Moon Honey says farewell

On August 15th, Baton Rouge will count Moon Honey among its own one last time with a farewell show at Chelsea’s Café before the band relocates to Los Angeles. This will be the last performance for the band with its current lineup, which includes keyboardist Jeffrey Livingston and drummer Jermaine Butler, who are remaining in Louisiana to pursue other interests. Vocalist/lyricist Jessica Ramsey and guitarist Andrew Martin will head westward, in search of Moon Honey’s future.

After bringing its distinct sound far and wide over the course of several whirlwind years of touring, 2013 saw the band change names—from Twin Killers to Moon Honey—and release its debut full-length album, Hand-Painted Dream Photographs.

Both the album and the band’s live performances garnered stellar reviews from audiences and press heavyweights alike. On the heels of those successes, the band has decided to pack it up and pursue their creative interests in California.

While it is bittersweet that an act of this caliber has decided to relocate to a bigger market, the Capital City can be proud of producing an act that has been met with such enthusiasm by so many. The foursome’s operatic, neo-psychedelic progressive rock is nothing if not wholly unique. I suspect that any major city music scene in the country would be happy to claim the band as one of their own.

Last year’s full-length was produced by Greg Saunier, the drummer of Deerhoof, and recorded locally by John Tulley. The album earned glowing praise from national media outlets like NPR and The New York Times, who complimented the band’s “whirlwind virtuosity” and “songs that segue amid folky-baroque intricacy; power-trio stomps; odd-meter excursions; and pealing, crystalline multiple-guitar constructions.” You don’t have to be a music scholar to realize that these are some pretty heady words to describe young local musicians, let alone coming from a worldwide standard bearer for arts appreciation.

Though their decision to take their massive talents elsewhere is a huge loss for the local music scene, Moon Honey is also a beacon of hope for local artists who pour heart and soul into their craft day in and day out, hoping that someday they too might get the opportunity to have the fruits of their own artistic labors reach the ears of the country’s masses. Anyone who supports or appreciates the arts in Baton Rouge should head to Chelsea’s next Friday to represent the local faithful, celebrate homegrown talent and wish these guys good luck one last time while they still belong to us. RSVP and get more information.

Listen to Hand-Painted Dream Photographs below:

Hand-Painted Dream Photographs by Moon Honey