The Moe Bandy show is simply great fun and entertainment with great singing, comedy and playing. Although the show has no specific Christmas segment, there are Christmas numbers seamlessly worked into a show filled with great music and comedy that results in one of the most enjoyable entertainment experiences in Branson.
The band is outstanding and composed of some of the best instrumentalists in Branson, Ricky Boen, fiddle and guitar; Mark Boyd, guitar; John Clark, steel guitar and fiddle; Mark Evans, bass guitar; Bruce Hoffman, fiddle and guitar; Nicko Ochoa, drums and Ed Synan, piano.
The show’s female vocalist is Kari Garrison who does a great job not only as a backup singer but on a number of solos. Her rendition of the Christmas song, “Let’s Make A Baby King” at the beginning of the second half of the show was wonderful and demonstrated the range and quality of her voice. Her duet with Moe of “I Can’t Feel Christmas Without You” was another highlight.
The comedy of Perry Edenburg as “Harley Worthit” will have you laughing from the pre-show to the end of the show. Most of his outfits are outrageous and as funny as his jokes and antics. He does a number of routines by himself and some with his “straight man,” Moe Bandy,” but it is all so funny. One thing for sure, just about the time you think you can’t laugh anymore, along comes another skit such as the one to the music of “Come A Little Bit Closer” and you find out you were wrong.
Moe Bandy sings, and plays straight man to Harley Worthit, but it is his marvelous ability to relate to his audience and the way he sings and presents his music in a way that seems to speak to the ordinary person that makes this show so special. Even the old standard “White Christmas” just seemed different in the context of this show.
