Winnipeg power trio Moon Tan are making a City stop Oct. 28th at The Vat, smack on the heels of the release of their new 7” The Faceless Knight.
The project features two smashing new singles, including the exemplary title track which showcases the sheer strength and versatility of lead singer Adrian Dyer’s vocals.
“Most of the work for us came before we went into the studio,” explained Dyer of the tunes. “We kind of did our own production of the songs – we generally lay out the ‘skeleton’ for the song, then play it, and listen to see if there are any parts that can be strengthened, or where we can put a hook where it might be lacking,” he said. “When we did go into the studio, it was our time to hammer everything out that we had laid down the road map for.”
Rounding out the band are Brady Mitchell on guitar and Nick Knock on drums – these two began rehearsing when they were just 15-years-old.
The guys released their self-titled debut EP in 2013, which was followed by New Age Renegade in 2015. They cite a range of influences running the gamut from the the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus and Led Zeppelin to Black Sabbath, Genesis, The Police and Jimi Hendrix.
Over the years, the band has evolved into the energetic, funky, progressive and absolutely unique group that they are today. “We ran with cover tunes for about a year,” explained Dyer.
“And then we decided that we wanted to do our own music, and eventually ended up moving forward without the other singer,” he said of those early days. “Then I just decided to teach myself, and the rest is history from there.”
As their bio points out, the guys draw on a range of influences, and it’s their ability in blending genre, technique and style that has transformed them into a, “Well-oiled, complex, music-making machine.”
Moon Tan delivers shows that, besides being sonically tight and explosively energetic, also have a distinct theatrical bent to them as well. “We decided we wanted to deliver something that was more visually stimulating with more of a theatrical aspect to it,” he said.
Knock agrees. “We want the audience to feel total sensory overload when they come to our show. We want them to see these three freaks up on stage giving their all in costumes they designed, playing music that came from the most depraved corners of their mind at volumes they can feel. And we want them to go home feeling like they just witnessed something out of the norm, unforgettable.”
Previous Canadian tours have been met with rave reviews and sold out shows – and their sights are now set on conquering Europe and the United States in 2017. They are planning a slate of shows for the UK and Germany at this point.
“We’re still organizing things, but we definitely want to branch out,” said Dyer of the guys’ desire to explore the music scene across the pond.
For Dyer, a love for music came early on, with a knack for penning songs as well.
As mentioned, he largely taught himself to sing – which he does extremely well with a style that fits with the sensibilities of Moon Tan perfectly.
Still, music wasn’t precisely ‘plan A’ – at first, anyways. He first started off studying business, economics and Spanish.
But there was a growing urge to delve into music that just wouldn’t subside. “I was attending university, but I figured I might as well go for it all, or not go as all.”
As for these exciting days of reaching more fans with what the utterly unique style the guys have to offer, he wouldn’t have it any other way. Feedback remains extremely encouraging as well.
“You get to test your product in different markets when you’re traveling,” he added of the appeal of hitting the road. “You can gauge different reactions.”
mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com
