Mason Proper
Encyclopedia
Mason Proper is an American
rock
band formed in Alpena
, Michigan
in 2004. The band consists of singer Jonathan Visger, keyboardist Matt Thompson, bassist
Zac Fineberg, guitarist Brian Konicek and drummer
Garrett Jones.
drummer Aaron Burtch.
-based Dovecote Records
, and the self-released version of their debut immediately went out of print. The band released a re-mixed, re-mastered, and in parts re-recorded version of "There Is A Moth In Your Chest in 2007 for Dovecote.
(TV on the Radio, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead) for a preproduction session in April 2008. At this session, the band listened through approximately 30 songs Jonathan had written, and together with Chris selected 11 songs to refine.
They rented a vacant house and the band recorded and produced what would become Olly Oxen Free. Immediately after, Jonathan flew to Carriage House Studios in Connecticut to meet up with Chris and mix the album in an 11-day marathon session. Due to mixing time constraints, they made the decision to drop "The Cure (I Don't Want It)" from the album, which was later completed but never released.
Olly Oxen Free was released on September 23, 2008 on Dovecote Records. To promote the album, the band played a show at local Ann Arbor venue The Blind Pig, along with another popular local band, The Novel Citizen.
They've done several tours with Via Audio, Mobius Band, Ra Ra Riot, Stellastarr, Birdmonster, Saturday Looks Good to Me and Cloud Cult.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in Alpena
Alpena, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 2004. The band consists of singer Jonathan Visger, keyboardist Matt Thompson, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Zac Fineberg, guitarist Brian Konicek and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Garrett Jones.
Formation and Moth
The band formed in Alpena, Michigan in 2004, and recorded extensively throughout the year. The band went through a series of personnel changes in the process of finishing their debut album, recording with drummer Matt Davis, and Ypsilanti bassist Zac Fineberg. Finally, on 17 January 2006, they released There Is A Moth In Your Chest on their own Mang Chung label. Cover art was provided by GrandaddyGrandaddy
Grandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
drummer Aaron Burtch.
Dovecote and Moth Re-Release
2006 saw the group focus on promoting the debut album, touring across the country and recording sessions such as their WOXY.com Lounge Act in May. In September, the band signed with New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based Dovecote Records
Dovecote Records
Dovecote Records is a New York based record label which releases primarily indie rock music. It is run by its founder, Carter Matschullat and is distributed by Redeye Distribution in the US.-Artists and projects:...
, and the self-released version of their debut immediately went out of print. The band released a re-mixed, re-mastered, and in parts re-recorded version of "There Is A Moth In Your Chest in 2007 for Dovecote.
The Shorthand EP
The band toured through most of 2007 in support of "Moth," afterwards releasing a four-song EP of new material entitled "Shorthand. " The band continued to produce the recordings at home. The EP was released only on iTunes and included a music video for each song.Olly Oxen Free
To begin work on their second album, the band met with producer/engineer Chris CoadyChris Coady
Considered by The Guardian one of the next ten generation producers, Chris Coady is an upcoming producer/engineer, who has worked with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, !!!, Grizzly Bear and Blonde Redhead among many others...
(TV on the Radio, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead) for a preproduction session in April 2008. At this session, the band listened through approximately 30 songs Jonathan had written, and together with Chris selected 11 songs to refine.
They rented a vacant house and the band recorded and produced what would become Olly Oxen Free. Immediately after, Jonathan flew to Carriage House Studios in Connecticut to meet up with Chris and mix the album in an 11-day marathon session. Due to mixing time constraints, they made the decision to drop "The Cure (I Don't Want It)" from the album, which was later completed but never released.
Olly Oxen Free was released on September 23, 2008 on Dovecote Records. To promote the album, the band played a show at local Ann Arbor venue The Blind Pig, along with another popular local band, The Novel Citizen.
In Concert and the Media
Mason Proper has toured extensively throughout the United States, and minimally in Canada. The band performed live on Canadian MTV, and done recorded sessions for Fearless TV, KEXP, Daytrotter, and WOXY.com.They've done several tours with Via Audio, Mobius Band, Ra Ra Riot, Stellastarr, Birdmonster, Saturday Looks Good to Me and Cloud Cult.
Discography
- There Is A Moth In Your ChestThere Is a Moth in Your Chest (Mang Chung)There Is A Moth In Your Chest is the first album by the American rock band Mason Proper released on January 16, 2006, in the USA. The album was released on the band's own Mang Chung imprint, in a very limited run....
- January 17, 2006 - There Is A Moth In Your ChestThere Is a Moth in Your Chest (Dovecote)There Is A Moth In Your Chest is the first album by the American rock band Mason Proper. This version is the final mix of the album, released on March 13, 2007, in the USA and April 24, 2007 in Canada...
- March 13, 2007 - Short Hand EP - March 25, 2008
- Olly Oxen Free - September 23, 2008