Moth 'Immune To Gravity' album

Cincinnati band MOTH returns to the scene with their fifth album, Immune to Gravity. The title aptly evokes the band’s resilience and peculiar faith in the benevolence of the gods of rock, despite all indicators to the contrary. After years of slogging it out on the local scene, self-releasing two albums and touring in a yellow school bus re-christened the “Cool Bus”, one of MOTH’s demos finally found receptive ears and the band was signed to Virgin Records in 2001. They took to the studio with an ace producer, Sean Beavan (Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails), an A-list mixer, Rich Costey (Franz Ferdinand, Fiona Apple) and even had some help from the stellar rhythm section of Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Vandals) and Tommy Stinson (ex-Replacements). Their major label debut, Provisions, Fictions and Gear, was released in April 2002. The first single, “I See Sound”, was making an impact on college radio charts and the video was in rotation on MTV. MOTH had great reviews in Rolling Stone, Blender and the New York Times and appeared on Craig Kilbourne’s Late Late Show. The “Cool Bus” had been replaced by Cher’s old tour bus, replete with mirrored ceilings. More than five people showed up at CBGBs this time around. MOTH was finally living the dream.

Until a bomb heard ‘round the world called Glitter dropped. The debacle that became Mariah Carey’s career and Virgin Records’ nightmare cost the label millions of dollars and forced a complete restructuring of the label. In the ensuing chaos, Provisions, Fictions and Gear lost momentum and MOTH was dropped.

MOTH returned to Cincinnati frustrated, disappointed, a little angry … but still willing to do whatever it took to continue their career. After a couple of lineup changes and drowning their sorrows and the rest of their money in High Life, Brad Stenz used the rest of his girlfriend’s bank account to record Drop Deaf, proving once again that behind every guy with a guitar is a kind hearted woman with credit cards. Brad repaid her by making her his wife in 2005.

Drop Deaf was distributed through a few online outlets and the band’s website. Despite its limited release, it found some airplay courtesy of ex-Sex Pistol Steve Jones during his “Jonsey’s Jukebox” show in Los Angeles’ Indie 103.1 radio show. After that, the rest of the British music mafia came calling and a UK tour brought the band a whole new island of fans.

And in perhaps the most enduring legacy from their time at Virgin, Brad’s friendship with former A&R exec Todd Sullivan became the catalyst for the next chapter of MOTH’s lifespan. Brad continued to send songs to Sullivan after the band’s departure from Virgin and in spring of 2004, Sullivan headed out to Cincinnati for look at the new MOTH lineup with Eli White on bass, Kevin Hogle taking over for Atom Willard (who departed for Offspring), and the mysterious new guitarist The Billionaire. Liking what he witnessed at a downtown festival, Sullivan asked MOTH to be the first band signed to his new label, Hey Domingo!

And so, after living through the ridiculous to the sublime, Immune to Gravity finds the band at their most focused. Taking a cue from some of the great bands of the late 70s like The Cars, Devo, Wire and Boomtown Rats, Stenz wanted short and sweet, with immediate and unnerving impact. The band recorded with these influences in mind, but this isn’t a retro album. MOTH is always looking forward, their faith intact, waiting for the girls, the drinks, the drugs, the adulation … like the you know what to the flame, all will find their way to MOTH.

Meet the band:

Brad Stenz. Singer/guitarist and O.G. MOTH. Founded the band after his first taste of punk rock and a failed career as a juvenile delinquent. A.K.A. Mercedes Stenz or B-Rad.

The Billionaire. Guitarist. Billionaire.

Kevin Hogle. Drummer. Like two other men who know that rocking hard requires a soft touch, Sting and Gene Simmons, Kevin occasionally day gigs as a grade school teacher. Kevin is the only band member who has toured in China.

Eli White. Bass guitar. Fastest guy in the band. Loves monkeys and getting drunk in movie theaters.

Like every great story, this one starts with a name. A conversation starting name.

“I went to this amazing show last night! MOTH!”
”Who?”
”MOTH!”
”Moss?”
”No, MOTH!”

“Mauve?”
”No, MOTH! M-O-T-H! Like the insect!”
”What?”

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Moth - Immune To Gravity