It’s not a riddle it’s a stepping stone
I first heard Half Moon Run’s 21 Gun Salute and the intensely dramatic beginning to that song with lead vocals by Devon Portielje on the CBC at a live show, just a couple of months ago. It was meditative even ambient – and I was entranced –instantly inspired – including other songs like Full Circle.
Although I had not heard of them before, I felt it was a new mission of mine to share the gift of music with my family (including my preschool age children on some certain tracks (Call me in the afternoon even by one by one [x2 ]is sung around the hosue like a Christmas Carol substituting some words in for the obvious) and all my friends and social network so they too could enjoy this gift. That being said there was something sacred in hearing them for the first time. It was so different yet modern but there was a comfort in it that seemed to be missing in most modern music, and not felt by me personally, since artists like Bob Dylan, and Ballads from Simon & Garfunkel, I was introduced to in my youth.
That same day after discovering and enjoying the first album on iTunes (Dark Eyes Released June 2013) My musical journey with HMR led me to discover the second album which coincidentally was released that same day!
Sun Leads Me, Released Oct 23, 2015
It was a groovier sound and a more uplifting album than the first. It assisted in my creativity and put me in a greater mindset, having just emerged from the writing depths, after 10 years and creating again myself personally.
In researching the journey of the band, from recording in the desert (Texas) to California (For some seaside inspiration, leading up to the Second Album, and living in a dome shaped Oceanside house fit just right for a inspirational surf all day and late night magic sessions ) To experimenting in Europe in what appears to be a bit of a Rave Scene – road testing songs like Trust - it all lines up triumphantly.
I was lucky enough to experience this live set of troubadours on Dec 7th, 2015 at Sugar Nightclub in Victoria BC to a sold out show where some fans paid 9 x the door price just to get in. After staying late and meeting the eclectic mix of supporters, including a High School French Teacher and his wife who also thought their sound was as transcendent and made the journey to support them from up Island (Where most of the band hails from in Comox), to the sprawl of young woman who clearly were there for the "act" to the Lead Vocalist Devon Portielje who you could say in my excitement of après show and with my slight nerves "When a sip of gin saved an hour of speech - Nerve " I didn’t quite get the interview I thought I would - instead Briefly – you could say I found speaking with Devon clearly exhaustive from his end.
This band tours and plays almost nightly I would have asked him who "stole his Sunny Day" – but I could tell he was wiped. I asked him if the band would emerge on the Island again soon (Returning to play Rifflandia in 2016 like in 2014 but he didn’t commit to that.)
I spoke to his interests and would he get a chance to Surf the Jordan River on his visit to the Island but he said they only had 8 hours in the city and then off to Vancouver for the next nights sold out show at the Imperial.
This Band works hard – you forget sometimes when you haven’t seen an emerging act for awhile ( My last show was UB40 in the summer at the Commodore in Vancouver ) that to really put yourself forward you have to put in the hours (years ) on Tour (They actually toured Dark Eyes for three years !)
Just the fact that the Lead from the opening act for that nights show (Nick
Vallee from Folly & The Hunter) was assisting behind the counter at the merchandise booth after a long night and travel… well that’s a team of working mans bands.
More on the Music, there is huge variety in sounds on the current album, Sun Leads me – with the gritty Narrow Margins - There is a hint of Flamingo music that quickly folds into a somewhat Hip Hop beat – the sound not found anywhere else on the album, speaks like a story its very cool and soulful. It wasn’t played in the show, as I had anticipated – it’s a story of sorts that sounds very introspective.
Highlighting the further talents of Connor Molander (Harmonica being my favorite) one can find a cover done of the modern, Chvrches –The Mother we Share on the BBC Radio 1 (01/2014) then found again in the finale to the current live show touring with the Cover to Bob Dylan’s , Shall be released – seeing it live is spectacular - it was clever and mirrored the original art but with a tang of HMR.
There are confessional tones and a little sadness on both albums – and stories of what appears to be glimpse into the world of addiction – Music is a challenging business for anyone who has had this in their lives – this band however appears to live clean and is into a very healthy lifestyle from surfing to organic gardening mentioned to me by a family friend at the show about Issac’s Symonds (Mandolin extraordinaire and haunting vocalist) wishes for at organic landscaping book for Christmas.
I have heard Dylan Philips (Drummer – who has a great timing and a soulful sound as a professionally trained pianist – and always rocks the keyboard) said in other interviews that in terms of personal struggles that they have had the music guide them as a group – I noticed words formed around the struggle with being saved and loss of faith - perhaps even a loss of hope there – I hope they will continue to explore some further element of faith and that this translates to even more extraordinary music from this talented group, I am proud to call Canadian and will continue to share as their talents that will be sure to surprise us with further gifts in the future.
I clicked the you tube link on HMR’s website and watched some videos they had favored and found: TORA : and now I feel like the gifts just keep giving.
In the next feature story coming in January 2016:
Artist Profile: Half Moon Run
Singer Devon Portielje on vocals, guitar and percussion;
Conner Molander on vocals, guitar and keyboard;
Dylan Phillips on vocals, drums and keyboard;
Isaac Symonds on vocals, percussions, mandolin, keyboard and guitar.
JENNIFER MCCORD
The ARTiste behind the lense, on tour with Half Moon Run
P,Tinham 10.11.2016
SLM: There are hints of some newer music and sounds in the festival video vignettes of yours on both your site and highlighted on HMR’s social media. We are very excited for the next Album. Have you had much exposure to any of the newer tracks?
