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Album Review: Afternoon Moon
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Growing up in central Illinois I’ve run across a lot of bands that call the space between Chicago an...Growing up in central Illinois I’ve run across a lot of bands that call the space between Chicago and St. Louis home. Afternoon Moon is one of those bands. They are a 4-piece band out of Ottawa, IL made up of Josh on guitar, Jordan on keys and synth, Justin on drums, and recently added Louie on bass. They have played nearly 80 shows throughout the state in the last 12 months, along with making their first trek westward to Colorado in September of 2011. With their debut album out on CDBaby for $5, and hundreds of requests for them on the Summer Camp Facebook page. 2012 looks to be an exciting year for the band.
‘Haystack’ kicks the album off with an immediately danceable groove that displays the bands ability to not only jump straight into the jams, but also their skill in transitioning sounds throughout a piece. The track lyrically challenges the listener to “Meet me on the dance floor” which is the perfect place to be for a song of this magnitude. When it comes to jam bands, a term which I use loosely, it often becomes a problem to produce a record, because right off the bat you have to decide where the jam gets highlighted and where it becomes too much. Afternoon Moon faces this challenge head on a respectfully showcases their skill, while not running away with the song.
Next we have the slower paced “Noisy Spirit” into “Ship Captain Crew” which both highlight the bands unmistakable vocals and capture small glimpses of the bands funky side. The vocals throughout the album are gritty, but also heartfelt as if speaking out of love and passion. The guitar solo at the end of “Ship Captain Crew” accelerates the beat and leads perfectly into “Something Downtown”. This is the track that immediately calls my attention to a influence from jam legends, The Grateful Dead. Smooth guitar licks from Josh are reminiscent of the late Jerry Garcia. This influence is spotted throughout the track and all the way into the next track, “Can’t Sleep a Wink”, where the same influence is noticeable in the lyrics, also from Josh. Again the lyrics of this tune are heartfelt and powerful while remaining true to the bands organic sound which is far from the auto-tune sounds on major recording labels of today.
With three tracks left to the album it’s already become evident how much work was put into this record. Thus far everything has been balanced. The songs lend themselves to each other and give a smooth and steady ride to the listener. This is still true after getting into “Ghost Dance” and continues to stay true throughout the album as a whole. The solo’s in “Ghost Dance” come mostly from Josh’s guitar, but also give a small glimpse of Jordan on the keys. This is a roll reversal from the live performances I’ve seen from Afternoon Moon, but doesn’t hold true for long because the next song “One with Nature” changes it all up.The beginning of “One with Nature” is where we finally get to hear the amazing talent of Jordan on keys and synth. It’s one of my favorite parts of the live performance and I love hearing it come out on the record. Short lived but purposefully positioned in the track. The tail end of the track picks up into high gear with another very danceable groove and then trails off the peak into the final track.
“Guide Me” wraps the album up perfectly, with slow grooves that leave me feeling complete with my experience. It isn’t in your face, but also isn’t dull. The lyrics again stick out as being peaceful and happy. The guitar and keys in the middle of the track make me close my eyes for some reflection of the album. Before I walk away I’ve got to reitterate how well this album is put together. The hills and valleys of energy are something that has been crafted into a work of art. It’s one of those albums that plays from beginning to end so well that it’s almost a shame to listen to just a single track.
For the first album from Afternoon Moon, they have certainly achieved something big. If you haven’t made it to see these guys out at a live show, I highly suggest you do that. Perhaps you’ll even have a chance to catch them this year at Summer Camp.
You can find more Afternoon Moon on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
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Cabin Fever Campout, East Peoria Event Center, East Peoria, IL – 2/11-13
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Traveling to a music festival in February goes against the status quo, but Cabin Fever Campout provi...Traveling to a music festival in February goes against the status quo, but Cabin Fever Campout provided a lineup that could wake festivarians from their winter slumber. Wrested out of hibernation, music lovers were greeted by a well-executed event in a large indoor facility with a camping area, two stages of music and even a vendor’s row.
Old Shoe is the first band playing the Fire on the Mountain stage Friday evening. Burning a hole through the fabric of the jam scene, Old Shoe has been on a meteoric rise since hosting their own festival, Shoe Fest, last summer. It’s easy to understand why they’re getting better and better gigs when you see one of their sets. From Paul Priest’s silky riffs to Joe Day’s wailing vocals and whirling keys, their sound is absolutely infectious. Priest and guitarist Matt Robinson harmonize extremely well on vocals for many of the bands originals. They captured Warren Haynes’ “Soul Shine” like a ship in a bottle and shook the cabin with their own “Day Rains Night.”
