Wise Old Moon. Sounds like a tall tale from an old children’s story book. Perhaps the namesake of a tavern or bookstore in a New England town that hasn’t quite caught up with time yet? But in this case it’s the name of a young and truly gifted roots music outfit from the Connecticut area. Every so often a record comes along that makes you happy this kind of music exists, truly happy. Not simply a “hey that’s a good record” but a “this is a pure example of 
why roots/americana/folk music is thriving” kind of a feeling. And that reason is because of band’s like Wise Old Moon that push the boundaries in a way that is gentle, to not tip the boat, but distinctive enough that it makes you elated and rocks the vessel around a bit. The band is the brainchild of Connor Millican, and is joined by friends Corey Pane on percussion, Christian Schraeder on fiddle and a host of other incredible musicians to create this debut “The Patterns”, which is a f*cking amazing record.
Millican is a story teller, and a fine story teller at that. As the primary songwriter for the band he weaves tales that pull you in and create visual space for your mind to play out the tales that he is telling. I think that is a rare and unique gift. Anyone with a guitar and a voice can write a song about how my baby left and I am so lonesome, but Connor is able to evoke intricacies with his words that allow the listener to latch on and kind of create their own view within the song. It allows you to really identify with the songs. They are emotional and heartfelt tunes to him personally, but permit for an audience to delve into them with their point of view. That is a true talent.
“Day Grifter” has a dreamlike vibe to it. It reminds I was young and would cruise around town in a pot induced hazed on a gray, misty day. It just emits this extreme nostalgic feeling for me where I had no cares in the world. I think equal parts the story line of a wandering man with nothing to win and nothing to lose, and also the sonic quality of the track. It’s atmospheric, projecting thoughts of rain pattering off of my windshield, sitting in a parking lot with nothing to do. It just kind of drifts along, just like the character in the song and I dig it.
“Living Ain’t So Easy” is a track I got a sneak peek at that isn’t on the record, but is incredible and I thought deserved a mention. I tend to gravitate towards this tune fr some reason. It has a nice stepping beat to it. Some great harmonies on the chorus. I think this might be the “radio” song of the bunch. It has an upbeat driving feel, the chorus is memorable and easy to latch onto and I guess it’s fun (even if the lyrics may speak otherwise as Millican proclaims “don’t ask me why when I say I got to leave, you know I think we both know why / you won’t be able to save me from my dreams and I won’t ever figure out not how to lie”). But the song does have a lighter side, of aspirations, getting by, and overcoming obstacles to get where you want to be.
Cut a neat line right into the hilltop where I can build my home
Had a lot riding on this big city lifestyle and I saved me up some dough
Sonically, the record has a very warm…well I guess New England Roots… kind of a sound. At least what New England Roots has come to mean. Sincere music that plays upon what came before it without being a carbon copy of it. There isn’t any faux southern twang, there isn’t any trying to be something else, it’s just good, organic and honest music. The complete sound really is a blend of what I feel the songwriter probably listened to on their parent’s stereos growing up. Neil Young, The Band, Bob Dylan, all of these things seem to play into Wise Old Moon’s essence, but they aren’t strictly any one of those things. There is something contained in the songs that just make them feel authentic, real, and like this is the music that naturally pours out of Millican. Truly defined by Connor’s percussive guitar playing and prominent vocal, the band’s textures are rich and plentiful. With saw, harmonica, a suitcase drum kit, and fiddle being regular players in the game. I guess I would classify this as modern roots…roots music with a contemporary vibe and contextual take on it.
The gents at Dirt Floor Recording did a truly brilliant job in pulling the sound that the band portrays in a live setting into this recording. I wouldn’t expect anything less than complete brilliance from Eric Lichter and his crew down in Chester, CT.
This is the kind of music I can and will listen to over and over again. Each time I put this record on I find something new I like about it. A piece of the arrangement that is subtle but obviously an integral part, a new lyric that pops and makes me wish I wrote it, or something else. The dynamic of it is just so great that is leaves me wanting more from these guys and I think we will be hearing far more in the coming years from Wise Old Moon.
This record will be on my top list for 2014, I can assure you of that right now.
Wise Old Moon releases “The Patterns” on July 26th at the Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, CT, but be assured they will be touring around quite a bit after this thing takes off.
Check out more on the band on the web: