Moon Hooch
{{Short description|American jazz fusion band}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Moon Hooch
| image = Moon hooch in concert 2019.jpg
| caption = Moon Hooch in 2019.
| origin = Brooklyn, New York
| genre = Jazz fusion, nu jazz
| years_active = {{Start date|2010}}–present
| website = {{URL|moonhooch.com}}
| current_members = {{unbulleted list| Wenzl McGowen | Michael Wilbur | Cyzon Griffin}}
| past_members = {{unbulleted list| James Muschler | Ethan Snyder | Jules Jenssen }}
}}
Moon Hooch is an American band from Brooklyn, New York, known for their dance-oriented percussion- and saxophone-based music. The band consists of saxophonists Wenzl McGowen and Michael Wilbur, and drummer Cyzon Griffin. The two woodwind players, along with original drummer James Muschler, met while attending The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and got their start busking in New York City Subway stations.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 2013 and peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. Their second album This Is Cave Music was released on September 16, 2014. and reached number 5 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
History
=Early years=
The band first started busking in 2010, playing in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The band started out playing mostly jazz, but then moved to dance music after a better audience reception. Later, they decided to busk in the New York City Subway. In the process they were banned from the Bedford Avenue station by the NYPD, who tried to prevent people from dancing on the platform edge.{{cite web|last1=Phull|first1=Hardeep|title=From Busking to Broadway|url=https://nypost.com/2013/01/25/from-busking-to-broadway/|website=The New York Post|accessdate=14 December 2017|date=25 January 2013}} In 2011, they appeared as the house band on the Australian TV series Hamish and Andy's Gap Year where they were re-christened "The Busketeers".{{cite web|title=Meet The Busketeers|url=http://www.hamishandandy.com/2011/meet-busketeers/|website=Hamish & Andy|accessdate=14 December 2017|date=8 August 2011}} Their album artwork is designed by Ari Michael Warner.
=2013–2015=
file:Moon Hooch, RIBCO, November 2014.jpg
After gaining a reputation from busking, Moon Hooch started to release albums, beginning with their self-titled debut on June 25, 2013. It was recorded in a 24-hour period at Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, and most of the copies were sold while the band was still busking.{{cite web |title=Moon Hooch |url=https://www.moonhooch.com/bio |accessdate=14 December 2017 |website=Moon Hooch}} Their second album, This is Cave Music, was released on September 16, 2014, and was the first to use synthesizers, post-production work, and vocals. It received positive reviews, and many reviewers commented on the band's unique style.{{cite web | last1=Levenson | first1=Max Savage | title=First Listen: Moon Hooch, 'This Is Cave Music' | url=https://www.npr.org/2014/09/07/345216678/first-listen-moon-hooch-this-is-cave-music | publisher=NPR | accessdate=13 September 2014 | date=7 September 2014}} Their next album, Red Sky, would continue to use the same elements pioneered in This is Cave Music. Moon Hooch has been influential in the “brass house” genre, as well as pushing the boundaries of jazz. {{cite news |last1=Haider |first1=Arwa |title=How club culture and EDM inspired jazz musicians |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8fd657e0-b7e3-11e7-bff8-f9946607a6ba |website=Financial Times |date=27 October 2017 |publisher=Financial Times |accessdate=30 July 2018}}
=2016–2024=
The band released their first EP, The Joshua Tree, in early 2017.{{Cite web |last=Boilen |first=Bob |date=July 21, 2017 |title=Watch: The Latest Video From Moon Hooch Is Pure Insanity |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/07/21/538179725/watch-the-latest-video-from-moon-hooch-is-pure-insanity |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=npr}} Their second EP, Light It Up, was released on April 6, 2018, via Hornblow Recordings. The short three track EP was announced alongside the video for the first single of the album, "Acid Mountain."{{Cite news|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/moon-hooch-announces-new-ep-shares-single|title=Moon Hooch Announces New EP & Shares Single|date=2018-03-23|work=JamBase|access-date=2018-03-25|language=en-US}}
On November 5, 2019, Moon Hooch released the single Candlelight, followed by an announcement of the release of their newest album Life On Other Planets. The album was released in January 2020,{{Cite web |last=Varias |first=Chris |title=Come on down to Covington and try out 'cave music' with Moon Hooch |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/01/26/moon-hooch-plays-covington-support-life-other-planets/4554497002/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=The Enquirer |language=en-US}} and was followed by a large North American tour and a smaller European tour.{{cite web |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/moon-hooch-life-on-other-planets-album-single-2020-tour |title=Moon Hooch Announces New Album 'Life On Other Planets' & 2020 Tour, Shares Single |last=Bernstein |first=Scott |date=November 5, 2019 |website=JamBase |access-date=November 5, 2019}} In February 2021 they released a continuous play album 2021: A Hooch Odyssey, which featured remixes of their favorite songs.{{Cite web |title=Moon Hooch launches new album into the stratosphere, with two shows in Seattle this weekend. |url=https://www.knkx.org/show/the-new-cool/2022-05-06/moon-hooch-launches-new-album-into-the-stratosphere-with-two-shows-in-seattle-this-weekend |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=KNKX Public Radio |language=en}} On September 9, 2021, the band released a new album titled Super Cone Bros referencing the character Mario.{{Cite web |last=Cesare |first=Corey |date=2022-07-19 |title=Wenzl McGowen Brings His Traffic Cone Saxophone to 'AGT' |url=https://talentrecap.com/wenzl-mcgowen-brings-his-traffic-cone-saxophone-to-agt/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Talent Recap |language=en-US}}
=April 2024–present=
On Wednesday, April 10th, 2024 via his Facebook, Jules Jenssen posted from Asbury Park, NJ to announce that he would be playing drums with the band at Wonder Bar that night and "for the foreseeable future."https://www.facebook.com/share/p/F4QUUrro8adnyt7J/?mibextid=qi2Omg {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} Jules had previously assisted Michael with configuring his live looping setup (including auto-looping) and collaborates in similar capacities, and as a live playback engineer, with artists including Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Wayne, The Kid Laroi, Cordae, Benee and Honeycomb (Beat boxer and musician).