Continuing the folky feel of Cabin Fever Friday lineup, Split Lip Rayfield furnished the Fire on the Mountain stage with their unique take on bluegrass: edgy Americana that almost jumps clear across to punk. Jeff Eaton’s thumping on his gas tank bass provides the essence of a kick drum while he’s generating solid bass lines.
The camping area at Cabin Fever is a 30,000 square foot event hall with a concave roof. Sound travels very well in the wide open space. Late night drum circle renditions of Blind Melon’s “No Rain” and Edward Sharp’s “Home” could be heard clearly anywhere in the room.
Central Illinois local talent Insignificant String Band plays bluegrass music with an electric bass rig. Corey Orr’s bass really amps up the folk approach of the quartet. The band plays a song about special cookies, and patrons of Cabin Fever were able to approach the stage and enjoy sugar cookies emblazoned with the compound that enhances the treats in the song.
Also hailing from the midsection of the Land of Lincoln, Afternoon Moon’s jams will take you into lunar orbit. Twins Josh and Jordan Daniels were literally born to play together, manning guitar and keys respectively. Recent addition Louie Giacobbe provides the solid presence on bass that this progressive jam outfit has been looking for. Joining Afternoon Moon on saxophone, Bridget Bourke provided an extra dose of funk with her potent lungs as the band covered Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein.”
The configuration of Cabin Fever featured two directly opposing stages. Their times were perfectly offset; as one set concluded, a massive steel garage door would give way to the room which housed the other stage, allowing the festival’s attendees to quickly traverse the membrane between the two music halls. Following Afternoon Moon, that large accordion threshold gave way to Indigo Sun.
Lucas Ellman takes charge and leads Indigo Sun with jazzy lines on saxophone and wind synth. His melodies are enhanced by the stylings of Kyle Liss on keys and synth. The band’s powerful essence grows off the precise beats offered up by drummer Steve Florian and the grooves of bassist Mike Cantella.
Jaik Willis is a travelling crooner who is unafraid to push his vocal cords to the limits of human vocalisation. Playing a song about Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms brought thoughts of Hunter Thompson throwing a party to mind. While in his own words his “guitar was mad at the weather,” Jaik’s playing cast aside the notion of the sudden cold snap outside.
Thinner Teed’s set was sparking with energy. You could tell from the Animal Muppet sitting on the kick drum that these guys have an eccentric mind-set on stage. Their covers of The Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime” and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” gives the festival an 80’s dance feel while their originals prominently feature Brad Richter and Evan Schuit’s powerful guitar playing. Thinner Teed premiered a new song written about Where’s Ronny, an exuberant Midwest festival-goer.
Blending reggae, rock and funk influences, Art of Ill Fusion has a fresh feel for jam music. Dee Mill is the enigmatic leader of the group. Dee proudly introduced new members The Kid, playing his first show with Art of Ill Fusion on drums, and Mick on keys, whose rig includes a rare two-tiered Roland VK-77 draw bar organ. This band takes its cues from Bob Marley and Jerry Garcia, paying homage to the latter with a soulful rendition of “Candyman.”
Surging on to the scene, Strange Arrangement marks one of the stronger presences at the indoor music festival. Joe Hettinga has a formidable arsenal of keyboards surrounding him while Kevin Barry’s seven string bass allows him to provide a solid, smooth low end. The musical marriage of Hettinga and guitarist Jim Conry’s leads dance a funky boogie over Barry’s synergy with drummer Steve Sinde. Their lyrics take you on a journey only paralleled by the sojourn of their hooks and grooves. Brainchild’s Roy Ponce made an appearance and traded licks with Conry, setting the room on fire.
Mike Glabicki and Rusted Root marched on stage with the drums already providing a holistic rhythm. The beauty of the simplicity in the band’s melodies washes over the music room of Cabin Fever as the open with “Martyr.” Whether yielding an acoustic or a Fender telecaster, Glabicki’s style finds a perfect harmony with the electric guitar playing of Colter Harper. Glabicki plays his acoustics through a Mesa-Boogie amplifier, providing a very unique, crunchy tone for an instrument of a mellower disposition.
Liz Berlin brings a great diversity of talent to Rusted Root. Not only does her voice help to define the band’s signature sound, she also contributes by playing percussive instruments such as a talking drum or gourd. After playing “Back To The Earth,” Glabicki turns his attention to their surroundings and says, “This is what I imagine all festivals will be like on the moon.” Playing the first verse of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” Rusted Root blossoms into a powerful “Cat Turned Blue.” Following their performance, percussionist Preach Freedom moved to the floor in front of the stage and led a fan infused drum circle.