JM:As both a band and individually they are always working on new music. Dylan especially as he is a classically trained musician , and his personal piano music apart from Half Moon Run. Some of the music on the videos is not necessarily Half Moon. Nothing in the videos as far as I know is definitely going to be on the next album or if they have written it yet. Being around musicians whose music I like and really respect is really cool. So from what I can hear them trying out in the room and their mindsets on their music I think it’s going to be quite a different album, but I don’t want to give anything away.
SLM: Half Moon Run has a lot of Canadian musicians that support and love their sound. We recently interviewed Canadian bands, Close Talker, and Little India as well Royal Canoe who were introduced to us and on tour with Plants and Animals who are also very supportive and now going on Tour with HMR across Canada this month. (The Franklin Electric and interview with Jon Matte on the upcoming Australian Tour with HMR featured in this issue as well.)
JM: I just heard Plants and Animals its reall good.It seems like Canada has a really strong music scene with a lot of talent. I actually work with a lot of metal and hard core bands, with roots in Canada, so much talent coming from there.
SLM : Let’s talk more about life on the road as a female tour photographer. When you look back to date on your journey what stands out as major career highlight ?
JM: Touring with Half Moon Run has been great they are really good people whom I respect as musicians. This summer I got to work with Fall Out Boy, which was one of the biggest bands I have worked with and one of the biggest bands in the world right now. I have been listening to them since I was 8 years old that was kind of crazy.
SLM: Having spent so much time with musicians on the road. Are you usually a fan of the music first before deciding to work the band or more just for the availability of the work?
JM: A bit of both I think. A lot of my work comes through word of mouth and people recommending me to other people. I don’t think I could ever tour with a band where I really hated the music. You have to listen to it every night for an hour , then editing. I’ve never toured with a band where I didn’t like the music, and I like a lot of different music and genres so it’s kind of difficult to find something that I would be super against. If a job comes along, and I like the music and it fits my schedule then I will do it. I have turned down tours because it hasn’t felt right or it wasn’t a good fit or the scheduling. Touring is very competitive and very hard as a photographer.
SLM: Do you love being on the road then, and where would your ideal travel destination be?
JM: Yah, I haven’t done an American tour and I would love that. I love being on the road. It’s tough though I have a boyfriend back home and family so sometimes that can be difficult to keep in contact and especially since when you are on the road you are always working. If the band suddenly decides they want to do something really fun at 3a.m in the morning and film it then I have to be on my game. So it can sometimes be hard to come back and just staying in contact with people and stay up to date. I am really lucky that I have such understanding friends and family and boyfriend who all get it and understand that if I can’t be there for a birthday or something it’s not because I don’t care it’s just that I have a job that takes me away from all of that, and that community helps me to stay me grounded as well.
SLM: Your photo diary is amazing, so many close moment with the ARTists. Do you tend to keep longer term relationships going after the tour ends, they are like co-workers in a sense, do you stay in touch after the journey ends ?
JM : I think so. More so with some bands than with others. I have done quite a few tours with American bands when they come over, but they might not have the budget to fly me out when they are home so they go with someone there. We stay in touch and we hang out when they come over, and of course if you have a special connection with people , just like you would with co-workers.
SLM: You’ve got this upcoming Canadian tour with HMR , some of the pictures you have taken with them, individually, it seems they have encouraged you into their fun, it appears that you are part of their day and not just their performances , you don’t always see that in tour photography, it’s like a story.
JM: Yes. It’s really important to be photographing the candid stuff. For HMR I was actually hired primarily to do video and originally photographing was not on that agenda. I am definitely a photographer first and a videographer second. I just naturally shoot a lot of content in still images as well as video. You definitely have to be involved in the ARTists life. That’s sometimes the difficulty in being a tour photographer. You have to find this balance between trying to be their friend, or make is comfortable so it’s not weird to have you there then also have to be aware that it is your job and professional to an extent. Then you are building relationships with these people and having these conversations that are intimate. A lot of the time for photographers pair that line between really being brought into someone’s life and also remembering that you are there to do a job and to capture that and those people are trusting you not to post awful photos of them.
Especially the photos with HMR. There are a lot of photos there that do really represent the kinds of things they get up to when they are not playing on stage or with fans and when they are being themselves and being goofballs and having fun. It’s really great to be welcomed in and having that trust that you are going to represent them in a true and nice way.
SLM: We are thrilled to highlight your beautiful photographs. They are powerful images and a window into a world where one can continue to be entertained while somehow feeling including in experiencing that moment of an image in time.
JM: Thank you for reaching out and for including me as an ARTist, photographers and creatives are artists but it just sounds a bit poncy of me to say. Also thank you for highlighting me as a female artist because as woman we still have a hard time in the music industry.
When I listene to Jennifer McCord chat further about her passion for music and the kindness of the ARTists and her humble nature I am reminded of a great quote by photographer Dorothea Lange, "The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera."
For more ART in photography visit Jennifer at www.jennifermccordphoto.com
Check out our Photos for more images of the Half Moon Run performance on December 17, 2016 in Victoria. Another amazing show, though I prefer to hear them in a small venue where they can get wilder than the seated theatre style arena has them highlighted. The crowd isn't encouraged to get up to dance to the music ( with the exception of one or two fans of course).