On Monday, April 21st, 2025, Moon Hooch announced through their social media that they would begin an indefinite hiatus starting in 2026.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DIt2rCxJsBj/?hl=en |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.instagram.com}} In their announcement they also stated that each of the three members would be taking time to focus on their solo careers. They will continue to play shows through to the end of 2025.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DIt2rCxJsBj/?hl=en |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.instagram.com}}
Philosophy
The band believes deeply in environmental causes. They are strongly passionate about environmentalism and sustainable living, and use their influence to share this philosophy with others. In 2017, they announced that the band would be carbon neutral. Along with environmental activism, the band is also united in their practice of meditation. They say that it helps to give them focus, something they value in their work. The band also believes that meditation has allowed them to become better people.{{cite web|last1=Rees|first1=Thomas|title=Moon Hooch Interview \\"While we were dead the three of us left our bodies and went into an astral world"|url=https://ezhmag.com/moon-hooch-interview-while-we-were-dead-the-three-of-us-left-our-bodies-and-went-into-an-astral-world/|website=Internet Archive Jazz Standard|date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718203109/https://ezhmag.com/moon-hooch-interview-while-we-were-dead-the-three-of-us-left-our-bodies-and-went-into-an-astral-world/|accessdate=18 July 2018|archive-date=2018-07-18}}
Discography
Studio albums
- Moon Hooch (2013)
- This Is Cave Music (2014)
- Red Sky (2016)
- Life on Other Planets (2020)
- 2021: A Hooch Odyssey (2021)
- Super Cone Bros (2021)
- My Head & My Heart (2023)
- Yesterday's Problem (2024)
- Tomorrow (Moon Hooch & Tonio Sagan, 2025)
EPs
- Joshua Tree (2017)
- Light It Up (2018)
- Light It Up Remix (ft. Roni size and D. Konopka, 2021)
- Super Cone Bros (2021)
Live albums
- Live at the Cathedral (2017)
- Live in Nashville (2020)
Singles
- "Moon Zooz, Pt. 1" (2016)
- "Mon Santo" (2018)
- "Acid Mountain" (2018)
- "Rise" (Moon Hooch & Tonio Sagan, 2019)
- "Give Yourself to Love" (2019)
- "Candlelight" (2019)
- "Nonphysical" (2019)
- "Dirty Dishes" (2020)
- "STONK" (2020)
- "Moon Zooz, Pt. 2" (2021)
- "One Planet" (2022)
Band members
- Michael Wilbur – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass saxophone, synthesizers, soprano clarinet, vocals
- Wenzl McGowen – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet, EWI, synthesizers
- Cyzon Griffin - drums and percussion
=Former band members=
- Jules Jenssen - drums and percussion
- James Muschler – drums and percussion, tabla, synthesizers, soprano saxophone
- Ethan Snyder - drums and percussion
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website}}
- {{Discogs artist}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/user/moonhooch Official YouTube Channel]
- [https://moonhooch.bandcamp.com/ Official Bandcamp]
- [http://www.youtube.com/@JulesJenssen Jules Jenssen / MAD MIDI's YouTube Channel]
- [https://www.npr.org/2014/07/07/329521706/moon-hooch-tiny-desk-concert Moon Hooch on NPR's Tiny Desk]
{{Authority control}}
Category:American dance music groups
Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn
Category:American street performers
Category:Palmetto Records artists