Taking up the late night cause, The Coop is part of a growing trend towards individuals in a band performing on multiple instruments. Lead guitarist Danny Biggins performs with a keyboard to his right and bassist Cason Trager has a table with synthesizers and a laptop. Even with his bandmates tickling ivory keys, Joe Re’s talents exude a strong lead command. The Coop effectively combines traditional rock music instrumentation with electronic music’s new gadgets and provides a high energy experience perfectly suited to the earliest hours of the morning.
Brandishing their own form of funk, Brainchild pairs the dual guitar leads of Roy Ponce and Jake Schultz with Brandon Mooberry’s robust bass lines. Ponce’s phrasing cuts through the air like a fresh razor. During their first set on Friday, Brainchild performed the Rebel Alliance theme from Star Wars, honing the good guy anthem to their own sound.
The Chicago Farmer has a friendly sound that puts folks at ease. He sings about everyday life and funny occurrences, ad-libbing to sing about the moment at hand when it’s called for. Some songs he performs standing, others seated, but all with a harmonica secured around his neck. Cody Deikhoff’s right hand technique is really sharp, providing depth to his rhythmic strumming.
Known for their spot-on duplication of the music of the Grateful Dead, the Dark Star Orchestra brought their act to East Peoria to close out the second annual Cabin Fever Campout. Playing with one drummer and a simple keyboard set up of an electric piano, they hark back to a mid-seventies performance at the convention center. Kevin Rosen’s bass lines provided a commanding basis for the rest of his bandmates.
Setting an early start for the festival season, Cabin Fever warms up the short days and long nights of winter with energetic music and a friendly community. While it was impossible to tell if it was day or night in the cavernous confines, the music provided a beacon of hope that summer would return again soon.
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Afternoon Moon brings psychedelic soul to Decatur
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DECATUR — After eight years of performing around the Illinois jam band scene, twin brothers, Josh an...DECATUR — After eight years of performing around the Illinois jam band scene, twin brothers, Josh and Jordan Daniels, have learned a few things.
First, they have seen for themselves the passion and zeal of the audiences for live music, which has driven the successful evolution of large-scale festivals such as Chillicothe’s annual Summer Camp. Second, true “jam” music wasn’t quite what they wanted for themselves. And so they formed their own band, Afternoon Moon, to seek the perfect sound that had thus far eluded them.
“We created this thing, this sort of organic, psychedelic soul, primarily of all original songs,” said keyboardist Jordan Daniels, who will perform in Decatur tonight as Afternoon Moon stops in at Donnie’s Homespun Pizza. “We envisioned it to be a psychedelic band really focused on live performance and doing things organically. There are a lot of groups using computers today, for instance, to make beats for this kind of music, but that’s not our style. We want to stay true to the music’s roots.”
Since its formation in 2009, Afternoon Moon has branched out to East and West Coast tours, garnering varied comparisons to bands such as Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead and My Morning Jacket. They’ve attempted to walk the tightrope of performing at jam-type festivals while simultaneously avoiding the label and perception as musicians prone to aimless, 10-minute guitar solos.
“People say that we have a unique sound, but I can’t really measure that because it’s just the music that I’ve been making with my brother since we were kids,” Daniels said. “It can be difficult to have people approach you with an open mind, though. A lot of people look at the band name, or a few photos because this is an Internet world, and get an idea of what you’re going to sound like before they even hear you.
“But it’s when you hear us that you’re really going to connect with us. A lot of people tell me that they feel drawn in and really close to the members of the band at our shows.”
Like so many others, though, sticking to the jam-centric festival schedule is a thing of necessity. There is no discounting the value of big festivals for bands that are looking to build upon a burgeoning audience, and in their live shows, the boys of Afternoon Moon do attempt to go all out. In their studio recordings, however, they see an opportunity to differentiate themselves from the pack. The group is currently following up its 2011 debut with another album that has been methodically recorded, with even more structure and less improvisation than the past.
“We don’t overdo it on the recorded album and avoid the noodling around stuff,” Daniels said. “We’re road-testing material now and approaching this second recording more slowly and deliberately. We’re working on getting the perfect person to master it. I think we’ve learned that you can’t rush your art or apologize for it, and overall, we’re all really expecting to make a better record than our first one.”
This attitude may sound on the serious side, but when it comes to the songs, Daniels describes their writing as “truthful but goofy.” The music of Afternoon Moon approaches subjects such as “friendship, adventure and the search for wisdom” from a wry, good-natured perspective, with the Daniels twins leading the way and emitting what Jordan referred to as “a family vibe.”
“We just sing about life and we don’t claim to know too much,” he said. “How it affects an audience is really up to them, I think. At this point in our careers, I think we’re still making music largely for us, and discovering more about ourselves. I think the music we make is a genuinely fun time.”
supersonic
