Local band making big moves
By Kristen Hoverman
The Collegian
Emerging from the small spread
out population of Mariposa, California, is an alternative rock band with
the drive and talent to make a big dent in the music scene.
Moon in Leo, formed in January 2005, released its first album Oct. 29.
“And it’s all for you,” one of the bands leading songs,
has a diverse sound from “loud arena size” songs to laid back
acoustic numbers revealing influences of Smashing Pumpkins, Coldplay,
Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones.
The first song on the album, “Need You (more than ever)” sets
up the album as a mixture of experiences and observations in relationships.
From good feelings of reciprocated love to the betrayal in relationships
to the heartaches, the majority of the songs on the album evolve around
love.
“It’s a pretty large force on the world,” said drummer
James Steed.
The artwork on the cover was painted by Steed, a student at Fresno State
majoring in art with an emphasis in photography.
The band fronted by lead singer and guitarist Bret Wice, Steed, and bassist
and backup vocals Jeremy Clark, has already begun to turn heads in the
local community with its catchy lyrics and melodies. The band played at
the battle of the bands during Vintage Days in April and are planning
on returning to play on campus. They are also spreading out into Fresno
and Merced.
“The first day we jammed together, we just knew it was going to
work,” Wice said.
With heavy support from the local community and their biggest supporter
Vickie Lorenzi, owner of River Rock Inn, they have outgrown the local
community.
“We’ve given 150 discs away,” Steed said. “Everybody
so far said they liked it.”
The CDs are selling for $5. To get a copy of Moon in Leo’s debut
album, contact the band on Myspace.com, where it has samples of its music.
The band’s name, Moon in Leo, is a powerful symbol for what the
band plans to accomplish. Wice was studying astrology at the time when
the band decided on the name. It stands for someone who wants to be totally
original who goes after what they want, Wice said.
“We’re very dedicated,” Clark said. “When you’ve
got a good thing, you’re driven.”
Moon in Leo is starting on its next album this month, Wice said. “We
want to go as far as we can go.”
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