Moose Wrench sounds like a unique and interesting band! Their blend of existential themes, dad-bod alt-metal, and quirky subject matter certainly sets them apart. It’s fascinating to imagine their journey from the dark places betwixt time and space to finding their place in Leeds.
With their focus on essential life issues like poor driving and man flu, Moose Wrench seems to embrace a humorous and relatable approach to their music. It’s refreshing to see a band tackle everyday struggles with a touch of wit and self-awareness.
Their backstory, involving a desert escape from flying monkeys, adds an element of mystery and adventure to their narrative. It creates an intriguing image of their journey and the experiences that shaped them. The fact that they’ve landed on their moose feet in Leeds suggests a newfound stability and an opportunity to express their mid-life suffering through their music.
Overall, Moose Wrench seems like a band that combines humor, relatability, and a touch of the unconventional in their approach to alt-metal. Their music and performances are likely to provide a unique and entertaining experience for their audience.
Listen to Not Dead Yet:
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What is your stage name
We are called Moose Wrench, and we refer to ourselves as Moose Senior (or Dr. Moose), Moose and Moose Junior. Or sometimes we are all called Dan. Dr. Moose leads the band, writes the material and sings and plays keytar. Moose plays bass and does backing vocals. Moose Junior plays drums and sorts out our backing tracks. You’re talking to Dr. Moose.
Is there a story behind your stage name?
Yes, but it’s a secret. Shh!
Where do you find inspiration?
For this project, the lyrics are inspired from minor everyday inconveniences that disproportionately piss me off. The rhythms are inspired by too many boring Zoom meetings and I tap out cool rhythms with my pens to keep myself amused. The rest is just always wanting to sound like a late 90s Californian alt-metal outfit. Oh, and Hunter S. Thompson.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
I was always making music and weird sounds. On my first electric organ, there were those drum accompaniment buttons for things like bossa nova and waltz etc. I discovered that if you flicked them all randomly off and on you could create new weird beats. That was an eight year old’s version of what would eventually become Moose Wrench.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
Not really. My grandmother tried to play a bit of organ, which was my first instrument, but no one except me pursued it very far.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
I didn’t really have a choice. I tried to stay away from the biz. But I just had to make music.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
I took lessons on electric organ and eventually pipe organ, which I studied at university. The rest I just picked up along the way. I’ve always liked making things up.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
I’m from Nova Scotia, Canada and grew up without the internet. No one interesting comes to that neck of the woods, or they didn’t then. The first proper concert I saw was Metallica when I was about 19. I think I nearly died that night.
How could you describe your music?
Dad-bod alt-core…or angry tongue in cheek midlife crisis
Describe your creative process.
For this project, I generally started with a rhythm that I tap out. Then I programme some drums. Add some keytar and and bass. Then think of something that pissed me off recently and write some lyrics about that. Record a demo on my laptop then take it to the band to turn into the magic that is Moose Wrench.
What is your main inspiration?
Minor irritations are endlessly inspiring.
What musician do you admire most and why?
Mike Patton. He’s so restless and inventive. Not to mention hardcore.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
Not sure about evolution, as I don’t think you could say any natural selection occurred! I started off doing classical music, then I was in an alt-metal band, the Ganja Warriors, at university. Then I moved to the UK and got really into EDM and Jungle etc.
Then I played in various bands covering ska, blues, lounge, psychedelic, funk and whatever. Then I pretty much stopped playing. During the pandemic, I decided to start again and produced a solo album of mainly acoustic guitar songs, although with some weird other parts because I can’t help myself. That was two years ago. Now I wanted to create something heavy and shouty again.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
Competitor? I don’t really see things that way. Other then the same problems that have always existed still do. Namely, everyone wants to pigeon hole you and if you don’t fit an easy category, getting gigs or support is pretty tough
What are your interests outside of music?
Fashion. As you can tell.
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
Well, my music career wouldn’t pay for itself. I have always worked with music, but more from an educational and research angle.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
There’s not a lot out there that’s truly surprising. And a lot of people think they like weird things, but they often have a pretty narrow idea of what weird is.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
The creators seem to be the last people to get paid. How messed up is that?
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
The single and eventual album are called Not Dead Yet. It was inspired really by my father becoming very frail and eventually his passing last year. He was going and I wondered if he had any regrets. It was too late to talk to him about it. I wondered if I had any regrets. It turns out I had, or would have, if I didn’t just get up off my fast ass and do something. So I did.
What are your plans for the coming months?
Moose Wrench have recorded six songs this year. They will be release one by one and then packages up as an album. I’m writing material for the next one. Meanwhile, we are looking for cool and exciting gigs.
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans
I have had some thoughts about collaborating with a techno synth enthusiast and perhaps a disco diva. Otherwise a wrestling collaboration could work.
What message would you like to give to your fans?
Embrace the weirdness.
