Music
Press
These guys are sub culturing their own scene in Indy. They are doing things that no one else in this town has attempted to put a finger on. Loose and witty, this postmodern band evokes the Replacements and the Attractions, musically, and Tom Waits, lyrically. The combination makes for one of the most original bands in Indiana.
Danica Johnson --NUVO Newsweekly - Nuvo Weekly Newspaper
America Owns the Moon, "Tiger" EP, Benchmark Records
The band called America Owns the Moon also has a lock on primitive cool. Propelled by two guitars, a bass and a drum kit, this Indianapolis band delivers echoes of Nick Lowe in short, sharp shocks. And because this EP was recorded live to two-track stereo, the songs crackle and pop with delicious urgency. Any technical flaws are merely reflections of flesh and blood. Primed to descend on any terrestrial city and kick-start a party, America Owns the Moon can call on rave-ups "The Hard Way" and "Freakout" -- each blessed with a heart-clutching instrumental breakdown. But wait: Four more keepers reveal the versatility of AOTM. During "Ping Pong," the tender confessions of vocalist Chris Taylor careen into frustrated rage. And check out the poison-penned advice of "Otherwise": "Why don't you waste your time, instead of someone else's?"
Dave Lindquist --Indianapolis Star - The Indianapolis Star
Kevin grew up in Indy and used to play in a band around the area called Stranger Lazy so he was super stoked for this stop on the family tour... he had helped recruit AMERICA OWNS THE MOON -- his favorite Indianapolis band. and wow, we all know why now. def. check them out. really killer stuff. - http://finnriggins.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
Discography
The Tiger EP - Benchmark Records
Photos
Bio
We started playing together as America Owns The Moon at the Lexington House (RIP) in Fountain Square in the summer of the year 2000. We were recording one of Christian Taylor's songs called, Let's Pretend We're Retarded. Brad Palmer was at the helm to record it. We decided to become a band based on that recording and on the pretext that if it ever started 'to suck' we would quit.
We played together for a few months before playing shows. At some point, the Lexington House caught fire. Destroying our home base for rehearsal.
AOTM went on hiatus for nearly 9 months.
Once everyone had a home again we got back at it. Somewhere in there Engine Room studios approached us about doing a live to 2 track recording to demo songs for the full-length he wanted to do. We recorded and mixed it live during the last weekend of April. We liked it so much, we wanted to put it out as an ep. Benchmark Records put it out as the Tiger EP. We played more shows. We started working on the full-length, but money and time were always factors and the recording was never finished.
It finally started to suck in 2005 so we called it quits.
About nine months later it stopped sucking and we started playing again. Then Ben Messer moved to San Francisco at the end of 2006 putting AOTM on indefinite hiatus. Christian, Tony and Danny played with different groups around the city. Tony went on to play with Those Young Lions, Thunders (Formerly Sisters. Christian played solo. Danny Played Solo. At some point Christian, Danny and Tony started to play Christian Taylor's new solo songs arranged for 3 piece with Danny taking over Bass. And so because Christian was usually the primary songwriter for America owns the moon, we began to play shows around Indianapolis under that moniker. We love the new songs so much that we decided we wanted to make it work however it can. Because of our knack for smart arrangments and re-arrangments America owns the moon can perform as any combination of members as long as Christian Taylor is there. The rest of the band is flying out to the west coast to meet Ben for a small tour of the coast in the late winter/early spring. Stay Tuned.
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