MoChester

MoChester
MO' BETTA POP
by Frank De Blase

MoChester started as a singer/songwriter project between two Webster-based brothers. Now it's a four-piece pop/rock outfit that blends in strains of jazz and reggae.

The hearts and influences of its members are visible on its collective sleeve. Clearly a pop vehicle, MoChester jams effortlessly outside the safety of pop's sugar walls with apparent, and perhaps some not-so-apparent, roots. There's reggae, there's jazz, even some darker leanings toward the blues. But the band's gentle song-based aesthetic gives it a unique edge in a scene that doesn't necessarily acknowledge or embrace unique.

MoChester is pop, but more than pop, too. Singer-guitarist Brandon Sheffer calls it "Pop with a reggae twist," he says. "It started out less reggae, more pop... a little jazzy at times, maybe a little more acoustic driven." Flash-forward to today and you've got a MoChester with its 3-year-old line-up — Sheffer, his brother John Sheffer on guitar and keyboards, drummer Alex Melville, and Ben Overmyer on bass — a rock band of substance and subtlety, of tangibility and mystery.

The Sheffer boys had been playing music together since their early teens, growing up in Webster.

"John and I started MoChester when I was 13 or 14," Brandon says. "It started out singer/songwriter. I just played acoustic guitar for years." It wasn't until 2005, while recording some demos, that the man went electric.

Melville and Overmyer played together in Livid, which morphed into Small Time Criminals, which used to share the bill every now and then with MoChester. The collision of these two sets of talent ramped up the MoChester sound, cranking up the intensity up a bit. John blames Melville.

"I think when Alex joined us," he says, "he put a heavier modern-rock element, kind of an edge, to it."

With the release of this year's "Lost and Found" — the band's follow-up to its 2011 debut "Stop and Go" — MoChester proves it is growing more into its music and how it approaches the added spice of genres outside mainstream pop and rock. For example, MoChester's members love reggae. They use it as a bridge, a detour, a dance-floor lure. But when does the influence become no longer a dash or twist, but the dominant strain? Brandon takes a stab.

"I think if the whole song has upstrokes, it's a reggae song," he says. But generally, based on the band's output to date, reggae is just one of the many grooves and slants the band takes. It's a juxtaposition that drives home the myriad surrounding sounds.

"Like when the chorus is a little more rock-driven before it busts back into a reggae verse," says John. And Brandon points out his left-of-pop-center leanings as well.

"I use jazz chords a bit as opposed to the standard bar chord," he says. "Something with a little flavor — G7 instead of G M — something a little prettier. I think a misconception is that we're overall pop, that we're looking for a sound that appeals to everyone. I think our goal in songwriting is to please ourselves first, and if other people enjoy it, that's a bonus."

John says, "There have been times in practice where we've written a song that we're excited about. And we want to save it for a big show or something, and the minute we get to the first show after writing it, it's like, 'We gotta play it.'" - CITY Newspaper

Amid the clamor of dive bar prattling in the initial moments of MoChester’s sophomore album Lost and Found, a smattering of reggae-infused strokes from front man Brandon Sheffer’s guitar all but eliminates any need for smalltime chitchat.

And with melodies like these, freestanding racket is prohibited.
As album opener “Saturday Night” focuses on the fusion of drummer Alex Melville’s tight groove with Brandon’s flawless run of “I said I’ll take you home/You said I don’t know you,” a rather tenacious time shift from rocksteady to pop persuasion feels like a much-welcomed slap in the face.

It’s the same teetering we’ve seen from the Rochester, N.Y. four-piece in 2011’s debut Stop and Go.

While the melancholy strains haven’t left, the band has noticeably tightened the screws.

The swing in sonic stages, from straight rock and reggae to sentimental acoustic swoons, sounds quite polished.
Borrowing just about everything that made the late 90’s soft-alternative scene so engaging, MoChester’s lack of pretension allows them to understand exactly who they are.

