The people in the back row of the "We Are the World" video.
Influences
Lionel Richie's moustache, Greek food on tour, Volcano Worshiper's Hour, Rufus T. Firefly, The Electric Mayhem.
Sounds Like
"The Octopus Walks Across the Coral" was featured on MTV's The Real World Sydney in the "Nice Guys Finish Last" episode.
"The Pink Floyd-ish harmonic dreaminess, Carribean-styled spacey experimentation, and swiftly moving country-tinged foot-tappers make for a record that's fine as an eclectic indie-rock mishmash.." The Onion | September 2007
"It takes a special kind of band to turn nostalgia for the choose-your own-adventure books into a skip-around-tracks concept album, but this Florida psychedelic-rock band has done just that." The Washington Post | June 2007
"Morningbell is on to something with Through the Belly of the Sea... [the album] sits at a rarified, if not necessarily sought-after, level of indie rock ironic nostalgia" Pitchfork Media | May 2007
"Morningbell’s latest is just as damn cool as those awesome little books were back in the ‘80’s... Impressive…Most Impressive!” Smother Magazine | April 2007
"Despite the playfulness of the concept this isn’t a novelty record - there is a depth to the writing and performances, the melodies are like spent air bubbles that burst in your ears whispering the secrets of the depths." Americana-UK | May 2007
"'Through the Belly of the Sea' [is] not just an album to be appreciated by Morningbell fans or listeners of a certain taste. Anyone who enjoys the art of music itself would be remiss not to give it a listen.
The Gainesville Sun
"“Intriguing and entertaining…definitely a pleasure to listen to.”
Slug Magazine
"Morningbell is as much a part of Gainesville as the University of Florida or the Florida Gators." -Matt Latola: BreakThruRadio
Throughout the 2000s, Morningbell has developed their own brand of
melodic, psychedelic rock, rooting themselves as a well established
tradition in the Florida Music Scene. The band has toured the Eastern
US and earned themselves a set at Bonnaroo 2008 (named "Best Festival"
by Rolling Stone) where they shared the stage with Bela Fleck, Broken
Social Scene, and Solomon Burke. The Band has also performed with
Starlight Mints (Barsuk), Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five Bassist), Man
Man, and Holopaw (Subpop).
The band's most recent album, "Through the Belly of the Sea," (released on Orange Records of Gainesville in 2007) has garnered international acclaim and has been featured in MTV's The Real World Sydney, The Onion, Blender Magazine, Pitchforkmedia.com, and the Washington Post.
All 3 of the band's full length albums have been ranked in the top 10 albums of their release years (by Gainesvillebands.com and the Gainesville Sun).
Morningbell's music stands up best behind their captivating live
performances. Armed with an arsenal of low budge lighting effects,
Morningbell not only causes the stage to erupt with sound, but with
their trademarked 100 dollar light show as well.
Through the Belly of the Sea
Possibly the world's first choose your own adventure album, the band's 3rd full length, was released in June 2007 to much critical acclaim. It was ranked in the The Gainesville Sun's top 5 records of 2007.
hey i know you guys are gonna try to cover YHF with the intention of strict imitation (which im TOTALLY psyched about).. but just in the interest of hearing the flipside to that, i thought you might enjoy this cover of "i am trying to break your heart". it was done by a band out of chicago called the uptown sound and it's sort of like a stax records style version of the song with a little bit of "theologians" thrown in for good measure. i personally think it's fucking righteous. check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8YlCRmAKXM
You're playing the Pinhook?! That's awesome! That's also right by where I work. It is one of my favorite bars in Durham. Also right down the street from one of my favorite restaurants (Toast) which is adjacent to my OTHER favorite bar in Durham, Whiskey! So excited!
you guys were fucking awesome on friday!!!! i love how the cd came out, i especially LOVE marching off to war, and i love the little descending transition from the g to the f in Hello, Dali, you know what i'm talking about?
haha keep the great music coming! and tell colin that he's the shit, i didn't get a chance to tell him in person!
fucking love this record. fucking loved that show. fucking love this band.
P.S. its such a blessing that you guys can bring out the communal feeling of being in a huge group where everyone is screaming their hearts out to beatles songs in 2009. its really something special and otherworldly, almost. theres a serious connection in the room between all of us during those sets.
P.P.S. on a COMPLETELY different note... im used to you guys having both beautiful and badass songs on your records... but there are some serious panty peelers on this one. sorry for the crudeness but totally was not expecting that. haha
Congratulations on your CD release! Chris sent us all the link to the article in the paper this morning. Right on! Looks like success is coming your way ~Kandis~
yeah that was me :) im 4'11" so i always have to be in the front haha. you can always tell when a band is having fun onstage and it adds so much more to the show. i guess you guys were psyched to be back in gainesville. i hadnt been around for a while because i took the spring semester off but now ill be back to see you guys for sure. are you guys going to add more shows in the fall? only three shows makes me sad.
i'm pretty sure friday's show was my favorite ive been to of yours. the new songs are so great i cant believe it. cant wait for the record release. thanks for la musica.
Very psyched I'll get to see you play twice next week, first in Atlanta (where I live) and then in Gainesville (where I used to live). Love the blog entries. See you next week!
Your show on Thurs night = Fantastico!! Heard lots of lovely feedback about it filtering through the bar after you took off. Let's do it again (and this time not wait three years!).
hey guys.. it's been a while. i took spring off so ive been out of gville... but im back and have to admit im pretty sad you guys will be away for the summer. psyched that you guys are touring though.
i had to tell you that I FUCKING LOVE THE NEW SONGS. you tried a new sound (again) and it totally works. marching off to war = new addiction. i CANNOT WAIT to hear that song live. you guys just blow my skull out.
good luck on your tour! im pretty sure youll just keep blowin skulls out though.
I am playing with a new musician who will back me up in an acoustic duo on everything from bass to banjo. Shows are free! Let me know if you can make it, I would love to see you!
