Hermano - "When the Moon Was High..."
"The Greatest Band That Never Was"
Hermano got their start in 1998 when producer Dandy Brown brought together a supergroup composed of David Angstrom (Supafuzz), Steve Earle (Afghan Whigs), Mike Callahan (Disengage), and John Garcia (Kyuss). Prior to this, these musicians had never been in the same room before, forget about creating music together. But, as luck would have it, the immediate creative chemistry that would set the foundation for a lasting friendship was undeniable. With this as the driving force behind the group, the band that would become Hermano embarked on the making of an album in a manner free from egos and industry pressure.
Hermano's first album, Only a Suggestion (2002), didn't see the light of day so effortlessly. The album was originally set to be released on Man's Ruin Records, which shuttered before that could happen. It took four years of navigating contractual obligations before Hermano was finally able to release Only a Suggestion through Tee Pee Records. The wait may have been worth it, as the album was incredibly well-received by fans and critics alike, and is touted as one of the most influential heavy blues albums of all time.
"The Bottle", the most popular song from "Only a Suggestion".
Hermano went on to release two more studio albums (Dare I Say and Into the Exam Room) and a live album (Live at W2) over the decade that followed, in addition to playing sold-out shows all over the United States and Europe. During this time, in 2004, Steve Earle left the band to pursue a solo project and Supafuzz's Chris Leathers took over drumming duties.
The best part was, because Hermano made a point of steering clear of contracts, they could release albums and play gigs when they wanted to, answering to no one but each other. This led to them being respectfully called, "the greatest band that never was", a nod to their coinciding independence and success.
when the moon was high...
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Track Listing
1. Breathe (new!)
2. Never Boulevard (new!)
3. Brother Bjork (live at W2)
4. Senor Moreno's Plan (live at Hellfest)
5. Love (live at Hellfest, previously unreleased)
6. Manager's Special (live at Hellfest)
Once Hermano acquired full ownership of their music, they enlisted the help of Ripple Music to remaster, remix, and reissue their catalog, and Only a Suggestion was naturally the first album to receive the royal treatment (available of Ripple Music's Bandcamp here). It was during this process and the resulting trip down memory lane that Hermano recorded the song Breathe, the first single (released in August 2024) from what would become when the moon was high..., and the first new music from the band in almost two decades. It was almost as if no time had passed since the Hermano's heyday; the song is overflowing with the band's trademark impassioned and sandblasted heavy blues sound, but with a palpable, freshly renewed energy. Breathe is one of those songs that always hits you like it did the first time, even after your hundredth listen, compelling you to sing (scream) and move along. Overflowing with feel-good vibes, heavy swagger, and desert groove, this song screams, "HERMANO IS BACK!"
the official music video for "Breathe"
Hermano also utilized this time to resurrect an old song called Never Boulevard that was tracked in 1998, the master tapes of which were discovered during preparation for the Ripple Music reissue process. After giving the song its much-deserved finishing touches, it was released as the second single from their upcoming album in September 2024.
John Garcia, in my eyes, is the king of the stripped-down stoner/desert ballad. He almost always lends such a track to the albums he performs on (Space Cadet, On the Desert, Confusion, and Softer Side to name a few examples). Keeping the instrumentals hushed and simple, his remarkable ability to communicate emotion with his voice shines through brilliantly, so much so that you can practically hear the strain on his heart and soul as he sings. So, naturally, I was ecstatic to hear another such raw, vulnerable, and passionate performance on Never Boulevard and man...this one really got me right in the feels. It's a haunting, mournful song that always stops me in my tracks when I hear it.
Never Boulevard was first performed by the desert folk band Alice Tambourine Lover in 2015, and it's quite a compelling rendition as well. (Shout out to yawning_scotsman on Instagram for sharing that info with me).
I absolutely love the simple, artfully done music video for Never Boulevard, its monochrome scenes and slow/fast movement illustrative of the heartbreak and painful memories that plague the narrator at every turn.
the official music video for "Never Boulevard"
when the moon was high... also contains four live tracks, performed at W2 (2004) and Hellfest (2016). Let me tell you..the sound quality on these is out of this world, so much so it's difficult to believe they're live performances at times. Even so, that festival energy is boiling over on these tracks, making it effortless to visualize yourself in the front row, rocking out. Perhaps best of all, when the moon was high... includes the only existing audio recording of the song Love, and it's to die for.
the live performance of "Love" at Hellfest...the sound is exponentially better on "when the moon was high..." though!
The Bottom Line
It's very simple, really: when the moon was high... is a must-have for both the committed and casual stoner rock fan, a collector's item meant to be both spun to death and treasured.
Of course, it's beyond exciting that there are two new Hermano tracks to be had here, but, as touched upon above, the sound quality is unreal. The top-notch rendering of the live songs alone is well worth the purchase.
And...did I mention it's an Hermano album? Enough said.
More About Hermano
Hermano Is:
John Garcia (Kyuss) - vocals
Dandy Brown - bass
Mike Callahan (Disengage) - guitar
David Angstrom (Supafuzz) - guitar
Chris Leathers (Supafuzz) - drums
You can follow Hermano and stream their music at the following links:
A massive thank you to Purple Sage PR and Ripple Music for the promo!
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