On Saturday night, November 19th, The Music Box hosted Moonhooch, an energetic three piece jazz trio that sounds like a night at an EDM club on acid.
To quickly describe them, the following is taken from the band’s section on their website:
“If any band is a poster child for turning the power of positive thoughts and intention into reality, it’s the explosive horn-and-percussion trio Moon Hooch. In just a few short years, the group—Wilbur, fellow horn player Wenzl McGowen, and drummer James Muschler—has gone from playing on New York City subway platforms to touring with the likes of Beats Antique, They Might Be Giants, and Lotus, as well as selling out their own headline shows in major venues around the country. On ‘Red Sky,’ their third and most adventurous album to date, the band uses everything they’ve learned from their whirlwind journey to push their sound to new heights, bringing together the raw, transcendent energy of their live performances and the sleek sophistication of their studio work into a singular, intoxicating brew that blends elements of virtuosic jazz, groovy funk, and pulse-pounding electronic dance music.”
It’s hard to describe Moonhooch but their mashup of EDM and hip-hop had me reminiscing of bands like The New Deal and Sound Tribe Sector 9. Like Moonhooch, these bands’ music is hypnotizing, features great musicianship and makes you dance your ass off.
Moonhooch is comprised of just two sax players and one drummer. One saxophone plays the bass part, the other the melody and the drummer holds down the beat. On top of superb instrumentation, the band knows how to MC as well. There’s really nothing like Moonhooch that I’m aware of (if there is, enlighten me in the comments section).
When you get a call from the sound guy to get to the show early because the opener is insane, you show up. Honeycomb was the perfect opener–I don’t even particularly listen to hip-hop but this was a spectacle. They were minimalist with just a beat boxer and rappers but made so much noise despite not having a band or a DJ to back them up.
Despite the lack of band members in Moonhooch and Honeycomb, these bands made so much music. It was spectacular entertainment and fun for everyone.
Below is Ted Talk featuring the members of Moonhooch: