Modern Day Moonshine - Refuge

A friend of mine has an original drawing by Bruce Burton of “The Family Tree Of American Rock.”  Here are a couple of photos of a poster made from the original drawing posted by Violator @ MuzicForums.com:

The tree is made up entirely of the names of American rockers and rock bands.  Trailblazers, such as Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, are deeply embedded in the tree’s trunk. Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, ZZ Top, Beach Boys, James Gang and their ilk are relegated to branches and leaves.  It is a heady drawing - a wonderful artistic tribute to the breadth, scope, and growth of rock music.  

As I listened to Modern Day Moonshine’s release “Refuge” The Family Tree Of American Rock came to mind. The content of “Refuge” is as if Modern Day Moonshine (“MDM”) guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Todd Goodnough came upon the Family Tree and shook it as hard as he could. Leaves and twigs fell to the ground. Goodnough and his bandmates, bassplayer Brendan McCaskey and drummer David Burrows, then assembled a collage of twelve original tracks from the scattered debris. You have a branch of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; a bit of Bob Dylan bark; a slice of Dave Mason heartwood; a cone or two of the Doobie Brothers; a few stray needles of Allman Brothers; and some Atlanta Rhythm Section sapwood covered with “Champagne Jam.”  There is even a leaf of Brahms from the nearby Family Tree Of Classical Music Composers.

MDM generally mine the Folk/Country/Alternative Rock genre. Yet, there is also a nice soul blues ethos.  CSN&Y had a particular acoustic and electric guitar sound that was led by Neil Young and Steve Stills.  Goodnough has much of the same approach in his guitar work.  McCaskey thumps and bumps with precision and Burrows pounds out impeccable time with nicely played rolls and fills.  The notes sound like the buds of spring.  Each bursts into being and turns into a musical food factory.  Tasty stuff!

Yes, MDM’s latest endeavor is under the Ripple label.  True, The Ripple Effect is a Ripple enterprise.  Also true, I don’t get paid to do this by Ripple or anyone else.  If I didn’t like it you wouldn’t be hearing about it.  

MDM’s music on “Refuge”  definitely soars in the canopy of the The Family Tree Of American Rock. It won’t leave you out on a limb.  I guarantee it!

- Old School

Buy here: Ripple Music 

Jam Band Extraordinaire, Modern Day Moonshine’s New Album Slated For November Release

After signing on with Ripple Music in the waning weeks of 2009, the Bay Area’s Modern Day Moonshine found themselves in the scenic, serene, and solitary environs of Tres Llamas Studios, a converted ranch overlooking the Towalame River in Northern California. With no one to disturb except for the indigenous wildlife and the three llamas that roam the studio grounds, the band spent late days and even later nights laying down the basic tracks to the dozen or so songs that would eventually make up Refuge, the bands third full-length album.

Scheduled to hit the streets on November 23rd, 2010, Refuge is an album of soulful blues-based rock that features grand elements of jazz, funk, and roots-Americana. This musical diversity has made Modern Day Moonshine practically impossible to accurately categorize, and will undoubtedly leave listeners emotionally charged and excited to explore the multiple layers of the recorded sounds.

Armed with a catalog of well over a hundred songs and the experience of performing more than five hundred shows (including a two and a half years as the house band for the House of Blues in San Diego), Modern Day Moonshine are prepared for a lengthy stint on the road where no two shows will ever sound the same.

Refuge is available for pre-order at the Ripple Music Store or for digital download at Digstation/ModernDayMoonshine

"come on in and pour yourself a cup of alright"

http://www.moderndaymoonshine.com/


www.ripple-music.com

MODERN DAY MOONSHINE BEGINS FREE "BOOTLEGGERS" CLUB FOR FANS

With the release of their new studio album Refuge (Ripple Music) just weeks away, blues/soul/rock trio Modern Day Moonshine announce the launch of their free fan interactive  "MDM Bootleggers” Club

Spread across the bands' newly redesigned website and social media, the project allows "MDM Bootleggers" to access a new song every Tuesday. With a catalogue of songs reaching well into the hundreds,  the streaming mp3's will range from demos and live performances to previously unreleased studio tracks, and will feature exclusive photos and updates from the band.  Fans will be polled each month to choose their favorite tracks, with the winners being compiled into a special edition “Bootlegger Album”  that will be available as a download only.

Offered free to all MDM fans, the only “cost” to join is their word of mouth.  Operated much like the charity candy display at a gas station cash register, MDM is using the honor system of holding fans accountable to helping spread the word.  In return for their efforts, MDM Bootleggers will have access to all new material as well as contests, giveaways and free tickets to upcoming shows. 

Commented drummer David Burrows "These tunes need to be heard, and we want the fans to determine a unique album.  This is the quickest way to get them out.  We're really looking forward to hooking up our fans for helping spread the Modern Day Moonshine name."
 
Modern Day Moonshine's Refuge will see a November 23rd release through Ripple Music.

www.moderndaymoonshine.com