Half Moon Run
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Canadian indie rock band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Half Moon Run
| image = C Half Moon Run 2021.jpg
| caption = Half Moon Run in 2021. Left to right: Conner Molander, Dylan Phillips, Devon Portielje
| image_size =
| origin = Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| genre = Indie rock, indie folk, indie pop{{cite news|last1=Saxberg|first1=Lynn|title=Half Moon Run on the Rise|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20130307/282226598150637/textview|access-date=8 July 2017|work=Ottawa Citizen|publisher=Postmedia Network Inc.|date=7 March 2013}}
| years_active = 2009–present
| label = BMG, Indica Records (Canada), Glassnote Records (USA), Communion (UK),
Indica Australia (AU and NZ)
| website = {{URL|http://www.halfmoon.run}}
| current_members = {{plainlist|
- Devon Portielje
- Dylan Phillips
- Conner Molander
}}
| past_members = {{plainlist|
- Isaac Symonds
}}
}}
Half Moon Run is a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec. The group is known for their heavy use of layered percussion, group vocal harmonies, and for playing multiple instruments during live performances.
Career
=2009–2013: Formation and ''Dark Eyes''=
Half Moon Run was formed in 2009 in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhood by Conner Molander and Dylan Phillips, who had both moved to Montreal from Comox, British Columbia. They posted an ad on Craigslist that said they were looking for a bassist and/or a drummer. The ad caught the attention of Devon Portielje, originally from Ottawa. Despite not being a bassist or a drummer, he got in touch with Molander and Phillips who agreed to let him join.{{cite web | url=https://www.halfmoonrun.com/bio/ | title=Half Moon Run: Bio}}{{cite news |last1=Saxberg |first1=Lynn |title=Half Moon Run on the rise |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20130307/282226598150637 |access-date=8 March 2022 |date=7 March 2013}}
Their debut album, Dark Eyes, was released on 27 March 2012, with "Full Circle" being released on 19 March as the lead single. The entire album was co-produced with Daniel Lagacé and Nygel Asselin.{{cite web|url=http://halfmoonrun.indica.mu/en/news/half-moon-run-will-release-their-debut-album-dark-eyes/ |title=Disques Indica – indica.mu |publisher=Halfmoonrun.indica.mu |date=2021-11-20 |accessdate=2022-02-14}}{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/Half-Moon-Run-Dark-Eyes/release/3904095 | title=Half Moon Run – Dark Eyes | publisher=Discogs | access-date=23 January 2020}} They toured Europe, Australia and North America.(14 June 2012). "Half Moon Run are indie's rising stars", Daily Mercury, p. 28. Critical acclaim has included praise for their three-part harmonies.Sadleir, Rose (17 January 2013). "Trio bask in moonlight", Gold Coast Bulletin, p. 5.
Shortly after the release of Dark Eyes, Isaac Symonds, originally from Comox, joined the lineup.
Throughout 2012 and 2013, the band played at numerous music festivals including South by Southwest, Osheaga, Canadian Music Week, Glastonbury, WayHome Music & Arts Festival, and opened for artists such as Of Monsters and Men, Metric, Patrick Watson, City and Colour, and Mumford & Sons.Lepage, Mark (7 December 2012). "[https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Montreal+trio+Half+Moon+Lunar+rovers+fast+lane/7662256/story.html Montreal trio Half Moon Run: Lunar rovers in the fast lane] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304032601/http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Montreal+trio+Half+Moon+Lunar+rovers+fast+lane/7662256/story.html |date=4 March 2013 }}", The Gazette. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
In August 2013, "Full Circle" was featured in a trailer for Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. The song "Unofferable" also appears on an episode of the CBS's show Elementary as a backtracking to a scene.
