Moving Mountains (band)
Encyclopedia
Moving Mountains is an American indie rock
/post rock/post hardcore band from Purchase
, New York
. Combining emotional vocals with elements of post-rock, the band has often been compared to such acts as The Appleseed Cast
and Thrice
.
Moving Mountains was formed in Westchester, New York in 2005 by Gregory Dunn (guitar/vocals) and Nicholas Pizzolato (drums). A self-titled demo was leaked to the public in early 2006 and their debut album Pneuma
was released independently in early 2007. Later that year, Frank Graniero (guitar/vocals) and Mitchell Lee (bass) completed the band’s line-up. In 2008, Pneuma
was reissued by Deep Elm Records
. After much delay, a new EP entitled Foreword
was released on December 11, 2008. Their second full-length album Waves
was released May 10, 2011 on Triple Crown Records.
Their musical style is reminiscent of The Appleseed Cast
.
Their influences include Hammock
and The Album Leaf
.
Moving Mountains tracks “Aphelion,” “Fourth,” and “8105” have been used on MTV’s College Life
, 16 and Pregnant, and Teen Mom
.
“Aphelion” has been used for a trailer for AMC’s television drama series Mad Men
.
, was written by Gregory Dunn while he was still in high school. His lyrical inspiration was the death of his friend.
The track titled "8105" represents the date August 1, 2005 when the band was officially formed by both Gregory Dunn and Nicholas Pizzolato.
is Moving Mountains' second full-length album. Drifting from the sounds of Pneuma and Foreword, Moving Mountains wanted to create an album that would reflect how they play live. Waves
was also released on Triple Crown Records, the bands new label. Moving Mountains has stated that Triple Crown Records let them record and write the album however they wanted to.
The lyrics were written by Gregory Dunn, some of which, like Pneuma, were again written about his friend that had passed away. He has stated that this is the last album with lyrics about his deceased friend.
, The Fall of Troy
, Straylight Run
, Brian Bonz, Say Anything
, Moneen
, Eisley
, Pompeii
, All The Day Holiday
, The Dear Hunter
, Prawn, and Polar Bear Club
.
Moving Mountains performed at Bamboozle
, on May 2, 2010.
On November 3, 2010 they were announced as support for Scottish
band Biffy Clyro
on a tour of North America.
Moving Mountains were announced to play every date of the 2011 Vans Warped tour from
June 24, 2011 in Dallas TX, through to August 14, 2011 in Hillsboro, OR.
Moving Mountains was announced as support for Thrice
on their tour for Major/Minor (album)
, along with La Dispute
and O'Brother.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
/post rock/post hardcore band from Purchase
Purchase, New York
Purchase, New York is a hamlet of the town of Harrison, in Westchester County. Its ZIP code is 10577. Its name is derived from Harrison's purchase, for Harrison could have as much land as he could ride in one day...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Combining emotional vocals with elements of post-rock, the band has often been compared to such acts as The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast is an American emo/post-rock band based in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, composed of singer/guitarist Christopher Crisci , guitarist Aaron Pillar, bassist Nathan Whitman and drummer John Momberg...
and Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
.
Moving Mountains was formed in Westchester, New York in 2005 by Gregory Dunn (guitar/vocals) and Nicholas Pizzolato (drums). A self-titled demo was leaked to the public in early 2006 and their debut album Pneuma
Pneuma (album)
Pneuma is the full length debut released by the New York band, Moving Mountains. The album was originally self-released in 2007 but was eventually reissued with Deep Elm Records....
was released independently in early 2007. Later that year, Frank Graniero (guitar/vocals) and Mitchell Lee (bass) completed the band’s line-up. In 2008, Pneuma
Pneuma (album)
Pneuma is the full length debut released by the New York band, Moving Mountains. The album was originally self-released in 2007 but was eventually reissued with Deep Elm Records....
was reissued by Deep Elm Records
Deep Elm Records
Deep Elm Records is an independent record label putting out albums by bands such as The Appleseed Cast, Brandtson, The White Octave, and Planes Mistaken for Stars...
