An Interview With MOON FEVER All About Their Brand New Single ‘Shaking Off The Evil,’ Making Music During This Pandemic, Favorite Shows Of The Past and More!

On Friday, July 31st, the group Moon Fever released their latest single, “Shaking Off The Evil” via Astro Recordings. Featuring a stomp and clap foundation smothered in Southern rock soul, the song delivers a musical reckoning right when people need it most. It’s a battle cry to the world-weary travelers who have seen more than their fair share of destruction, those who require salvation. The band understands that life isn’t about running away from the things that shape us, but embracing the person we became because of the struggles we endured.

Moon Fever wanted to deliver a great visual to accompany the song and overcame the isolation of a global pandemic to deliver what Substream Magazine is calling one of 2020’s best music videos thus far.  Shot in 2 different states and edited in a 3^rd, ‘Shaking Off The Evil’ combines current imagery with old-school Pentecostal church snake handling for added effect.

Guitarist Mitch Micoley says: “Our producer Jim Kaufman set us up with a writing trip to Nashville where we wrote “Shaking Off The Evil” with Kris Bradley, Trick Savage, and Blue Foley. Trick brought out a flask of whiskey and some killer ideas; Kris brought a drum loop, and we based the original work tape off what came from that session. We threw around ideas until Blue came up with “I was born an unfortunate son,” and it just came pouring out from there.”

Micoley continues, “Once we got back to LA from the Nashville sessions, we cut the song with Jim. After that, we all got locked down from COVID 19, and our SXSW shows were canceled. So I went back to my family home in Wisconsin, and Cody headed back to Amarillo, TX. We wanted to do a music video – but being in different states, we had to get creative on putting it together. We had director Matt Akana help us – who we met after one of our first shows at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in LA. I (Mitch) shot my parts in an old church that they converted into the Nancy Byng Community Theater in Abrums, WI. Cody had his friend James Pompa shoot his performance at the Groom Cross outside of Amarillo in Groom, TX. Matt worked his magic and edited it all together in LA, and it looks killer! It’s a great time to release this song because we all need to shake some evil off”.

Lead Vocalist Cody Jasper adds: “Shaking Off The Evil’ is a song about persevering through all the rough times in life, and it comes from growing up in a tough way. I was in and out of juvenile detention as a kid, and I was always in trouble with the law. I was in touch too much with the evil things in this world. I had to literally “Shake Off The Evil.”

“Shaking Off The Evil’ is the 3^rd single release for the band, and will be included on a forthcoming EP to be released later this year.  Debut single “Fever” marked one hell of a coming-out party, blasting through with a self-referential declaration that announced the band to the world at large. Follow up single “Casanova” furthered the band’s acclaim, spreading the gospel that band espouses and revels in the glory of a brand of rock and roll that is purely authentic and filled with kinetic energy.  They just keep moving forward, and will keep rocking until the wheels fall off.

The band which is made up of Cody Jasper (Vocalist), Mitch Micoley (Guitarist), Jason Hodges (Bassist), Joe Perez (Guitarist) and Greg Garcia (Drummer) is currently do a limited run of live shows in Texas, and hope to jump on a national tour as soon as safely possible.

Connect With Moon Fever Online Here:

Official Website: https://moonfever.com/

Smart URL: https://lnk.to/ShakingOffTheEvil

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moonfeverofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonfeverofficial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/moonfeverband

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNqZkryn89YVTpPDI3sqSdQ

Learn more about Moon Fever in the following All Access interview:

Thank you for your time. So given these unusual Covid-19 times, what does a typical day look like for you? How have you adjusted to these times?

Cody: Usually it’s wake up and make a pot of coffee, have some time to myself, and start picking away at some songs . Can’t stop writing new music in these times… 

Mitch: Right now we’re all in Texas together, things here are for the most part normal as anything can be normal right now! My day usually starts with coffee and a work out, or yoga. Then depending on the day, I am typically in the studio working on new material, or rehearsing with the band. 

What has been the hardest/most challenging part about being quarantined? Is Amarillo starting to open up more now? 

Cody: The hardest part is probably just been not playing shows on a regular basis (even though we’ve managed to play a couple recently).  Little bits of Texas have been starting to open back up.  

Mitch: No question, not playing shows has been the toughest part. Or at least normal shows where people are less freaked out and having fun dancing and such. Amarillo is slowly opening back up, at least some restaurants are. But as far as Music Venues it’s still not open. 

How have you been able to use social media during these unprecedented times? Are you finding that you use it even more now to stay connected to fans and other musicians? 

Cody: It’s the only way we can really connect with anyone right now. We are a brand new band, so we’re still building our audience . Social media has been the best way to get our name out. 

Mitch: Even without being quarantined It’s been an important tool. We just released our new single “Shaking Off The Evil” We’ve been able to use social media to get connected with new fans and friends who are discovering our music.

What has it been like having to reschedule your spring, summer and fall shows? What shows in 2021 are you are already excited for?

Mitch: There’s a lot of possibilities for future shows, but it’s hard to plan too far ahead, as this could last well into 202 or maybe even… Not to be a downer, but the way things are going we just don’t know.

Cody: We’re just taking it day by day right now – hopefully if and when Texas opens up we’ll be able to start playing regionally again.  Fortunately given the good weather right now there’s a lot of options to play outdoors as well.

Since we are all desperately missing live music, can you recall a favorite show of yours from the past? What do you think ultimately makes for a great show for you? What about a favorite show of someone else?

Mitch:  As an up and coming band, we haven’t done a lot of shows yet because COVID kind of messed that up.  But we killed The Whiskey A Go Go early this year. My Best three shows: Tom Petty at Arroyo Secco; Rolling Stones at Desert Trip; and Iggy Pop at the Palladium. What makes a great show?  I think a tight band, and just getting that energy together. Where you and the audience are all in sync. Everyone’s having fun forgetting about anything else and just living the moment!

Cody: As far as Moon Fever shows, I feel the same as Mitch – we had a really great first show at the Whiskey A Go Go just before everything got shut down.  As far as favorite live shows – off the top of my head, I really like every Tuesday at the Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood with Dave Yaden. Those have always been a favorite of mine. 

How did you come up with your band name? Was it hard to come up with a name that accurately described your sound and the music you hope to create? 

Mitch: We Just threw around ideas until one stuck… It was actually pretty easy. I think the name totally describes us – Moon Rockers all day (and night) long! 

Let’s talk about your newest single “Shaking Off The Evil.” What was the inspiration for this track? How would you say that it compares to anything else you have worked on in the past? 

Cody: The feeling of the music had a real southern feel, so I was lead in that direction.  With the southern rock vibes – the song is talking about shaking off the evil that we all come across in our lives, whatever that may be.

Mitch: Our producer (Jim Kauffman) set up some sessions for us on a trip to Nashville and this one felt great – it was a fun collaboration between Cody, Blue Foley, Kris Bradley, Trick Savage and myself.

What was it like making the music video for “Shaking Off The Evil” during this pandemic? How creatively involved were you with the overall making of it? 

Cody: Everyone was in different parts of the country so we needed to figure out how to splice our parts together and still look cohesive.  The director had the idea of using historical footage of people speaking in tongues.  I came up with the idea of performing my parts in front of this huge, old cross in my hometown of Groom, Texas that totally fit the vibe we were going for.  We all got together over the phone to talk about it and from there everybody did their own part in separate parts of the country.

Mitch: It was strange but really fun. I did my parts In an old haunted church that is now the Nancy Byng Theater in Abrams, Wisconsin. We all put our heads together on the overall ideas – but it was really up to the director Matt Akana to put it together in Los Angeles, and he did a great job.  It was a true ‘social distancing’ video from start to finish!

How would you say that “Shaking Off The Evil” prepares listeners for your upcoming EP set for release later this year? 

Cody: It shows the diversity we have vs our first two singles (“Fever’ and ‘Casanova’)  There’s all kinds of rock and roll energy on our unreleased songs and I hope everyone is looking forward to it!

Mitch:  All I’m saying is that is a great song, but just wait for what’s to come!  We’ve got a lot of stuff recorded that we’re excited about, and keep writing more every day.  Stay tuned. 

How do you think future music is going to be influenced by this incredible and absolutely necessary Black Lives Matter movement that the US and even the world is going through now? Is it inspiring you and your music today at all?

Cody: Yes – every time I turn on the news it looks like a Rage Against The Machine video, and I kind of like it.  I’m all about power to the people.

If you could get into the studio with any artist today and collaborate on a new song for you, who would it be and why? 

Cody: Josh Homme from Queens Of The Stone Age – because he’s an amazing musician. That would be fun as hell!

Mitch: Miles Kane and Alex Turner, no question. I think we have similar sounds to them and they look like they would a riot to work with! 

What would your dream music video look like right now? 

Mitch: It already happened with ‘Shaking Off The Evil’.  😉 

Cody: One in which the World is back to normal.  😃

Would you like to share anything else about yourself or your music with our readers?

Mitch: Just that we can’t wait to be back out there playing shows and making new fans. Make sure to check out ‘Shaking Off The Evil’ anywhere you listen to or watch music!  We will have new singles coming out for the rest of the year so make sure to stay up to date with our socials…. AND WASH YOUR HANDS!