Mook
New York City, New York, United States
Music
Press
Mook
Life, too often one beauty pageant after another, is best when a couple of goofy-looking, poorly dressed guys (a lá Pavement) can get their shit together and rock a little. Mook does exactly that. A spunky little four-piece, Mook displays an instrumental proficiency, but never sacrifices its indie-rock roots with a detour into prog. Instead, the start-and-stop influx of overdriven guitar and dirty organ provide the platform on which the vocals dominate. Descriptive, literate lyrics border on verbose but their sung/spoke delivery is sprinkled with carefully placed harmonies, making them sugary-sweet. Like Islands with less Paul Simon worship, the jazzy guitar work of Karate, handclaps and half-time, Mook's astute manipulation of influence give the band a familiar charm and a unique flair.
Their entry "The Eggs" EP is brimming with quirky potential and is instantly digestible thanks to the lively interplay between the keys and the six string. Their song "Quiet Sounds" is a hit, an attitude-infused foot-tapper that is not far off from the ever-so-hot pop-stomp of OK Go. Get these guys some treadmills and a choreographer and they're the next big thing.
- Joe Coscarelli - Washington Square News
The Mook mix combines original, provocative songwriting with top-notch musicianship to create a sound that is sophisticated without being slick, tuneful without being predictable, and unique while still being accessible. Recorded, Mook is terrific, but LIVE they are incredible. Everyone should experience MOOK at least once in a lifetime.
Judy Pancoast, family entertainer - Judy Pancoast
"However, the music hall sound of their Crispin’s House performance and “The Eggs” EP shows the group spanning decades of keyboard-driven art rock from The Doors to The Dresden Dolls."
-Rod Hansen - Goffstown News
Discography
"The Eggs EP" - Dec. 2006
Available on iTunes and most other digital retailers. Also available at CDbaby.com.
Photos
Bio
Mooks approach to music relies on seamless dichotomies of musical arrangement. Each song juxtaposes a number of influences in a natural and modest way. This allows for greater accessibility and application of the proper hooks. Mooks lyrical output is that of the persona of the band itself, musically serious yet artistically playful. As lead singer, Paul Danos voice never fails to rest perfectly within the feeling of each song. However, each member does his part to thread vocal texture throughout each composition.
The band offers no consensus on an artist or series of artists with which theyd compare their sound. However, they do find themselves in agreement on the following: Michael Jackson, The Wu-Tang Clan, Earth Wind & Fire, and the word lips.
Show History:
With a number of gigs under their belt, Mook has planted its seed on a variety of stages. From the olfactory turbulence of Northern Jersey (Hamilton St. Cafe), the wintry nature of Boston: (Harpers Ferry) and Northern Massachusetts (Williams College) not to mention the New York city haunts (Sin-e, The Delancey, Arlenes Grocery) the band calls home, Mook has proven itself a hardy and fertile road warrior up and down the east coast.
Band Members:
Rob Bruce: Bass
-Age: 25
-Function: Ensures band objective: Keeping Rock Alive as rhythmical bedrock.
-Occupation: Beard Growth Analyst, Part-time Vagrant
-Limit: Small feet
-Influence: Mike Patton
-Background: Self proclaimed as the son of a pirate-hooker, Rob earned the nick-name Mr. Hands through a freak accident involving a baseball glove, a pair of mittens and a Ouija board. His belief in the chicken before the egg is an unshakable truth.
Paul Dano: Guitar, Vocals
-Age: 22
-Function: Ensures all Mook products are lactose free.
-Occupation: Student (The New School, NYC), major motion picture stunt double.
-Limit: Dairy Foods, Artichokes
-Influence: Rainer Maria Rilke
-Background: A firm believer in the chicken before the egg, Paul suffers from acute post-song anxiety and may often be found wearing flannel, tapered sweat-pants or a combination of both.
Dan Kreiger: Piano, and The Various Forms Thereof
-Age: 22
-Function: Ensures all Mook products are kosher.
-Occupation: Student (New York University, N.Y.C.), Piano Teacher
-Limit: Restricted to 7 words of live, non-lyrical, audience/band communication
-Influence: Glenn Gould
-Background: Choosing music over life in the circus, Dan plays piano with greater genius than Dr. Frankensteins manipulation of the organ. He believes the egg pre-dated the chicken.
Gus Johnson: Drums, Percussion
-Age: 21
-Function: Ensures all Mook products are given the appropriate level of Soul.
-Occupation: Student (Western C.T. State University), Drum Instructor
-Limit: Not Applicable
-Influence: James Brown
-Background: Gus exudes a disposition similar to that of the 1950s drummers; all smiles, great hair and white teeth. His contemporary approach to percussion has deep roots in the traditional style. Shrouded in what can only be described as cheerful mystery, he believes the question is not the chicken or the egg but rather where did that nest come from?
-by Kevin Smallwood
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