. After much delay, a new EP entitled Foreword
Foreword (album)
Foreword is the second EP released by the New York band, Moving Mountains.-Track listing:All songs written by Moving Mountains# "Foreword" – 9:36# "With One's Heart In One's Mouth" – 9:49# "Armslength" – 7:12# "Lights And Shapes" – 9:31...
was released on December 11, 2008. Their second full-length album Waves
Waves (album)
Waves is the fourth album by new wave band Katrina and the Waves, released in 1985 .-Track listing:#"Is That It?" #"Tears for Me" #"Sun Street" #"Lovely Lindsey" #"Riding Shotgun"...
was released May 10, 2011 on Triple Crown Records.
Music
An excerpt from their Myspace.com profile explains how they approach their musical endeavors: "For some bands, there is a core vision and purpose that shines through from beginning to the end. For others, there is an evolution of an idea, a constant metamorphosis whose end and scope is unknown. For Moving Mountains, the evolution not only encapsulates their music, but a larger overarching concept of what defines ‘Moving Mountains’. That isn’t to say that the Purchase, NY quartet have an artier than thou complex, but it does touch on an evolving aesthetic undercurrent and a belief that a band can create an experiential vision that goes beyond music."Their musical style is reminiscent of The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast is an American emo/post-rock band based in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, composed of singer/guitarist Christopher Crisci , guitarist Aaron Pillar, bassist Nathan Whitman and drummer John Momberg...
.
Their influences include Hammock
Hammock (band)
Hammock is an American two-member post-rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. With music created in between production and songwriting projects over the course of two years, Hammock combines live instrumentation, electronic beats, and droning guitar into atmospheric music similar in style to the work...
and The Album Leaf
The Album Leaf
The Album Leaf is an American solo musical project founded in San Diego, California in 1998 by Jimmy LaValle. He is known for his use of electronics, synthesizer and Rhodes piano...
.
Moving Mountains tracks “Aphelion,” “Fourth,” and “8105” have been used on MTV’s College Life
College Life
College Life is a popular song, first published in 1905 and written by Hery Frantzen. Today the most well-known version is by Billy Murray, who recorded a 1906 version for Victor Records which has entered the public domain.-External links:* *...
, 16 and Pregnant, and Teen Mom
Teen Mom
Teen Mom is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 8, 2009. A spin-off of 16 and Pregnant, the series chronicles the lives of four of the teenagers from the original series as they navigate their first few years of motherhood...
.
“Aphelion” has been used for a trailer for AMC’s television drama series Mad Men
Mad Men
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
.
Pneuma
Their self-released album, PneumaPneuma (album)
Pneuma is the full length debut released by the New York band, Moving Mountains. The album was originally self-released in 2007 but was eventually reissued with Deep Elm Records....
, was written by Gregory Dunn while he was still in high school. His lyrical inspiration was the death of his friend.
The track titled "8105" represents the date August 1, 2005 when the band was officially formed by both Gregory Dunn and Nicholas Pizzolato.
Waves
WavesWaves (album)
Waves is the fourth album by new wave band Katrina and the Waves, released in 1985 .-Track listing:#"Is That It?" #"Tears for Me" #"Sun Street" #"Lovely Lindsey" #"Riding Shotgun"...
is Moving Mountains' second full-length album. Drifting from the sounds of Pneuma and Foreword, Moving Mountains wanted to create an album that would reflect how they play live. Waves
Waves (album)
Waves is the fourth album by new wave band Katrina and the Waves, released in 1985 .-Track listing:#"Is That It?" #"Tears for Me" #"Sun Street" #"Lovely Lindsey" #"Riding Shotgun"...
was also released on Triple Crown Records, the bands new label. Moving Mountains has stated that Triple Crown Records let them record and write the album however they wanted to.
The lyrics were written by Gregory Dunn, some of which, like Pneuma, were again written about his friend that had passed away. He has stated that this is the last album with lyrics about his deceased friend.
Touring
Moving Mountains has toured extensively since releasing Pneuma, including runs with such bands as ThursdayThursday (band)
Thursday were an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Formed in 1997, the group has released six full-length albums, their most recent being No Devolución, which was released in April 2011 on Epitaph Records...
, The Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy was an American progressive math rock trio from Mukilteo, Washington. The trio consisted of Thomas Erak , Andrew Forsman and Frank Ene...
, Straylight Run
Straylight Run
Straylight Run was an indie rock band based in Baldwin, New York. Two of the members, Nolan and Cooper, had been members of Taking Back Sunday and have now rejoined that band. Their final releases are the EPs About Time and Un Mas Dos, preceded by the full-length album entitled The Needles The...
