubb Sub, and a spiritual simmer like The Creator Has a Master Plan. Crowds tend to be gear-curious music fans, from jazz lifers trading notes to rock listeners who discovered Nels Cline through Wilco, plus local drummers clocking Stanton Moore's foot patterns. A neat tidbit: Skerik often routes his horn into a guitar amp with a ring modulator, and John Medeski favors quick drawbar moves to shade chords mid-phrase. Details about songs and staging here are educated guesses based on past projects, not a confirmed run-sheet.

The Culture Around Medeski, Cline, Moore, and Skerik

The floor skews mixed-age, with worn band tees from Medeski Martin & Wood, Wilco, and Galactic beside thrift blazers and comfortable sneakers.

What you see in the room

You will spot players comparing pedalboards in hushed tones while others debate favorite Nels Cline solos and Stanton Moore grooves. Claps land on the backbeat when Stanton Moore kicks a second-line feel, and quick cheers pop after Skerik nails a feral high note.

Rituals between songs

Merch leans toward art-forward posters, a few small-label vinyl runs, and maybe sticks or heads if the table is stocked. People move but also listen hard, often going quiet for textural interludes and then nodding as the pocket tightens. Pre-show talk often drifts to New Orleans rhythms, NYC loft-era improv, and which side projects these four have guested on recently. The social code is simple: be curious, share space, and let the music lead.

How Medeski, Cline, Moore, and Skerik Build the Storm

Expect mostly instrumental sets, with John Medeski's Hammond and Clav laying earthy chords while left-hand bass lines keep the floor steady.

Groove as the spine

Nels Cline paints in layers, using volume swells, behind-the-nut chimes, and sudden fuzz to cut without crowding the keys. Stanton Moore snaps from parade beats to straight funk, tightening the kick on unison hits to cue turns.

Small choices, big swings

Skerik treats the sax like a synth, riding envelope filters and octave pedals to joust with guitar lines. They favor long forms that breathe, stretching a riff, dropping to half-time, then popping back faster for release. A small but telling habit: John Medeski will swap to a reedy combo-organ patch to double Nels Cline's melody an octave apart, brightening the hook without more volume. Lights usually stay warm and moody to keep focus on touch, blend, and timing.

If You Like Medeski, Cline, Moore, Skerik

Fans of Medeski Martin & Wood will recognize the swaggering organ grooves and left-field detours.

Nearby musical neighborhoods

If you come from Wilco, Nels Cline's widescreen textures and patient builds scratch the same itch, even when the songs are looser. Drum-first listeners who orbit Galactic will find Stanton Moore's pocket and syncopated cymbal chatter in familiar territory.

Why these are a fit

For the more ambient and lyrical side, Bill Frisell fans often enjoy Nels Cline when he dials back fuzz and leans into space. John Medeski, Skerik, and Nels Cline also share a taste for risk that still lands on singable figures. The overlap is less about genre labels and more about live dynamics, tone play, and trust on stage. If any of those hit home, this bill sits squarely in your lane.