Moses Guest - Houston, Texas
Worth the Wait
by Pat Ferris

I saw Moses Guest in 1998 or '99 at The Sidecar Pub, a small live music venue on the northwest outskirts of Houston.  In a recent conversation, band founder Graham Guest recalls that show as 'a disaster' and apologized for the under-representation of their band. What I recall of that particular show, was band that had some good songs, some good players, but a certain chemistry when they play that creates a spark of energy that captivates you and draws you in.  I watched Moses Guest blossom over the last 4 years into a fully mature band in sound, production and attitude.  I've wanted to get them through Seattle for the past couple of years, but they have been busy on a project worth waiting for.

Their first full-length release, a self-titled, double CD is the finished works of three previous releases.  The production of the CD in both design and sound engineering is nothing short of brilliant.  Filled with an eclectic array of  songs, Moses Guest (the CD) demonstrates the diversity of Guest's songwriting and the musical dexterity of the band.  This is a CD that I recommend not only for the music, but to see how a CD jacket, photos and artwork is done the right way.

With a recent flurry of shows, over 30,000 downloads at their MP3.com page, contact with record labels, and a series of interviews and press, Moses Guest has bigger things on the horizon.  I was able to reach Graham and have an online interview with him. 

<HotBands> Hi Graham

<Graham> Well hey there!

<HotBands> Let’s get started on how Moses Guest came into being. The beginning is always a great place to start.. Let's cover how the band formed and where each band member came from geographically and musically.

<Graham> I’m originally from Houston. I went to college in Connecticut and graduate school in Boston. My music career started in Austin in 1988. I had a 3 piece band and we opened for Ian Moore often at The Black Cat Lounge (which burned down a couple of weeks ago unfortunately). Moses Guest started in 1995. Moses Guest that is. Rick Thompson is the keyboardist and joined in 1996. He went to HSPVA. Rick Thompson is from Houston, and so is James Edwards (Drums), and Jeremy Horton (Bass) won't tell me where he's from. He thinks he's more mythological that way.

<HotBands> When did you first figure out you were a musician? What was your 1st instrument and when did you start playing?

<Graham> I first was forced to play piano at age 6. I traded that in for guitar when I was 12 and never looked back, or forward for that matter. I started banjo about 2 years ago.

<HotBands> So you felt 'forced' into playing? Was there a point that you liked it?

<Graham> I was forced to play piano and my parents wouldn't let me listen to rock. Even ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon was too racy for them.

<HotBands> What type of music did you listen to? Were you involved in school band at all?

<Graham> As a small child, all I heard was classical. I did get exposed to other music via school, but never play in the school band. When I finally discovered rock, via my friends, it became an obsession. I figure because it was hidden from me for so long.

<HotBands> How old were you at that time?

<Graham> I was 12 when I ‘understood’ that there was rock music. I revolted against my parents, quit piano lessons, got a guitar and was on my way.

<HotBands> Did you grow up in the city or country?

<Graham> Houston used to be like a little country town, so I feel like I grew up in a small, southern, Texas town, but now you'd never know because Houston's huge. It still feels small and southern in certain parts of the city.

<HotBands> So at age 12, you got your guitar. When did you have your first band, did you take guitar lessons, and how did it evolve from there?

<Graham> I had my first band right off the bat. I learned ‘All right now’ by Free, and ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and then I started writing songs and stopped playing cover stuff. I played in talent shows at school, etc.

<HotBands> When do you think you made the jump to being 'professional' or good enough to get paying gigs? Were you a prodigy like Duane Allman?

<Graham> I wasn’t a prodigy. It took until 1988 in Austin to get a gig. I was 19 by then, and we still weren't that good.

<HotBands> How and why did you find your way to Austin, and what brought you back to Houston?

<Graham> Austin has the (music) reputation, so after my freshman year at college, I moved to Austin with my friend, Pat Murray, and we started our band. He was my best friend but he quit the band, which really hurt me, and so I stopped playing music in public for a long time, and got into philosophy. I found the grass wasn’t any greener in Austin, so in 1993 I moved back to Houston.

<HotBands> Did you meet up with Rick & James after you came back?

<Graham> Yea, I played in a band called "Zwee & the Graveberries" for about a year in order to get into the scene down here, meeting Rick and James along the way. Rick played with a band called Beat Temple at that time.

<HotBands> What was the dream at the time you started? Were you looking long-term, or just wanting to be in a rock and roll band?

<Graham> We formed in 1995 as a 3-piece. We recorded Geniality of Morality, then turned into a 4 piece because the days of SRV were gone.

<HotBands> What do you mean by that?

<Graham> Well, Stevie Ray Vaughan was huge to Texas…especially when I was living in Austin. I guess the 3 piece concept was a holdover from the late eighties. We got more jammy and melodious with the addition of keyboards.

<HotBands> So you mean 3-piece bands were 'in' when SRV was alive, but after his passing, the direction of Texas music changed?

<Graham> Yes, I think so. We had a lot of 3 piece bands that were inspired by SRV in the late eighties and early nineties. It was good…it wasn't bananarama, you know? People were playing guitar instead of putzing around in their Thompson Twins hats. Unfortunately, it's too hard to jam with just 3 pieces if your not SRV himself, so we all moved on and let him just be the man.

<HotBands> In my opinion, you guys are a 'jam band'. Was The Grateful Dead or Phish an influence on your style, or did you evolve into genre on your own?

<Graham> This comes up a lot. The Dead were/are a big influence; but I have to say, that we a songs first, jams second. We don’t like to ‘overjam ‘(one cord for an hour +), but we do improvise a lot. As far as band influences, Little Feat was my biggest influence, then Steely Dan, then The Dead.

<HotBands> So when you became a four-piece, was that the birth of Moses Guest?

<Graham> Yes, we became Moses Guest when we added a fourth. Moses Guest is my (count 'em) great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. he fought in the revolutionary war and had 16 kids (2 wives). He lies buried in Toccoa Georgia.

<HotBands> Did he die in the revolutionary war?

<Graham> No he just up and bought the farm at a later date. I think he just petered out…nothing dramatic.

<HotBands> From the time your band formed, how many member changes, and what have been some of the milestones? I know you have at least 1 other CD out...what are some of the details?

<Graham> We started as 3 piece and recorded ‘Geniality of Morality’ (grunge-jam). We got Rick in 1996-7 and recorded ‘American Trailer Home Blues’, which was a demo EP. We started to tour more…Colorado mostly, and recorded ‘Live Stages’ (live jam album). In 2001 we started working on ‘Moses Guest’ (self-titled, songs first, jams second double album) with Dan Workman at Sugarhill studios here in town.

<Graham> We are going back to the studio with Dan in September to record a non-releasable four song demo of new material.

<HotBands> When you started, did you think your full-production CD, which actually became a double-CD pack would take this long?

<Graham> I don't know man. We've all changed so much and gotten so much less naive. but I guess the straight answer is; ‘no, I didn’t think it would take so long.’ Eight years ago, I knew nothing about true labors of love!

<HotBands> I can say that your Amercian Trailer Home Blues CD (which I have) can't compare with the production quality and packaging of your self-title release. I think way too many bands are in a hurry to get a CD out just because they want to have a CD...it really seems to pay to wait and have a good looking product available

<Graham> No doubt! Patience is the way. Just jacking a CD out there is okay for you first try, but I'd say (if I managed a band besides MG), screw that: everything should be great. Maybe I can help other bands, or my kids someday.

<HotBands> As far as your CD goes, where did you take the photos, and what was the inspiration for that? The 'look' really seems to suit your music.

<Graham> We took the photo about an hour northeast of Houston in the piney woods at a shack that Jeremy (bass) knew about. We looked at it and said, "this is the image of the band and the music." We dressed up a bit and had Matthew Ryf and Steve Harris direct and shoot us, and then we died.

<HotBands> You guys are in the hot seat right now and all indications are looking good for success. What would you say is the thing that has been the biggest inspiration keeping your band together, and how that has translated into your recent success?

<Graham> My wife, an addiction to creativity, and an ability within the band to seriously love one another (despite etc.) and a have a common goal for being.

<HotBands> You're starting to get out on the road a lot, and you're getting interest from some bigger labels... is there something you want to say before you get too big to talk with?

<Graham> Man, if I ever act like an anus, I should be disincorporated. I really don't know if all of this cool stuff will end up being truly cool stuff, but being a character of care, caring about being and all situations, there is no size here. I want to talk to everyone.

<HotBands> I guess that sums it up unless you'd like to add any other notes, tips, excuses or pleas to the readers.

<Graham> Ultimately, it is a labor of love, a labor of art, and learning, and then helping is positive evolition and advancement. Often there is so much sniveling competition in music (and everything), that evolution is compromised. "aufheben" means "creative maintenance." that is what Moses Guest is all about. As always give thanks to friends as well.

<HotBands> Thanks Graham!

<Graham> Thank you Pat! See you soon!