=2014–2019: ''Sun Leads Me On'' and ''A Blemish in the Great Light''=
In July 2014, they announced that work on their second album had begun.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/halfmoonrun?fref=ts|via=Facebook|access-date=8 September 2014 | title= Half Moon Run facebook}} They announced that it would be released in fall 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.halfmoonrun.com |title=Half Moon Run |publisher=Half Moon Run |accessdate=2022-02-14}} That same year, they were the recipients of the International Achievement Award at the annual Francophone SOCAN Awards in Montreal.{{cite web |url=http://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2014-socan-awards |title=2014 Socan Awards | Socan |access-date=26 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628132104/http://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2014-socan-awards |archive-date=28 June 2017 |url-status=dead }}
On 24 July 2015, the band announced a European tour that included shows in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.{{cite web|url=http://www.halfmoonrun.com/#tourdates | title=Tour Dates}}
On 7 August 2015, the band announced, via their Twitter page, the release of their second studio album, Sun Leads Me On, on 23 October 2015. They simultaneously released a teaser track, "Trust", which was available as a free download with pre-orders of their album. Pre-orders via their website offered the album signed by all band members. A deluxe version was also released.
On 1 November 2019, Half Moon Run released their third full-length album A Blemish in the Great Light. The album won Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2020.Stephen Cooke, [https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/lifestyles/local-lifestyles/virtual-2020-juno-awards-includes-breakthrough-win-for-neon-dreams-467730/ "Virtual 2020 Juno Awards includes breakthrough win for Neon Dreams"]. Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 29 June 2020.
=2020–2022: Symonds's Departure, ''The Covideo Sessions'' and subsequent releases=
On 25 May 2020, the band announced that Isaac Symonds would be leaving the group.{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/half_moon_run_part_ways_with_isaac_symonds|title=Half Moon Run Part Ways with Isaac Symonds|date=25 May 2020 }}
Throughout May and June 2020 while the band members had been self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they recorded and released videos of themselves performing together via video conference. Symonds remained with the group throughout this time. That same year, they also released seven new singles, six of which were then released together as an EP entitled Seasons of Change on 17 July.{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/half_moon_run_deliver_new_song_all_at_once|title=Half Moon Run Deliver New Song "All at Once"|access-date=6 July 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/half_moon_run_deliver_pair_of_isolation-recorded_singles | title=Half Moon Run Deliver a Pair of Isolation-Recorded Singles | access-date=6 July 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/half_moon_run_share_6-song_ep_season_of_change |title=Half Moon Run Share 'Seasons of Change' EP |last=Gregory |first=Allie |date=17 July 2020 |website=Exclaim! |access-date=9 August 2020 }} They followed up in September with The Covideo Sessions, an album featuring the recordings of their May–June video performances.
On 21 August 2020, Dylan Phillips released his debut solo EP entitled Undercurrents.{{cite web |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/half_moon_runs_dylan_phillips_announces_solo_debut_ep_undercurrents |title=Half Moon Run's Dylan Phillips Announces Debut Solo EP 'Undercurrents' |last=Gregory |first=Allie |date=29 July 2020 |website=Exclaim! |access-date=9 August 2020 }}
On 18 March 2021, the band released a single, "How Come My Body", to promote their Inwards & Onwards EP which was released on 18 June 2021.
On 26 December 2021, Half Moon Run released Seasons of Change and Inwards & Onwards together on a compilation album.
On 10 March 2022, the band released "Fatal Line", a song they contributed to The 1969 Record. The album also featured songs from Louis-Jean Cormier, Elisapie, Les Soeurs Boulay, Jason Bajada, and Matt Holubowski.
