MoeTar is a Bay Area, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 based rock group founded by singer Moorea Dickason ("Moe") and bassist Tarik Ragab ("Tar"). Moorea and Tarik previously worked together in the more politically charged funk/pop band No Origin.

History

Moorea and Tarik formed the band in 2008 with Matthew Heulitt (Narada Michael Walden

Narada Michael Walden

Narada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards...

, Zigaboo Modeliste) on guitar, David Flores (Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...

, John Santos, Carne Cruda

Carne Cruda

Carne Cruda is a Post-Latin band based in Oakland, California. The band consists of 5 core members and incorporates frequent guest appearances, and also frequently backs up other artists.-Band History:...

) on drums, and Bob Crawford on keyboards. Early on Bob left the band, and was replaced by Matt Lebofsky

Matt Lebofsky

Matt Lebofsky is an Oakland, California based multi-instrumentalist and composer. Growing up in New York he studied piano/composition with Arthur Cunningham from 1978-1988. As a performer/composer he is currently active in several bands such as , MoeTar, Secret Chiefs 3, , , , and . He is also a...

 (miRthkon, Faun Fables

Faun Fables

Faun Fables is a band from Oakland, California. Faun Fables is a concept and vehicle for Dawn McCarthy, who was inspired to write the original material while traveling after leaving the New York City music scene in 1997. Faun Fables also covers both 20th century compositions by other song writers...

, Secret Chiefs 3

Secret Chiefs 3

Secret Chiefs 3 is an instrumental rock group led by guitarist/composer Trey Spruance . Their studio recordings and tours have featured different line-ups, as the group performs a wide range of musical styles including surf rock, Persian, Arab, Indian, death metal, film music, electronic music,...

).

With the lineup in place, the band entered a period of intense rehearsals and shows. Their first gig (May 17, 2009) was performing near the finish line at the annual Bay to Breakers

Bay to Breakers

The Bay to Breakers is an annual footrace which takes place in San Francisco, California on the third Sunday of May. The name reflects the fact that the race starts at the northeast end of the downtown area a few blocks from The Embarcadero and runs west through the city to finish at the Great...

 race in San Francisco. While playing the song "Screed" a jogger collapsed from exhaustion right in front of their stage. They also performed at the annual Burning Man

Burning Man

Burning Man is a week-long annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, in the United States. The event starts on the Monday before the American Labor Day holiday, and ends on the holiday itself. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening...

 Decompression Festival, and played the opening slot at the final show of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is an American experimental rock band, formed in 1999 in Oakland, California. The band fuses classical, industrial, and art-rock themes throughout their music...

.

In 2010 they recorded their debut CD From These Small Seeds with engineer Dan Rathbun (of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is an American experimental rock band, formed in 1999 in Oakland, California. The band fuses classical, industrial, and art-rock themes throughout their music...

, Idiot Flesh

Idiot Flesh

Idiot Flesh was a band formed in Barrington Hall, a student co-op at the University of California at Berkeley. They formed in 1985 under the name Acid Rain, and their demo album "We Were All Very Worried" was released as a cassette-only edition in 1987...

). The album was released in July, 2010. Papa J of CalProg ranked it the #4 best album of 2010. At recent shows they started performing material to appear on their new album.

Band Members

• Moorea Dickason – vocals
• Tarik Ragab – bass, backing vocals
• Matthew Heulitt – guitar, backing vocals
• Matt Lebofsky
  Matt Lebofsky
  Matt Lebofsky is an Oakland, California based multi-instrumentalist and composer. Growing up in New York he studied piano/composition with Arthur Cunningham from 1978-1988. As a performer/composer he is currently active in several bands such as , MoeTar, Secret Chiefs 3, , , , and . He is also a...
  
  – keyboards, backing vocals
• David M. Flores – drums

External links

• MoeTar - official website
• Papa J's Top 10 albums of 2010