Originally formed in 2001, the group has opened for a laundry list of seasoned acts such as Barenaked Ladies, Tower of Power, and the Ryan Montbleau Band, while also refining their talents in the Rochester music scene (i.e. the East End and Lilac Music Festivals).
Musically packaged with the precision of a series of palpable influences (Incubus, O.A.R, Sublime, etc.), MoChester’s studio sound isn’t far off from their live shows.

Brandon’s harmonious vocals, specifically here in Lost and Found, are defined, yet robust with staying power. Over Melville’s firm rhythms and the, at times, gorgeous keys of brother Jon Sheffer, Brandon treks the ties of love loss, discovery and nostalgia.

On the staggered solitary notes of “Around the Block,” Melville provides a grounded groove akin to say Carter Beauford as Brandon affably sings “We start to break our promises/You’re making way too much of this/You know where you belong.”

The sentiment, while disheartening in implication, delivers on a genuinely textured tone.

And when Jon’s dawdling, pounce of keys open “Down the Line,” the arrangement is flipped elegantly into Brandon’s measured plea of “When we’re alone/ I ask you to run with me/ Marry me/ Down the line.” Surprisingly, the feel isn’t entirely schmaltzy.

Still, MoChester’s diversity doesn’t have to rely solely on its versatile front man.

—
4 out of 5 RECORDS MoChester “Lost and Found” (Unsigned)

Melville’s military progression over an absurdly addictive chorus in “Along the Way” provides a platform for Jon’s collective keys and Ben Overmyer’s bold bass line to cushion the rhythm.
At times, Brandon’s vocal dexterity can feel a bit hasty, as seen in “Lost and Found,” the backyard barbeque funk that breaks on the back of a Chili Pepper-esque tone, as well as in the serene soundscapes of “Scapegoat.”
But it’s moments like the opening burn of “Between the Sheets,” where we’re hit with a Mike Einziger-like clarity that takes off into an atmospheric time shift, that is both pleasant and persistent. Same goes for the spacious guitar reverb of “30 Miles to Santa Monica,” where the depth and direction of Melville’s percussive patterns, along with Overmyer’s silky bass line, wavers on admirable reggae. The progressions here don’t meander, but rather lay a foundation full of meaning.
Lyrically, Brandon’s harmonic chops come full circle within the back half of the album.
He chimes “These things are yours/Those things are mine/Pictures of time/Good things stand still,” with resounded resolution on “Angela After All,” and shines with sentimentality on the Rochester homage “City on the Side,” singing “This is the last place we’d want to leave/Forget the things that bring us down/We just don’t care.”
Geographical romanticism aside, the driver here on the latter track is Melville, who flourishes with a stylistic sequence of crash cymbals, high-hat complexities, and rolling drums.
On album closer “They Met Too Young,” Brandon’s earnest croon of “Oh the wishing well/Oh I wish you well,” embraces a parallel to Brandon Boyd’s vibrato, as it follows a spastic combination of keys and cowbell.
But it’s the jazzy intro to “Reasons Why,” bonded with rock-reggae goodness and pinball dynamics, which truly showcase MoChester’s capabilities. Brandon, shifting through a series of scats and whistles, bellows “It feels good to go home/Next to you,” with unabashed confidence.
And while direction isn’t always crystal clear for unsigned bands, MoChester’s aptitude for formulaic pop-rock seems perhaps more focused than most.
Lost and Found is currently available via iTunes and on the band’s website. MoChester plays its CD Release Show on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m at M&T Bank Ballroom in Rochester.
MUST HEAR: “City on the Side,” “Reasons Why,” and “Saturday Night”
- CODA Review

Amid the clamor of dive bar prattling in the initial moments of MoChester’s sophomore album Lost and Found, a smattering of reggae-infused strokes from front man Brandon Sheffer’s guitar all but eliminates any need for smalltime chitchat.

And with melodies like these, freestanding racket is prohibited.
As album opener “Saturday Night” focuses on the fusion of drummer Alex Melville’s tight groove with Brandon’s flawless run of “I said I’ll take you home/You said I don’t know you,” a rather tenacious time shift from rocksteady to pop persuasion feels like a much-welcomed slap in the face.