= 2023–present: ''Salt'' =
On 3 March 2023, the band released a single, "You Can Let Go." On the same day, the band announced that they signed to BMG, as well as a tour for Europe and North America.{{Cite web |last=Major |first=Michael |title=Half Moon Run Return With New Song 'You Can Let Go' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Half-Moon-Run-Return-With-New-Song-You-Can-Let-Go-20230303 |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}} On 20 April 2023, the band released a single, "Alco," to promote their then-upcoming album Salt.{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=Alex |date=20 April 2023 |title=Half Moon Run Announce New Album 'Salt,' Share Single "Alco" |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/half_moon_run_announce_new_album_salt_share_single_alco|website=Exclaim!}} This was followed by the release of another single, "Everyone's Moving Out East," on 18 May 2023.{{Cite web |last=Vigil |first=Dom |date=18 May 2023 |title=Half Moon Run Release New Single, "Everyone's Moving Out East" |url=https://preludepress.com/news/2023/05/18/half-moon-run-everyones-moving-out-east/ |access-date=19 May 2023 |website=Prelude Press}}
On 2 June 2023, the band released their fourth studio album, Salt.{{Cite web |last=MacIntyre |first=Dave |date=1 June 2023 |title=Why Montreal's Half Moon Run are the salt of the earth |url=https://cultmtl.com/2023/06/why-montreal-band-half-moon-run-are-the-salt-of-the-earth/}}
On 23 October 2023, the band released a cover of Fred Again's "Adore U" as part of a series of songs recorded live in a studio called "Live from the Treehouse."{{Cite web |last=Major |first=Michael |title=HALF MOON RUN Release Cover Of Fred again..'s 'adore u (Live from the Treehouse)' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/HALF-MOON-RUN-Release-Cover-Of-Fred-agains-adore-u-Live-from-the-Treehouse-20231023 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}} The band released the songs periodically over the course of the following few months, including the release of "Can't Stop Loving You" on 29 February 2024.{{Cite web |last=Melanson |first=Jenna |date=2024-02-29 |title=Half Moon Run Releases "Can't Stop Loving You" Live From The Treehouse |url=https://canadianbeats.ca/2024/02/29/half-moon-run-releases-cant-stop-loving-you-live-from-the-treehouse/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |language=en-US}} The full EP, "Live from the Treehouse," released on 21 March 2024.{{Citation |title=Live from the Treehouse |url=https://www.highresaudio.com/en/album/view/hrx7zq/half-moon-run-live-from-the-treehouse |access-date=2024-12-12 |language=en}}
On 28 November 2024, the band released a single, "Loose Ends."{{Cite web |title=Hear the Week's Best New Canadian Music: Half Moon Run, Boslen, Housewife, Ruby Singh │ Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/hear-the-week-s-best-new-canadian-music-half-moon-run-boslen-housewife-ruby-singh |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Hear the Week's Best New Canadian Music: Half Moon Run, Boslen, Housewife, Ruby Singh │ Exclaim! |language=en}} Two other singles, "Back on the Road" and "The Message," were released on 31 January 2025 and 20 March 2025 respectively.{{Cite web |last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca |first=Zone Arts- |date=2025-03-21 |title=Half Moon Run, Men I Trust et Léonie Gray : la semaine en musique |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2149437/sorties-musicales-half-moon-run-men-i-trust-leonie-gray |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Radio-Canada |language=fr-ca}}
On 23 December 2024, the band released a cover of Bob Dylan's "Boots of Spanish Leather."{{Cite web |date=8 January 2025 |title=Half Moon Run's atmospheric Bob Dylan cover, and 3 more songs you need to hear this week |url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/new-music-half-moon-run-milk-bone-yves-jarvis-1.7425041 |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=CBC Music}}
Members
=Current=
- Devon Portielje – lead vocals, guitar, piano, percussion (2009–present)
- Conner Molander – backing vocals, guitar, keyboard, piano, pedal steel, bass, harmonica (2009–present)
- Dylan Phillips – backing vocals, drums, piano, keyboard (2009–present)
=Former=
- Isaac Symonds – backing vocals, drums, mandolin, synthesizer, bass (2012–2020)
Discography
=Albums=
== Live albums ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row" | The Covideo Sessions
|
|
| scope="row" | Live from the Treehouse
|
|
== Compilations ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row" | Seasons of Change – Inwards & Onwards
|
|
=EPs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Seasons of Change
|
|
| scope="row"| Inwards & Onwards
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="6"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| CAN Alt Peak positions for the Alternative Rock songs in Canada:
