moist is not dead

DAVID USHER: MOIST IS NOT DEAD

Author: Erik Missio
Source: Chart Magazine
URL: www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2001/09/2701.cfm
Date: September 27, 2001

Rumours of Moist's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

There.

Are you happy now?

That's straight from the lips of frontman David Usher, who sat down and talked with us yesterday afternoon. We've learned that the fate of one of Canada's most successful bands is far from decided.

Moist has always had fairly long breaks between their album releases, but with Usher seemingly more involved with his solo work, some fans were growing concerned over what was going to happen to their favourite rock heroes. Then, with the announcement earlier this week that a greatest hits compilation and a retrospective DVD were slated to come out on November 13. It all sounded like the death knell for the collective efforts of Usher, guitarist Mark Makowy, keyboardist Kevin Young and bassist Jeff Pearce (drummer Paul Wilcox had already left the band, due to health issues).

But even though the band isn't working on any new material right now, it doesn't sound like they're defunct... yet.

"To be honest, I don't really know what's going on," Usher says. "I'm out on the road right now with Kevin and Jeff, Mark's a producer and he's got the book [Indie Band Bible]... so we're all vibing it. We're just gonna see. We're all friends, so we're all chilling and just see where we are when this touring ends."

Releasing Machine Punch Through, their "best of" collection, will no doubt sate some fans' appetites, but putting out a greatest hits after only three and a half proper albums will probably be attacked by some critics as needless - after all, just how hard would it be to go back and buy the entire Moist catalogue?

Of course, sometimes greatest hits albums can serve to highlight a band's progression; it's quite possible that Machine Punch Through marks the end of a musical era. Usher acknowledges that whenever (if ever?) the next Moist album comes out, people will be expecting it to make a very different impact and perhaps herald a new creative direction from the band. For now, he's going to worry about his own tour and promoting his second solo effort, Morning Orbit.

As for Machine Punch Through, the first 50,000 copies of the album will feature that most enticing of disc-buying promotions: the bonus disc. Six ultra-rare tracks that you previously needed to be either a fan club member or an obsessive compulsive completist with deep pockets can now be yours... if you're willing to pick up the album early on. It's very much in line with the hella-cool lenticular hologram-style cover for Morning Orbit.

With regards to the DVD, it will feature some rare and exclusive supplementary footage, as well as 10 of the band's videos.

"Jeff Pearce has put together this photo montage of the band for it. It's gonna be REALLY cool," Usher explains as his eyes light up. "It's all sorts of pictures... the whole history of the band. It's definitely going to be a really nice piece."

Alas, there is no karaoke option for Moist fans to sing along with Resurrection or butcher Gasoline, but when we badgered Usher about our great idea he seemed very receptive. We'll keep you posted.

Machine Punch Through's main disc offers the following songs:

Resurrection
Underground (radio version)
Silver
Breathe
Tangerine
Leave It Alone
Comes And Goes (radio version)
Push
Gasoline (radio version)
See Touch Feel
Believe Me
Dogs
Machine Punch Through
Sunday Comes

The limited edition six-song bonus CD's tracklisting:

Sweet Electric Child
Day
Claus
Gone Again
Morphine
You Remind Me

ChartAttack foolishly forgot to ask Usher if that last song is a cover of a touchingly sensitive song usually performed by an R&B artist who shares his last name, so we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed. Man, think of the bass Pearce could throw on that one...

As for David Usher, he'll be continuing his cross-Canada tour, before possibly embarking on a trip to Thailand, Europe and the U.S. Though an announcement for additional dates out East is expected, confirmed tour dates are as follows:

September 27 Sherbrooke QC @ Granada Theatre
September 28-29 Montreal QC @ Club Soda
September 30 Trois Rivieres, QC @ Pub en Ville
October 02 Barrie ON @ Ruanne's
October 03 Hull QC @ Les Raftsmen
October 04 Sorel QC @ Le Cabaret St-Cyrille
October 07 Quebec QC @ Le Cabaret du Capitole
October 10 Drummondville QC @ Le Box Office
October 11 Rimouski QC @ Le Cactus
October 12 Sept Iles QC @ L'Impact
October 13 Chicoutimi QC @ La Sagueneenne
October 14 Tring Junction QC @ Hotel National
October 17 Kingston ON @ AJ's Hangar
October 18 Belleville ON @ Loyalist College
October 19 Hamilton ON @ McMaster University
October 20 Kitchener ON @ the Lyric
October 23 Ottawa ON @ Barrymore's
October 31 Toronto ON @ the Phoenix

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