It’s the same teetering we’ve seen from the Rochester, N.Y. four-piece in 2011’s debut Stop and Go.

While the melancholy strains haven’t left, the band has noticeably tightened the screws.

The swing in sonic stages, from straight rock and reggae to sentimental acoustic swoons, sounds quite polished.
Borrowing just about everything that made the late 90’s soft-alternative scene so engaging, MoChester’s lack of pretension allows them to understand exactly who they are.

Originally formed in 2001, the group has opened for a laundry list of seasoned acts such as Barenaked Ladies, Tower of Power, and the Ryan Montbleau Band, while also refining their talents in the Rochester music scene (i.e. the East End and Lilac Music Festivals).
Musically packaged with the precision of a series of palpable influences (Incubus, O.A.R, Sublime, etc.), MoChester’s studio sound isn’t far off from their live shows.

Brandon’s harmonious vocals, specifically here in Lost and Found, are defined, yet robust with staying power. Over Melville’s firm rhythms and the, at times, gorgeous keys of brother Jon Sheffer, Brandon treks the ties of love loss, discovery and nostalgia.

On the staggered solitary notes of “Around the Block,” Melville provides a grounded groove akin to say Carter Beauford as Brandon affably sings “We start to break our promises/You’re making way too much of this/You know where you belong.”

The sentiment, while disheartening in implication, delivers on a genuinely textured tone.

And when Jon’s dawdling, pounce of keys open “Down the Line,” the arrangement is flipped elegantly into Brandon’s measured plea of “When we’re alone/ I ask you to run with me/ Marry me/ Down the line.” Surprisingly, the feel isn’t entirely schmaltzy.

Still, MoChester’s diversity doesn’t have to rely solely on its versatile front man.

—
4 out of 5 RECORDS MoChester “Lost and Found” (Unsigned)

Melville’s military progression over an absurdly addictive chorus in “Along the Way” provides a platform for Jon’s collective keys and Ben Overmyer’s bold bass line to cushion the rhythm.
At times, Brandon’s vocal dexterity can feel a bit hasty, as seen in “Lost and Found,” the backyard barbeque funk that breaks on the back of a Chili Pepper-esque tone, as well as in the serene soundscapes of “Scapegoat.”
But it’s moments like the opening burn of “Between the Sheets,” where we’re hit with a Mike Einziger-like clarity that takes off into an atmospheric time shift, that is both pleasant and persistent. Same goes for the spacious guitar reverb of “30 Miles to Santa Monica,” where the depth and direction of Melville’s percussive patterns, along with Overmyer’s silky bass line, wavers on admirable reggae. The progressions here don’t meander, but rather lay a foundation full of meaning.
Lyrically, Brandon’s harmonic chops come full circle within the back half of the album.
He chimes “These things are yours/Those things are mine/Pictures of time/Good things stand still,” with resounded resolution on “Angela After All,” and shines with sentimentality on the Rochester homage “City on the Side,” singing “This is the last place we’d want to leave/Forget the things that bring us down/We just don’t care.”
Geographical romanticism aside, the driver here on the latter track is Melville, who flourishes with a stylistic sequence of crash cymbals, high-hat complexities, and rolling drums.
On album closer “They Met Too Young,” Brandon’s earnest croon of “Oh the wishing well/Oh I wish you well,” embraces a parallel to Brandon Boyd’s vibrato, as it follows a spastic combination of keys and cowbell.
But it’s the jazzy intro to “Reasons Why,” bonded with rock-reggae goodness and pinball dynamics, which truly showcase MoChester’s capabilities. Brandon, shifting through a series of scats and whistles, bellows “It feels good to go home/Next to you,” with unabashed confidence.
And while direction isn’t always crystal clear for unsigned bands, MoChester’s aptitude for formulaic pop-rock seems perhaps more focused than most.
Lost and Found is currently available via iTunes and on the band’s website. MoChester plays its CD Release Show on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m at M&T Bank Ballroom in Rochester.
MUST HEAR: “City on the Side,” “Reasons Why,” and “Saturday Night”
- CODA Review

