For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 29, 2007
MOE. TO RELEASE STICKS AND STONES JANUARY 22, 2008 ON FATBOY RECORDS
MOE. ANNOUNCES STICKS AND STONES WINTER TOUR DATES
"Muscular guitar pop with room for rambling." - Rolling Stone
"moe. have evolved into a euphoric hurricane." - Blender Magazine
(New York, NY) -- STICKS AND STONES, the stellar new album from moe.,
features eight new songs that have never been performed live and two
previously unreleased songs. Produced by the band and John Siket (Dave
Matthews Band, Dispatch, Yo La Tango), who worked with the band on
several of their critically acclaimed records, including DITHER (2001),
STICKS AND STONES follows moe.'s release THE CONCH by just a year and will
be released on moe.'s record label Fatboy Records on Tuesday, January
22, 2008. The album will also be available in limited edition vinyl; a
first for moe. in this format.
STICKS AND STONES is a departure from the unique recording process moe.
used on WORMWOOD (2003) and THE CONCH (2007) in which live rhythm tracks
were combined with studio overdubs. Excluding "Conviction Song" and "All
Roads Lead To Home", STICKS AND STONES was written entirely during the
recording sessions. moe. formed in 1990 and this is the first time they
have recorded an album of unheard, new material.
"The material differs quite a bit from THE CONCH and WORMWOOD which were
largely cultivated from songs nurtured through live improvisation," says
guitarist Al Schnier. "The songs that comprise STICKS AND STONES are much
more straight, like many classic songs in the moe. canon, and have a
roots rock quality to them, as opposed to the more progressive rock
element of THE CONCH."
The usual moe. songwriting process starts by one band member bringing in
the core of a song, the band learns and arranges it. The song is then
performed live for at least a year. It morphs through many tweaks and
edits and then one day it finally gets recorded. Not so on STICKS AND STONES.
moe. rented an old church in the mountains of New England and brought
their own recording gear. The idea was to create a unique, comfortable
situation that was conducive to creativity.
"We wrote & recorded the bulk of the album in about three weeks," says
Schnier. "The songwriting was largely collaborative, whereas in the past
it had been much more singular."
"When you work on something for a few years it ends up getting
compromised from its original intent," adds bassist Rob Derhak. "Think
of Van Gogh painting sunflowers for two years and everyone adding their
opinions until the next thing you know he's painted dolphins, that's not
to say that the dolphins aren't great, but they aren't sunflowers."
"The excitement for us is that we pulled it out of thin air while still
working on the arrangements," says guitarist Chuck Garvey. "This album
is very raw and not over thought. It's made up of our first instincts -
which is not what you get when you play songs for a year or two and then
record them."
Taking the songs to album first, rather than taking them right on the
road, allows us to hear moe. for the first time before the material
develops into Olympian jam classics. The band's influences are apparent,
and yet moe.'s sound has matured over the past seventeen years into
their own uniquely distilled fine mash.
With ten songs clocking in at just under forty-one minutes, STICKS AND STONES is moe.'s most concise recording to date. Various overdubs and
final mixing were done at the world-renowned Allaire Studios in the
Catskills. Mastering was handled by the legendary and Grammy Award
winning Bob Ludwig (Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Beck, Pearl Jam).
Guest musicians include Cornmeal's Allie Kral playing violin and viola
on "Cathedral", "Conviction Song", "September" and "Raise A Glass".
Emilio China also played violin on "Cathedral". Friends Umphrey's McGee
added backing vocals to "Raise A Glass", and Nadine Lafond lends
additional vocals on several songs.
"The exciting thing for us now, is that we have to relearn the songs
from STICKS AND STONES to play them live!," says Garvey. "Maybe they'll
sound nothing like the record by the end of the tour."
"Most bands make a record and then they have to figure out how to play
it live," says Derhak. "We've never done that. It's a huge departure for
us."
Following their New Year's Eve performance at Radio City Music Hall (for
the second year in a row), the band will tour this Winter in support of
STICKS AND STONES, beginning January 17 in San Francisco. Tour dates are
below.
moe. is known for their intricate studio work and marathon concerts. Two
of their latest albums, THE CONCH and DITHER, were awarded 4 stars from
Rolling Stone and another, WORMWOOD, received 4 stars from Blender
Magazine. Throughout their career, moe. has defied music industry odds.
The band continues to improve upon its success during what is likely the
most difficult time the music industry has faced while remaining one of
its premier (and independent) bands in the world.
8 Brand News Songs Never Performed Live
2 Previously Unreleased Songs
Track Listing
1. Cathedral
2. Sticks and Stones
3. Darkness
4. Conviction Song (previously unreleased)
5. Zed Naught Z
6. Deep This Time
7. All Roads Lead to Home (previously unreleased)
8. September
9. Queen of Everything
10. Raise A Glass
MOE. TOUR DATES
NEW YEARS EVE RUN
12/30/2007 Fillmore at Irving Plaza New York
12/31/2007 Radio City Music Hall New York
STICKS AND STONES TOUR (first leg)
01/17/2008 Fillmore San Francisco
01/18/2008 House of Blues West Hollywood
01/19/2008 The Grove of Anaheim Anaheim
01/24/2008 The Pageant St. Louis
01/26/2008 The Eagles Club Milwaukee
01/27/2008 First Avenue Minneapolis
01/30/2008 Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Columbus
01/31/2008 The Town Ballroom Buffalo
02/01/2008 Electric Factory Philadelphia
02/02/2008 Orpheum Theatre Boston
NOTE TO EDITORS: moe.'s name is properly spelled in all lowercase
characters and ending with a period: "moe."
For more information, photos or music, please contact:
Jim Walsh
Big Hassle
walsh@bighassle.com
US: 212-202-0272
UK: 020-8002-9802