, Brian Bonz, Say Anything
Say Anything (band)
Say Anything is an American indie-punk band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by Max Bemis. The band was formed in 2000 with Bemis and four of his friends. Within two years, they self-released two EPs, Junior Varsity and In Your Dreams, and the full-length Baseball: An Album by Sayanything.In...
, Moneen
Moneen
Moneen is an indie rock band from Brampton, Ontario, Canada.-History:The band formed in 1999 after the dissolution of another band, called Perfectly Normal. Moneen's original bass player, Mark Bowser, was replaced by Chris Slorach, who left the band after the release of The Theory of Harmonial Value...
, Eisley
Eisley
Eisley is a rock band from Tyler, Texas, consisting of four siblings and their cousin , all of whom were born and live in Texas. Although the band's name translates to ice island in several Germanic languages, it was actually selected by the bandmates because of its link to the Star Wars saga...
, Pompeii
Pompeii (band)
Pompeii is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas in 2005. The band comprises Dean Stafford , Erik Johnson , Rob Davidson , Colin Butler who replaced founding member Shane Stevens after he left the band...
, All The Day Holiday
All The Day Holiday
All the Day Holiday is an American indie rock band based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 2007.Rolling Stone named All the Day Holiday one of six breakout bands to watch for at the 2009 Bamboozle Festival.-Formation:...
, The Dear Hunter
The Dear Hunter
The Dear Hunter is an indie rock band originating in Providence, Rhode Island. It began as a side project of Casey Crescenzo, formerly of post-hardcore band The Receiving End of Sirens...
, Prawn, and Polar Bear Club
Polar Bear Club
Polar Bear Club is an American post-hardcore/indie rock band from Rochester and Syracuse, upstate New York. Formed in 2005, the band currently consists of vocalist Jimmy Stadt, lead guitarist Chris Browne, rhythm guitarist Nate Morris, bass guitarist Erik Michael "Goose" Henning and drummer Tyler...
.
Moving Mountains performed at Bamboozle
The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle is an annual rain-or-shine, three-day music festival held in New Jersey. Every year, new bands compete for spots during the two days. The event evolved out of the Skate and Surf Festival.- The Characters:...
, on May 2, 2010.
On November 3, 2010 they were announced as support for Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
band Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
on a tour of North America.
Moving Mountains were announced to play every date of the 2011 Vans Warped tour from
June 24, 2011 in Dallas TX, through to August 14, 2011 in Hillsboro, OR.
Moving Mountains was announced as support for Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
on their tour for Major/Minor (album)
Major/Minor (album)
Major/Minor is the eighth studio album released by the American rock band Thrice. The album was released on September 6, 2011 through Vagrant Records.- Recording and production :...
, along with La Dispute
La Dispute
La Dispute is a prose comedy written by Pierre de Marivaux, shown for the first time on 19 October 1744 by the Theatre-Italien in the Hotel de Bourgogne....
and O'Brother.
Band members
- Gregory Dunn - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely... - Frank Graniero -guitarGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, Backing vocals - Mitchell Lee - bassBassistA 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...
, Backing vocals - Nicholas Pizzolato - drumsDrummerA 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...
- Josh Kirby - guitarGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, Backing vocals (Touring Member)
Albums
- PneumaPneuma (album)Pneuma is the full length debut released by the New York band, Moving Mountains. The album was originally self-released in 2007 but was eventually reissued with Deep Elm Records....
(2007, self-released; reissue 2008, Deep Elm RecordsDeep Elm RecordsDeep Elm Records is an independent record label putting out albums by bands such as The Appleseed Cast, Brandtson, The White Octave, and Planes Mistaken for Stars...
; vinyl, Count Your Lucky Stars RecordsCount Your Lucky Stars RecordsCount Your Lucky Stars Records is an independent record label based out of Fenton, Michigan. The label has released albums from bands such as Empire! Empire! , Annabel, Moving Mountains, Benton Falls, Into It. Over It. and Castevet...
) - Waves (2011, Triple Crown Records)
EPs
- Moving Mountains (2006, self-released)
- ForewordForeword (album)Foreword is the second EP released by the New York band, Moving Mountains.-Track listing:All songs written by Moving Mountains# "Foreword" – 9:36# "With One's Heart In One's Mouth" – 9:49# "Armslength" – 7:12# "Lights And Shapes" – 9:31...
(2008, self-released)