Moi?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if Moi’s over the top sex glam shtick is tongue in cheek or a bit too serious for comfort. Frontman Royce Peterson seethes with sexual energy and innuendo skirting the limits of absurdity by playing a crotch-stuffing rock star as his band throws down a catchy combo of arena rock and synth disco. The NYC quintet is theatrical, comedic, and ready to rock with a mean falsetto and lots of Prince-like coyness. Is the spandex and gold lame an act or a sincere tribute to rocking excess? Either way, it should make for a good show. - The Onion

Moi?’s Queenly blend of Prince and Def Leppard, comedy and drama, can be summed up – if you believe the band – in one word: “beautyrock”. Its self-titled album includes overblown, hilarious skits in between sometimes emotional, sometimes triumphant sex-jams. Ironic? Serious? Hard to say exactly, but several members have appeared on and off Broadway in musicals including Rent Hedwig and the Angry Inch – if that helps any. When the synths kick in, you won’t be too worried about such distinctions. - Pittsburgh City Paper

Years ago, Moi? frontman Royce Peterson (a.k.a. Peter Kohl) helmed a Madison rock act called Cruel that dared to mix gorgeous falsetto keening with the usual alt-rock stylings of the day. Kohl’s been in New York for years, and during that time teenage emo kids the cult following of the late Jeff Buckley and self-consciously dramatic acts like Muse have made falsetto keening safe for the mainstream.

So what’s Kohl done to differentiate himself from the demonstrative heart-on-my-sleeve crowd? Judging from Moi?s self-titled debut on the Crustacean label, he’s spent a lot of time communing with Prince, ‘70’s Euro-disco, Lou Reed’s Berlin, and Queen. In fact, while Kohl is far from a Freddie Mercury clone, the late, great hard-rocking exhibitionist comes to mind when the power chords and synths blast off behind him on “The Bitch and the Bull.” But, he’s hardly a one-trick pony. Overheated soul pleaders, mocking crotch-rock, shimmering pop pulchritude, taut disco come-ons – he does them all with a wink and a smile.

Up on stage, ample applications of mascara, glitter and attitude are sure to make the audio portion of Moi?’s singular act even more engaging. So hustle down to the High Noon Saloon on Sunday May 29, to catch Royce – or Peter – work out his fantasies in celebration of the disc’s release. It won’t be an ordinary evening.
- Isthmus

"The theatrical and comedic Moi? swings a mighty shtick. Their over-the-top rock numbers come off like collaboration between every 80's hair-metal band and Shudder to Think. And as funny as most of these songs are, they are also seriously catchy and highly danceable." -the Village Voice - Village Voice