Dead Moon

Live @ The Tractor Tavern

Seattle, WA

March 18, 2006

By Cheryl (Sugarbuzz Seattle)

Sugarbuzz Magazine

 

On this brisk March night, we chose the “screw the hipsters” (figuratively speaking) option in a vast lineup of bands playing around Seattle that night, and headed down to the Tractor for the No-Fi, gritty, garage rock of Dead Moon.

Arriving a bit early, we weren’t prepared for the hippie contingent drawn in by the opening bands… and decided to wait out the patchouli-cloud, taking shelter down the street at Hattie’s Hat where we imbibed on a plate of fries and a few beverages while The Who’s “Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy” CD whisked me into a time warp from the jukebox.

It’s been nearly 20 years since this stripped down, punk-country trio, got together down in Portland, Oregon, featuring long-time NW legend, Fred Cole on guitar and vox, his wife,Toody, on bass and vox, along with longtime co-conspirator, Andrew Loomis on drums.

As Andrew sets up his kit, an empty bottle of Jack is mounted on his bass drum with a lit candle. Dead Moon is raw and real, embrangled with catchy hooks and no bullshit, independent-ethos rock born out of a garage in the woods. During “Running Scared”, hippies, punks and rockers alike tore up the pit! Bluesy “Destination X” had Fred’s grainy and teetering voice cry from behind the Dead Moon logo tattooed on his cheek.

A couple of covers united the crowd, with AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top” and Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown”, complete with dramatic beer-on-the-drum splash effect.

“Play With Fire” features Toody’s folky and bristling voice, sounding much like Patty Smith, which brings the crowd back to dull swagger… just in time for the build up to the time-bomb tickin’, fire burnin’ “54/40 or Fight”, causing everyone’s PBR tall-cans to go a-flying through the air! Here come the sweaty B.O. moshers, the price I typically pay for standing on the fringe of the pit. A friend of mine gets in a near-brawl with a faux-hawked hippie.

Not long ago, Dead Moon would play their set till the candle burned out. Still rockin’ in their 50s, it’s understandable that they left a bit of wax to burn after their last song this evening.

Dead Moon’s live set is unpretentious, unprocessed, no-artificial color added, DIY rock-n-roll with balls! Turn your head and cough.

 

 

http://www.deadmoonusa.com

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