Music
Press
Luna Halo’s second label run starts with a self-titled disc for American Records, and it’s really easy to see why Rick Rubin’s label wanted to sign these guys, it’s because they’re really freakin’ good. Luna Halo is one of the few bands that has really came out and impressed me with a new sound/new record this fall. This music is awesome; Luna Halo is a throwback of sorts to the bands that everybody loved from the late 90’s/early 00’s like Matchbox Twenty (before they went a little too corporate), Third Eye Blind, and Stroke 9. If you like any of the bands there’s a good chance that you’re going to like Luna Halo. Luna Halo is a little harder than those bands I just mentioned, but the hooks in Luna Halo’s songs are the same quality of the bands that I just mentioned. And that’s something that’s been missing in music for awhile. The production on this album is also a highlight. Neal Avron produced, recorded, and mixed this record and through all of that process he captured the band’s personality and talents perfectly. Again, bringing up those huge band references; all three of those band’s debut albums were produced flawlessly, Avron did that for Luna Halo so you have to give that guy some credit. There are eleven songs on this record and almost every track just drills it. Especially “Kings & Queens”, “Untouchable”, “On My Way”, and “Medicate.” The only song that really misses is “I’m Alright” (“On Your Side” actually comes close too), and that’s only because it blends in with “Medicate” a little too much. That’s the only flaw in an otherwise flawless record. I’ve dropped a lot of names with Luna Halo but the one comparison that stands out to me is Marvelous 3. Luna Halo’s choruses and a lot of their songs sound like Butch Walker’s old band. If you were into Marvelous 3, I highly recommend Luna Halo. If you’re into well written/well produced/complete records then you'll love these guys too. Obviously the target for all bands is to have a single that takes off and breaks their career, but if a single takes off for Luna Halo (I’d go with a single-type mix of “On My Way” if I were American/Sony), then Luna Halo has the best chance in years to become ranked up there with the super-groups. This could fizzle out and never hit where it needs to or it could become music’s next big thing. Hopefully it’s the case of the latter. - ALTERNATIVE ADDICTION
Luna Halo opened the night and was, by far, the best supporting band I’ve ever come across in concert. Based in Nashville, the band has a strong rock sound and frontman Nathan Barlowe has a stage presence like none other I’ve seen. Playing nearly a 40-minute set, Luna Halo's performance had everyone standing up and clapping along, not always an easy feat for an opening band. His facial expressions and stage antics while playing guitar was entertaining in itself, at one point he was rolling around onstage while playing guitar. The music was solid with strong, but not overpowering, guitar and drum accompaniment, never concealing Barlowe’s vocals.
Despite the audience not being too familiar with some of their songs, Luna Halo had the audience singing along to their cover of A-Ha’s “Take On Me” while lead singer Nathan joked with the crowd dancing along to their performance, saying, “I feel like Bon Jovi tonight. It’s great!” - MTV.COM
Discography
2002- Wasting Away EP (Self Released)
2007- LUNA HALO (American/Columbia)
Photos
Bio
The sound of Luna Halo is tight and dynamic. All the pieces fuse together to radiate their collective passion. Shades of dozens of bands and disparate influences hover overhead, but in the end every note on the record belongs to this unique band.
Their home is Nashville which, the world now knows, has produced some fiery rock & roll alongside all that country stuff over the past few years. It was here that Nathan Barlowe settled, as soon as he could leave his home in Raleigh, North Carolina, to chase his musical dream. He was already a seasoned performer, having played in a handful of other bands, and he'd been writing songs since the age of fourteen. Songs about life as he observed it or, once he was a little older, lived it. By the time his senior year was winding down, Nathan had decided that music was his only path.
After a few years in Nashville, he assembled the first incarnation of Luna Halo, and had a good run with them until various members decided to grow up, get married, and move on. That left Nathan with little more than the name of the band and a determination to start again, with new guys and even higher ambitions.
Younger brother Cary Barlowe was the first recruit. Before I went away to school, when Cary was still a kid, I taught him four chords, Nathan recalls. When I came back, he was already kicking my ass on guitar.
Cary was just as impatient as his brother had been to explode into music full-time. The ink on his high school diploma was barely dry when he too, took off for Nashville. There, the brothers filled the two remaining slots with musicians whose playing fit perfectly into their vision for Luna Halo.
After adding Aaron Jenkins and Chris Coleman as the rhythm section the band began 7 years of relentless touring. Eventually they signed to Rick Rubin's American Recordings (Slayer, Black Crowes, Johny Cash) Recently original drummer Jonathan Smith has just returned to take over drumming duties, and Swedish bass playing import Victor Broden has been added as well.
The years of hard work are paying off. Luna Halo's self titled American Recordings album was executive produced by Rick Rubin and released in October of 2007, and the band will be touring non stop in support. Their song Kings & Queens was chosen as the theme song for the hit TV show King of Queens and as the NHL playoff theme. Recently their song Untouchable was covered by country artist Taylor Swift.
Band's come and go, but with this kind of songwriting and hard work, Luna Halo should be around for years to come.
Links