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| CAN ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| BEL (Fl) ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| NL ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SCO
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK | ||||||
| 2012
! scope="row"| "Full Circle" | 29 | — | 27 | 67 | 63 | 60
| rowspan="3"| Dark Eyes | |
| 2013
! scope="row"| "Call Me in the Afternoon" | 19 | 39 | 69 | — | — | 166 | |
| 2014
! scope="row"| "She Wants to Know" | 22 | 37 | — | — | — | — | |
| rowspan="2" | 2015
! scope="row"| "Trust" | — | — | — | — | — | —
| rowspan="3"| Sun Leads Me On | |
| scope="row"| "Turn Your Love"
| 11 || 13 || — || — || — || — | ||||||
| 2016
! scope="row"| "Consider Yourself" | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | |
| rowspan="3" | 2019
! scope="row"| "Then Again" | — | 21 | — | — | — | —
| rowspan="3" | A Blemish in the Great Light | |
| scope="row"| "Flesh and Blood"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | ||||||
| scope="row"| "Favourite Boy"{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/half_moon_run_share_steamy_new_video_for_favourite_boy|title=Half Moon Run Share Steamy New Video for "Favourite Boy"|publisher=Exclaim|access-date=4 March 2020}}
| — || 36 || — || — || — || — | ||||||
| rowspan="6"| 2020
! scope="row"| "Grow into Love" | — | — | — | — | — | —
| rowspan="2"| Seasons of Change EP | |
| scope="row"| "All at Once"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | ||||||
| scope="row"| "Jello on My Mind (More Sugar Mix)"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || Non-album single | ||||||
| scope="row"| "You Won't" / "Look Me in the Eyes (Skitstövel)"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | rowspan="3"| Seasons of Change EP | ||||||
| scope="row"| "Monster"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | ||||||
| scope="row"| "Seasons of Change"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | ||||||
| 2021
! scope="row"| "How Come My Body" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Inwards & Onwards |
| 2022
! scope="row"| "Fatal Line" | — | — | — | — | — | — | The 1969 Record |
| rowspan="4" | 2023
! scope="row"| "You Can Let Go" | — | — | — | — | — | —
| rowspan="3" | Salt | |
| scope="row"| "Alco"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | ||||||
| scope="row"| "Everyone's Moving Out East"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | ||||||
| scope="row"| "Adore U"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | rowspan="2" | Live from the Treehouse | ||||||
| rowspan="3" | 2024
! scope="row" | "Can't Stop Loving You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| scope="row" | "Loose Ends"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | TBA | ||||||
| scope="row" | "Boots of Spanish Leather"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | Non-album single | ||||||
| rowspan="2" | 2025
! scope="row" | "Back on the Road" | — | — | — | — | — | —
| rowspan="2" | TBA | |
| scope="row" | "The Message"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | ||||||
| colspan="17" style="font-size:85%" | "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released. |
=Other charted songs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| BEL (Fl) |
| 2013
! scope="row"| "Nerve" | 36 | Dark Eyes |
= Music Videos =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Director |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2012
! scope="row" | "Full Circle" |Pierre-Luc Racine |
| scope="row" | "Call Me in the Afternoon"
|Człowiek Kamera |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
! scope="row" | "Judgement" |Matt Joycey |
| scope="row" | "No More Losing the War"
|Człowiek Kamera |
| rowspan="2" |2015
! scope="row" | "Turn Your Love" |— |
| scope="row" | "I Can't Figure Out What's Going On"
|Heston L'Abbé |
| 2016
! scope="row" | "Consider Yourself" |Devon Portielje and Conner Molander |
| 2017
! scope="row" | "Hands in the Garden" |Agathe Bray-Bourret |
| rowspan="3" | 2019
! scope="row" | "Then Again" | rowspan="2" |Sacha Roy |
| scope="row" | "Flesh and Blood" |
| scope="row" | "Favourite Boy"
|Philippe Grenier |
| rowspan="2" |2020
! scope="row" | "Look Me in the Eyes (Skitstövel)" |— |
| scope="row" | "Monster"
|— |
| rowspan="4" |2021
! scope="row" | "How Come My Body" |— |
| scope="row" | "On & On"
|Alex Tomlinson |
| scope="row" | "It's True"
|Michał Biegański |
| scope="row" | "Fxgiving"
|— |
| rowspan="3" |2023
! scope="row" | "You Can Let Go" | Alex Tomlinson |
| scope="row" | "Alco"
| Marc-André Dupaul |
| scope="row"| "Everyone's Moving Out East"
| Maïlis |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.halfmoonrun.com/ Official site]
- {{YouTube|u=halfmoonrunning}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Half Moon Run}}
Category:Musical groups from Montreal
Category:Canadian musical trios
Category:Canadian indie rock groups
Category:Musical groups established in 2009
Category:Canadian indie folk groups
Category:2009 establishments in Quebec
Category:Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year winners