From The Times newspaper: Rising of the Moon: Ottawa-based band strives to make it to the next level Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 10:00 pm | Updated: 2:54 pm, Thu May 29, 2014. Mike Murphy, mikem@mywebtimes, 815-431-4031 Between sunrise and sunset, the moon — a beacon of the night sky — often is visible. To Ottawa-based rock n roll band Afternoon Moon, this can be a bit of a problem, since some festivals ask the group to perform between the hours of noon and 6 p.m. Its our cross to bear, but we do it, Josh Daniels, Afternoon Moon guitarist and vocalist, said with a laugh. The four-piece band — fronted by Josh Daniels and his twin brother, Jordan (keyboards and vocals) — perform some afternoons on the summer festival circuit, not to mention plenty of evenings in clubs, bars and taverns. Its all in the name of making Afternoon Moon visible both day and night. When you come up with really different things, people take notice. It takes sweat and blood and soul to do this. And we cant not do it, Josh said. When Afternoon Moon performs, many of its songs are from Dance in the Rain, the groups second CD, released March 22. The twins — who grew up in Marseilles — have full-time jobs, but put much of their energy behind Afternoon Moon. The bigger it gets, the more responsibility it is. But were trying to make it to the next level, Jordan said. Afternoon Moon is striving for recognition across America, and has performed live from Colorado to New York, yet its base and beginnings are very much in La Salle County. The Daniels twins have been working with Grand Ridge percussionist Justin Crabb, whom they met at Burgoo Festival in Utica, since 2009. The band went through several bass players before Crabb suggested looking up Louie Giacobbe, a college classmate at Western Illinois University. We put out an album without Louie, but he joined up around the time we released our (self-titled) first album. He really completed our family, Jordan said. Until then, we never had our guy who would fit in. Its almost like were known Louie our whole lives, Josh noted. The true origin of Afternoon Moon started family style, 29 years ago when Josh Daniels was born, followed shortly by Jordan. In a few years their musical exploration began in the form of the thousands of record albums owned by their father, Homer. We dug through his records and listened to everything. He took us to a lot of shows. Too many to name, Jordan said. The twins soon began making music of their own, from eighth-grade dances to Ottawa Township High Schools Fine Arts Festival. It was onstage at the OTHS auditorium when the brothers Daniels took an important step. We were juniors and we decided to play our (original) song. And weve never looked back, Jordan said. Josh and Jordan logged time with other groups, including Jam and the Playground Kids before that band broke up. The twins kept going with their own songs yet remain friends with other Kids members. That whole time we just wanted to do our own thing. And we couldnt be happier with how things turned out, Jordan said. Along with writing and performing original songs, Afternoon Moon works very hard to be a top-notch live act. Josh explained fans spread the word about good live acts, especially on the festival circuit. if you dont have a good live show, youre nothing, he said. Afternoon Moon just finished its third straight year of performing at the Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, north of Peoria. Chris Gelbuda, an Ottawa native and Nashville singer-songwriter, also played at the fest. Both of the bands CDs, Afternoon Moon and Dance in the Rain, can be bought at shows and at all online music markets, including the bands own afternoonmoon.net website. The band is having vinyl copies of Dance in the Rain pressed in Nashville. Josh said copies could be ready in July. Were vinyl kids, Josh said. I hope this takes off, Jordan said. Us being on vinyl — thats like a dream come true. Its all about playing for people. The next level would be a fire-breathing dragon dream come true, Josh said. Then he thought about what Jordan said. And Josh changed his tune. The next level is here. Were doing it. Evening moon The next time Afternoon Moon will play locally will be after the sun goes down. We only get to play Ottawa about once a month, said Jordan Daniels, Afternoon Moon keyboardist and vocalist. When the four-piece band does play locally, it often is at Zeller Inn, 615 Columbus St. And thats where Afternoon Moon will be Friday, June 6. After the Ottawa Two Rivers Wine Fest shuts down at 10 p.m., the band will start playing at Zeller Inn.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 18:39:45 +0000
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