by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
In the realm of modern rock, only a few bands ever break through the tangled matrix of other groups jockeying for position. The chosen few break big by signing with a large corporate record companies or smaller indie labels, building large fan bases, and selling significant numbers of CDs. Whatever path a group takes, the key to success in modern rock lies in the group’s songwriting talent.
This rock’n’roll axiom is exemplified by the 4-piece modern rock band, Luna Halo, which I witnessed play live at the French Quarter last Saturday night. Before the band’s set, I had a chance to chat with band founder and frontman, Nathan Barlowe, about the group’s evolution from a Nashville regional band to signing with American Columbia, a record company led by the famed Johnny Cash producer Rick Rubin, a name that can make things happen for this group in the industry. The band just released a self-titled album and plans to release a single called ‘Untouchable’ in January of 2008. Meanwhile, the group is touring nationally and building a loyal fan base.
Clearly, the members of Luna Halo did their homework by putting together an impressive rock performance by paying attention to every detail and blowing away their audience with intelligently conceived songs, well balanced (albeit thunderous) sound, and electrifying stage show. They have created their own rock mystique that will take them far into the future. Right now, the group is in its first stages of creating a brand, which includes their rock’n’roll stage clothes and performing style. They look the part, presenting a visual and sound quality that tags them as rock stars before the fact.
Whether that moniker comes to fruition, only time will tell. But the gypsy Luna Halo firm of Nathan Barlowe on lead vocals and guitar, Nathan’s younger brother Cary Barlowe on lead guitar and vocals, Aaron Jenkins on bass and Chris Coleman on drums bring new excitement to the modern rock scene. At the French Quarter show, the band had added a keyboard player.
More significantly, the group’s music pays homage to past rock traditions while forging new musical territory. Nathan said that the group is radio-friendly, which will pay dividends in the future. Luna Halo’s single ‘Untouchable’ immediately blasts out “HIT” with a hooky lead-in by Cary on lead guitar. It grooves with hard drumbeats and strong leads with a grabber break. It hits the diaphragm with machine-gun guitar chords and heavy single-note runs. The song ends suddenly with the listener begging for more. And, its strong relentless rhythm lingers after the song ends, a true sign that radio listeners will want to hear the song again and again.
‘On My Way’ showcases the band’s intricate vocals. Again, this is an example of the band’s attention to every detail of producing a dynamic performance. Both live and on the group’s CD, I could hear every word of the lyrics, which are cleverly injected into the spectrum of the mix so that the vocals can be heard over and through the heavy orchestration.
Another detail that I appreciated was the group’s fast stage turnover from the other band. They had their amps set up behind the previous band to make the changeover go faster. And, the Luna Halo band members pitched in to load off the stage. It was the fastest stage changeover I’ve ever witnessed at that club.
The bottom line on Luna Halo: this group can deliver what they promise – hit songs and notable performances. Obviously, the A&R department of American Columbia agrees. Now it’s up to the group’s growing fan base to support them by buying their product and tickets to their shows. It’s a vicious jungle out there, but Luna Halo has the cutting edge power to forge their own path.
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