MoChester is a four-piece rock/pop group that formed in Rochester in 2001. Last year the quartet made some major moves with the release of its debut album, "Stop and Go," as well as the incorporation of its newest member, bass player Ben Overmyer. The band's name was derived from the members' devotion to the soulful grooves of Motown music and the city from which they hail. MoChester's moxie is built upon a foundation of rock, pop, alternative, and even a hint of reggae. The resulting sound has garnered comparisons to mainstream powerhouses such as O.A.R. and Incubus. The group has played at numerous well-known venues and events in Upstate New York and will be sharing a bill with Waylon Speed, Dirty Wings, and Sonarmail at the Bug Jar on Saturday. - Rochester City Newspaper

Concert Review of MoChester/Barenaked Ladies show on 8/17/11 - Finger Lakes Times

Concert Review of MoChester/Barenaked Ladies show on 8/17/11 - Finger Lakes Times

Rochester, N.Y. — The Rochester band MoChester will release its debut album “Stop and Go” this summer.

MoChester will hold the official “Stop and Go” CD Release Party on Thursday, June 23, at Hooligan’s Eastside Grill in Webster. Fans can expect a live outdoor performance from the band, as well as giveaways and more.

“Stop and Go” will also be pre-released online for download (via iTunes, Amazon, etc.) on Thursday, June 9. The 11-track album features “Crackerjack Tattoos” as its debut single for the summer.

“I feel like we’ve been flying under the radar for so long, and everything is finally coming together for us,” says band member Jonathan Sheffer. “My brother (Brandon Sheffer, lead singer/guitarist of MoChester) wrote these songs when we were kids in high school. Finally getting a chance to hear ‘Stop and Go’ as a finished product has breathed new life into these songs for all of us. We couldn’t be more excited to get on stage and share this album with everyone who has supported us along the way.”

Both Sheffer's are graduates of Webster High School. In addition to the brothers, bass player Ben Overmyer and drummer Alex Melville round out the lineup for MoChester. Overmyer is the newest member of the band, having joined this past winter.

Hooligan’s Eastside Grill is located at 809 Ridge Road.
- Webster Post

Rochester, N.Y. — The Rochester band MoChester will release its debut album “Stop and Go” this summer.

MoChester will hold the official “Stop and Go” CD Release Party on Thursday, June 23, at Hooligan’s Eastside Grill in Webster. Fans can expect a live outdoor performance from the band, as well as giveaways and more.

“Stop and Go” will also be pre-released online for download (via iTunes, Amazon, etc.) on Thursday, June 9. The 11-track album features “Crackerjack Tattoos” as its debut single for the summer.

“I feel like we’ve been flying under the radar for so long, and everything is finally coming together for us,” says band member Jonathan Sheffer. “My brother (Brandon Sheffer, lead singer/guitarist of MoChester) wrote these songs when we were kids in high school. Finally getting a chance to hear ‘Stop and Go’ as a finished product has breathed new life into these songs for all of us. We couldn’t be more excited to get on stage and share this album with everyone who has supported us along the way.”

Both Sheffer's are graduates of Webster High School. In addition to the brothers, bass player Ben Overmyer and drummer Alex Melville round out the lineup for MoChester. Overmyer is the newest member of the band, having joined this past winter.

Hooligan’s Eastside Grill is located at 809 Ridge Road.
- Webster Post

REBECCA HALE
Reverb Editor



Ellicottville Brewing Company West (EBC) provided a warm and welcoming haven for cold hands and eager ears last Saturday evening as it hosted MoChester, a band that hasn’t visited Fredonia in many years. Outside, temperatures were nearing freezing, but students and community members alike entered through the heavy wooden door of EBC, lured by the melodies of MoChester and the promise of a satisfying brew.

MoChester, a four-piece pop rock band from Rochester, formed in 2001 and has been playing shows around the United States since, traveling as far from home as Los Angeles to perform. MoChester has a large fan base in Rochester and has even opened for the Barenaked Ladies at the Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack.

