Mokey Doris
Centreville, Virginia, United States
Music
Press
Intentionally disaffecting and melancholic post-punk highlight the debut album release from DC quartet Mokey Doris. A celebration for the release of their recent 12 song effort occurs on December 3rd at Vienna’s Jammin’ Java. A band dwelling in the realm of legendary acts like Nirvana and Pavement would sound to the uninformed ear like a trite homage. However, given that lead singer Kalem Jones is willing to share in the angst of his time spent in an Inova mental facility, their sonorous rock, dwelling in minor key progressions, is honest, refreshing and worthy of appreciation. “I spent the night in hell after twilight ecstasy” begins the haunting and reflective “So We Stayed Home,” and lead single “Like a Star” ‘s intricate musicianship weaves alongside grunge trending guitars. Mokey Doris’ music is for fans of songs sung with emotional daggers and played with bad intentions, approaching happiness but finding solace in heartache. -MD
- ON TAP MAGAZINE
VA's indie rockers Mokey Doris have been putting out their sound since 2010 when the quartet of Kalem Jones, Cody Jones, Michael Pion, and Robert Mays originally formed. With a solid self/titled album released this month (now available), they've gone on to gather a super strong fanbase that easily pushed them to the top of our recent poll, voting them as the Band of the Month. So we got a hold of Kalem (singer/songwriter) to find out more about the good vibrations backing Mokey Doris. Here he tells us about Aunt Mokey & Aunt Doris, an upcoming tour, and hopes for the next big wave in the DC scene. Now onto the interview: by Dawn Reed
How did the band start?
The band started in 2010. Cody dropped out of college in Tennessee to come play music full time. Kalem and Rob had been trying to get something good going, the first incarnation of which was called the Glow Worms. That project coalesced into the current form once Cody came home from college and we found our drummer, Mike.
Where did the band name come from?
It's the names of Kalem and Cody's (they are brothers) two Great Aunts.
Aunt Mokey would sit around her family's estate, chain smoking cigarettes and watching an old turn dial television fixed between two channels, effectively watching static for hours. She would also water her plants with melted wax.
Aunt Doris became a widow in the late seventies and never recovered. She never had any children, and she lives alone, apparently profoundly unhappy.
We just wanted to pay homage to two of our own family line who deserved more out of life.
What are your biggest musical influences?
The Beatles, Nirvana, My Bloody Valentine, of Montreal, Elliott Smith, Blonde Redhead, David Bowie, Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, Radiohead, Pixies, Bon Iver, Neutral Milk Hotel.
What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
Great local band the Spots, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, PJ Harvey, Animal Collective.
What's the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
I think the first band I saw live was a band called Reality Check or something like that, and the first record I ever bought was "The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas" by They Might be Giants.
What do you love about DC's music scene?
The diversity.
What would you like to see change in the local music scene?
I, like many I think, are hoping for some movement to happen which will immortalize this particular place in this particular time and we can look back and say that we were there, we were a part of it. And it was really cool. I think the potential is here.
What are your plans for the upcoming year?
Promoting our debut record which was just released on December 3rd, and touring in the Spring.
What was your most memorable live show?
Our sold out CD release show at Jammin Java in Vienna on December 3rd, 2011.
Is there someone who has helped your band grow through support?
Our producer, Ed Jentsch.
Is there a piece of equipment you couldn't live without and why?
A guitar. That's all one really needs to rattle some teeth.
Why do you read The Deli?
Because it's got its finger on the pulse of the national music scene.
- THE DELI MAGAZINE
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Mokey Doris was born in the rotting wood of a sailboat off the coast of southern california, during which time pirate incense was used to dispel the odor and seduce the underwhelmed. Relocating to the D.C. area, Mokey Doris grew and flourished under the blazing moon and herbal rain. Their train stops here, it seems, in a most refreshing way, calling the children to board and enter into the distant glow. Mokey Doris welcomes the coming of the glow, and teaches those who will listen to welcome it too.
Mokey Doris formed in 2010, crusty with the cakings of Kalem Jones' acid drenched consciousness of the summer before. Once they gathered together their lineup, including Cody (Kalem's brother) who dropped out of college for the project, they began rehearsing 3-5 times a week in friend Rob's basement. Eager to send their vibrations through brainstems with help of drummer Mike and keys master and Ben "Blue Boy" Ghobashi.
Mokey Doris pulls influence from many sources such as "The Talking Heads", "Radiohead", and "Of Montreal".
What separates us from the masses is the insistence on pushing the boundaries of melody and harmony in an alternative rock setting with catchy pop hooks.
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