Motopony
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Motopony

Seattle, Washington, United States | MAJOR

Seattle, Washington, United States | MAJOR
Band Alternative Rock

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Hood to Hood 2010: Motopony"

Conceived in a Tacoma warehouse by creative mastermind Daniel Blue, Motopony is the essence of folk n’ roll on fire with poetic passion. Singer, artist, writer and ex-fashion designer, Blue joined forces with Seattle hip-hop producer Buddy Ross, spawning the release of their ‘09 self-titled debut. Still in the musical shadows, the pair finally gained some well-deserved hype when lead guitarist Brantley Cady and drummer Thomas Williams joined, unleashing the full-fledged intensity of what is Motopony.

Blue and his crew showcased their ripe talent live at West Seattle’s Easy Street Records for KEXP’s Hood to Hood 2010 Challenge. Opening with Starsailor’s psychedelic anthem “Alcoholic,” the 4-piece set the stage with mad delirium. Between the heaviness of the song’s theme and the fact that it was 7:30 a.m., the room overcame with a hallucinatory energy as Blue sang with wild-eyed passion, screaming his last notes as if his last. “Euphoria” brought in a sweeping calm with Blue picking up his three E-string guitar to parallel his twangy voice. Finishing with “Get Down,” the slow-fast frenzy of what seems like five songs in one, KEXP couldn’t have picked a better band to kick off the all-day local music celebration.

Catch Motopony at the Chop Suey Tuesday, May 25 at 8 p.m. Word has it Daniel Johnston’s manager is flying out from Austin, Texas to personally check the guys out. So show your support for local music and rock out to a full show. You can also support Motopony by pledging to their new project for the release of their upcoming summer EP, Wait For Me. If the guys can meet their pledge goal, they’ll press 500 limited edition 12? vinyl records, personalized and signed just for you. - Ethiopian Review


"I'm Waking Up To Motopony - "King Of Diamonds""

Like a breath of fresh air, I took a lungful when I first stumbled upon Motopony’s “King of Diamonds”. I tend to have a soft spot for card playing metaphors and the Eagle’s classic, Desperado, but this track really holds its own as testament to the indie folk prowess of Daniel Blue.

From the very beginning as the slight shuffle of drums that sound as if they were recorded at seven thirty in the morning of an empty, white painted loft, courtesy of Hip Hop producer, Buddy Ross, Daniel Blue lazily drifts in with his guitar and sings with an almost sense of loss yet peace.. “I’ve been looking for the King of Diamonds, but I guess the Queen will do…”

The memories haze in this song, some of my own, sometimes someone else’s, and in this world of shared memories, you’re not too sure which ones you own anymore, but it doesn’t matter. - brian - Waking Up To


"KEXP Song of the Day"

Motopony’s Daniel Blue is a subversive character in Tacoma’s tight-knit music scene...Motopony’s music flows effortlessly between the genres of soul, funk, rock, and folk" - KEXP blog Song of the Day: Motopony - Seer By Leigh Bezezekoff | Published: January 29, 2010
- KEXP Blog


"Superb From Beginning To End"

"When Daniel Blue – one of Tacoma, WA’s most prolific artistic talents – started Motopony over two years ago, the musical project was just the latest in a series of creative endeavors for this fashion designer, artist, poet, and writer. The culmination of these creative experiences and a collaboration with Seattle hip hop producer Buddy Ross resulted in 09’s self-titled debut of pop gems with clever production and crafty beats that flow seamlessly between soul, funk, rock and folk. A few standout tracks include “Seer” and “King of Diamonds,” but the entire album is superb from beginning to end. Recently, Motopony expanded to a four-piece in an effort to capture the band’s complex sound live – definitely a band to keep tabs on." – Written by JFelton the record department album review blog - The Record Department


"Tacoma's Best New Band"

“Tacoma’s Best New Band” - Matt Driscoll (music editor, Weekly Volcano) - Weekly Volcano


Discography

Motopony - "Self-titled" LP - Independent - November 21, 2009
Motopony - "Wait For Me" Single - Independent - April 21, 2010

Photos

Bio

On June 30th 2007, Daniel Blue found himself alone in an empty loft/warehouse situation. All tore up about the harsh reality of the isolation of the modern man, he picked up a used guitar and "just made it happen, I needed a way to connect to the outside world." This is odd, because this particular warehouse was often the hub of the vibrant, if not struggling young Tacoma arts scene.

He sings to the walls, a crisis building in him…these nights alone swirl around him and he unloads his unusual lungs at the ghosts in his heart, at the demons he feels “I am a madman”, he confesses to the spirits of the air…in agreement or perhaps an acceptance as rebellion. “If i have to be mad to free myself from your grasp, then I am a madman.” Its the job of the song to tell the truth, as simply and beautifully as possible.

“Madman is the hardest song I have ever heard.” - Mike Smithy (music/fashion photographer)

The ease of his broken guitar and gaped strings demanded obsessive attention, and more songs came, some flowing out in one piece as if waiting in the wings for the droning e’s and d’s to draw them from their long incubation. Daniel began to appear in between acts that graced the stage he had set up in his "big space" a scenester hand-me-down 400 person capasity underground venue/loft in the heart of Downtown Tacoma.

“…that guitar isn’t even in tune!” - Joshua Vega (guitarist/vocals, Paris Spleen)

Local philanthropic musicians pulled Blue into the studio and crash coursed him through microphone etiquette and song structure.

“He writes perfect pop gems, disguised as abstract art pieces.” - Joshua Cain (singer/songwriter, Joshua Cain Band)

Armed with a slightly over-produced demo and a newly rehabilitated guitarist, Blue began calling his project Motopony, after his primary mode of transportation, a 1984 Honda trail 110, and appearing on stages all over Tacoma and Seattle conjuring his Cherokee and Druid ancestors into what journalists called:

“The love child of Joplin and Cohen” (Paul Schrag), and “…Oppressive, and Impressive as hell.” - (Mark Thomas Deming)

50 some odd shows and minus one guitarist later, Blue once again hoisted his newly rigged three string guitar and began to “…get serious about an album here.” In April 2009, a swirl of songs descended on Blue, forcing him to write five in nearly one week. Among these were “June”, “27” and “Wake Up”, all seeming like potent messages to himself about what he saw occurring in his life. Warnings, prophecies and hopes rolling off of stark intuition. At the same time Blue was re-introduced to Buddy Ross at a songwriters dinner hosted by a mutual friend in Tacoma. “I had to have Ross’ beats under my songs…I bugged him with emails until he would give me a listen.” Ross found potent lyrics and melodies over a skeletal chord structure, built in hooks and the thing he had been looking for: room to compose.

The duo quickly joined by some high school friends after a string of failed add attempts in the local alternative newsweekly. Thomas Williams click kicking on a 76 visqueen vintage drum kit and Brantley Cady ripping through electric blues scales as if possessed by some ancestral R&B demon.