The band’s core is comprised of brothers Jonathan Sheffer, keyboard, guitar and backup vocals, and Brandon Sheffer, lead guitar and lead vocals, who originally formed the band. Its lineup has changed slightly since then, when Ben Overmyer, on bass, and Alex Melville, on drums, joined the group. That was about six years ago, before the band produced its debut album “Stop and Go” in 2011. The pair used to play in a different band together before joining MoChester, and all four members have been playing music since they were in middle school.

“Alex and Ben brought a little bit more of a rock and reggae edge,” Jonathan said, explaining how MoChester’s sound changed with the new lineup. “But our original sound was more singer/songwriter-oriented, and we started as acoustic.”

The band’s first album features mostly softcore rock with pop undertones. One of the things that makes MoChester unique is Jonathan’s use of keyboard — something not as often seen with four-piece rock bands. Another prominent feature is the vocal harmonies provided by the Sheffers. MoChester’s sound is comparable to Incubus, a band which all the members mutually enjoy.

Brandon’s simple yet soulful lyrics are reminiscent of a new age Motown sound, which was part of the inspiration for the band’s name, alongside their home city.

The band’s second album, “Lost and Found,” strays away from pop ballads, and instead incorporates reggae beats for a groovier sound. The band is currently writing music for its third studio album.

“We’re working on a third album right now that I really think is going to showcase the meshing of the styles,” Jonathan said. The band also noted that it recorded a few songs at Fredonia with alumnus Jordan Kinne a few years back.

One of the band’s first songs of the night was a slower cover of Jack Johnson’s “Better Together.” The original song is acoustic and has a minimal piano part, but MoChester took it one step further by adding in extra keys and even a portion in which Jonathan played a keyflute.

The band also covered Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down,” which ended in a bass solo by Overmyer.

MoChester later covered The Beatles’ “Rocky Racoon,” in which Jonathan nailed the fluttering keyboard solos, and ended their first set with the Jackson 5’s “One More Chance,” a tune that had more than a few audience members singing and jamming along.

Unfortunately, Brandon wasn’t feeling his best that night and felt his voice was being strained. He could be seen periodically sipping tea between songs, in contrast to his bandmates’ beers, and looked as if he felt under the weather. Nonetheless, he made it through the first set without faltering a note, and his vocals gave no hint to his condition.

In an attempt to ease the pressure on Brandon’s voice, the band played some more instrumental bits during its second set, which began with originals “Along the Way” and “Scapegoat,” featuring an echoey and harmonious guitar solo between the Sheffers.

The second set was more reggae-focused, and this was reinforced with the band’s original song “Lost and Found,” followed by Bob Marley’s “Is this Love?” After this cover, the band showed their musical talent and flexibility when Overmyer and Sheffer swapped guitars, and Overmyer took over on vocals.

The band played Stealer’s Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You,” America’s “A Horse with No Name” and ended the night with Sublime’s “Santeria.” These last covers were songs which the band had never rehearsed that way and weren’t on the setlist.

Though Overmyer’s strength is in his bass playing, he was able to deliver impressive vocals in lieu of Brandon’s, and it’s almost a wonder he doesn’t sing backup vocals with the group regularly. The way the band was able to swap instruments showed a true understanding and talent for music; MoChester is unlike many of the “jam bands” that Fredonia often sees.

MoChester has big dreams of becoming a full-time touring band, but right now, the members all have regular jobs to worry about, as well as finances. The band isn’t on tour currently, but the members take time off work on Wednesdays thru Sundays to travel and play shows when they can.

“I would love to be financially secure enough to travel for months on end and go a lot further than we ever have,” Jonathan said. “We’re primarily trying to focus on traveling more and not playing a lot locally, so when we do our local shows, they’re a lot more epic and we can rely on the fan base getting behind us and making it great.”

Still, the band loves to play local shows, and it was enthusiastic about returning to an old and reminiscent venue:

“We’re happy to be back here,” Jonathan said. “It’s been awhile since we’ve played [in Fredonia]. We love the people around here; they seem to enjoy music and appreciate it.” - Rebecca Hale