MooseKnuckle
Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Music
Press
How did you come up with your band name?
It was opening for Widespread Panic in Ames, for the first show as a band, we had come up with a bunch of names, but MooseKnuckle made us laugh the most, so we went with it!
What are some of your favorite albums?
Phish-Junta; Oscar Petersen Trio-We Get Requests; Jaco Pastorious- (1rst Album); Grateful Dead-Europe '72; Led Zeppelin-Houses of the Holy; The Roots-Phrenology; Frank Zappa-Over-Night Sensation
What are your favorite venues to play?
DG's TapHouse; IC Yacht Club; People's on Court; El Bait Shop; any festival!!
What is your most memorable show?
tie 80/35 Festival 2008, as well as winning SummerCamp Battle at Vaudeville Mews on Feb26th, 2009(this was a very humbling experience and our gratitude to our fans grew immensly over the span of one night)
Who would you love to play a show with or open for?
PINK FLOYD or late 70s and funky Miles Davis (towards the end of his career)
Where would you most like to play? (Venue or City) Why?
Japan-We'd be HUGE!!! jk, but that would be cool... definately Red Rocks, Alpine, etc. but I think the important thing is that a dream gig is where there are the most people possible groovin' and appreciatin' and giving their energy to us the most
What is the best thing about being in the band?
The best thing about being in the band is the musical expression and communication between instruments on stage, as well as being a servant to the people musically, and providing entertainment for our fans.
Any upcoming things that you would like to share?
Exciting stuff, we're going to SummerCamp, also looking forward to 80/35 Fest, and a few other Festivals around the Midwest that we have our name in the hat for. Also, CD WILL be done soon, and looking at doing a few tours this summer!
- www.IowaJamBandSociety.org
Discography
MooseKnuckle (self-titled)
order by sending an email to Eric.Biase@Gmail.com put MooseKnuckle in the subject line please ;)
Photos
Bio
MooseKnuckle is a four-piece jam-rock band from Des Moines, IA. The instrumentation of the band is guitar, bass, keys, and drums with intriguing lead vocals and harmony. Rock and roll is the theme of the jazz-educated musicians of the band, while still touching on genres such as: blues, bluegrass, zydeco, Latin, dance, funk, reggae, folk, and more. Craig Mustard of Temperature 0 Productions had this to say about MooseKnuckle: “Their interpretation of improvised rock will fill your head and move you spinning. They got a sound of their own and its filled with rippin' guitar, an onslaught of eclectic keys and the steady rumbles of thick bass and drum. This guarantees a night of movin' on the dance floor!!!”
MooseKnuckle is scheduled to record their second album in early March, and expects a release date of April 1, 2011.
Most recently, the band has been expanding regionally to neighboring cities like Iowa City, Ames, Mason City, Kansas City, and Lincoln & Omaha Nebraska. MooseKnuckle has shared the stage with Marco Benevento Trio, U-Melt, The Big Wu, Garj Mahal, Family Groove Company, Los Lonely Boys, Little Ed & the Blues Imperials, as well as many other talented groups. They have been featured at Little Big Fest, 80/35, Cityview’s Brewfest, and the Summercamp Music Festival in Chillicothe, IL.
The band’s hit song Fantastic Jungle can be found on iTunes, and was derived from the song-writing talent of MooseKnuckle front-man Nathan Finestead. Without skipping a beat, Finestead moved from guitar to keyboards, where his musicality and soloing ability can take new forms. His library of songs range from toe-tapping, rhythm-based hits and story-telling narratives, to familiar sounds with unexpected twists.
Supporting vocalist and bass player Jason Kent has an great ear for harmony. His steady and aggressive bass lines drive the band, while his vocals and backing vocals weave through the songs. Before forming MooseKnuckle, Kent’s past experience includes Intersteller Bus Stop, Hyde Park, and his leading role in the Kent Brothers.
When the drumming position was vacant in 2007, Finestead and Kent asked long-time friend Eric Biase to fill the position. Biase’s high energy and hard-working attitude has brought the band to new levels. Biase states that one of his favorite aspects of MooseKnuckle is the variety of styles represented as he has played many genres including gospel, Latin, blues, classic rock, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, jam and rock.
The newest member of the band, Garrett Schmid, is originally from Chicago, IL, and brings his jazz and rock mixture to the table with intricate finger work and inspiring solos. He has quickly made his way into the hearts of MooseKnuckle fans, and continues to develop his sound in the band. Schmid studied music at the University of Vermont.
The four musicians have combined to create music that is cutting-edge while being accessible to their growing audiences. Their carnival-ride of music takes the listeners on a journey throughout the night, and inspires dancing from even the most timid. With a new CD on the way, and the future prospects of this diligent group, you won’t want to miss your chance to see MooseKnuckle! Thank you
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