Fire in the Field

Comprised of Mike Moore (vocals & guitar), Jeff Badolato (bass), John Santarelli (drums), and Andrew Blowen (keyboards), Exeter, New Hampshire's own indie rock outlet, Fire in the Field , have been well at the local scene for a good five years or so now, with records of their having been in operation since 2009 according to their official Facebook page. It's in 2014, though, that the band reaches their next humongous milestone: landing a debut album recorded and mastered in a professional studio: the distinctively titled Gypsy Tea Room . With special thanks to Joel Spielman of EMC Music Group and Creative Spotlights, I've managed to give a few good hearty listens to the album thus far and can say that, without a doubt, it's something special that is representative of a certain magic we've been missing on the main rock scene for quite some time. Gypsy Tea Room does impeccably well in establishing Fire in the Field as nothing short of a band of four fellows each sunken head-deep into pure, blues-drenched rock and roll hearkening back to the era of the Rolling Stones and Cream in pure unapologetic form.


All of these above facts become well-established within the opening moments of Gypsy Tea Room, inundated by an infectious "down on the bayou" set of slow-building, grooving musical flourishes and overall delivery that wouldn't be out of place on the finest John Mayall outfit. Everything about this band and their debut album harks back to a legendary era of classic rock and roll that is done-up in a surprisingly genuine flair -- guitar solos are back, everyone, and they're the real McCoy through and through with this group! Aside from said opening track, "Ferryboat River Ride", other standout tracks upon first listen include "Suzie" with its raw unadulterated grit and surprising Mediterranean twists, "Stone Hearted Creature" for its steel-nerved tenacity, and the eponymous "Gypsy Tea Room" in all of its 14 minutes and 29 seconds of eclectic jam band-y glory.

There's hardly anything left to say here about Fire in the Field that hasn't already been said anywhere above. Give them a good listen, or fifteen, if you're well into the roots/rock era gone-by and are hankering for a revival, because these guys could very easily front that revival. Gypsy Tea Room is a masterful effort by all means, and while it won't necessarily be the tremendous breakout hit that it deserves to be, it should more than likely acquire the men behind the project more of a deserved following for the sweet tunes they produce. Rock isn't just a genre -- it's a type of music that can only be exuded in its fullest form straight from the gut, infusing an intense passion with absolutely incredible talent, and Fire in the Field succeeds in emanating that attitude in a well above-average way for the modern era to behold in Gypsy Tea Room.

Rating: 5/5

For more on the band, check out their official Twitter page! To keep up with all of the latest reviews, interviews, and more, make sure to follow me on Twitter, as well! - Yahoo

In 2009, Fire on the Field dropped its eponymous debut on an unsuspecting Seacoast community, confidently staking the claim that rock was alive and well.

This journalist’s ears perked up. I was giddy. Good rock ‘n’ roll music is, believe it or not, hard to come by.
Not impossible. But difficult. Bands trying to make a name in this genre in this area are a bit thin. To have one make a confident statement at such a young age was reason to be excited.

Then they vanished. Various members kept plugging away on different projects, but Fire in the Field – the band – it disappeared.
Five years later, and all-the-more wiser, the band is back. And its members have made sure that the statement made after a half-decade of silence is even stronger than the first time.

Sure, things have changed. But boy have they changed for the better.

Fire on the Field’s sophomore release, “Gypsy Tea Room,” is an exploration of sound.
It’s still gritty. It’s still heavily steeped in riff-driven psychedelic rock. It’s still many of the things on which the band built its foundation. But the band has stepped out of its comfort zone a bit and created a record that is expounding on what they were, and chiseling at the definition of what it is they will become.

The excitement is back. Let’s hope the air isn’t let out of the sails this time around because this is a band that needs to be creating and filling out some space on the soundtrack of life.

Spotlight caught up with frontman Michael Moore to find out the scoop …

Spotlight: Tell me about ‘Gypsy Tea Room. ‘What were the goals behind the record?

Michael Moore: The goals were lofty for this one. This marks my first time as the frontman/singer of the band, or any band for that matter. So from the 2009 album to this one I've worked towards shifting my mindset as a guitarist riff-maker into the frontman, singer, lyricist, writer etc. – trying to expand as much as possible. So again, lofty but the challenge keeps it interesting and incredibly fun. Aside from that shift, the goal always remains the same to an extent - make the music you love and would want to listen to. For myself and the band that's our original brand of psychedelic rock. The whole concept connecting with all the tunes as a journey wasn't really a goal so much as a discovery process as we collectively traversed through all the tunes and stories contained therein.

Spotlight: It's a concept record. There are two very different definitions of the term ‘tea room,’ so I'm curious what the title of the record means to the band. How did you come up with it?

Michael Moore: I interned at WBCN - R.I.P. - my senior year of college. My boss at the time was a huge record collector and one day strolled in with a few boxes of records. He let me pick some goods out and I found this old sheet music from the ‘60s of all these different show tunes, movie themes, and beyond. The covers were these beautiful retro paintings, drawings, etc. I took the covers home and put them up on my wall. I went to write one day and started looking at this one painting with the title on it, ‘In a Little Gypsy Tea Room.’ It was this borderline spooky painting and I thought, ‘I want to have a song about a tea room, a gypsy tea room where something is going down.’ I brought the finished tune to the studio for rehearsal and it quickly became the title of the record - and, obviously, the title track, which serves as the album’s closing number.

Spotlight: Can you talk about the state of the band now in comparison to the band that was in place when you recorded the first record?

Michael Moore: (John) Santarelli (drums, percussion) - known that guy since Little League. (Jeff) Badolato (bass) I've known since freshman year of high school. We’re the foundation – kind of a typical equation that creates a great band: all of you alone aren't necessarily virtuosos but together you have a groove that can't be fabricated. So we ran with that power-trio idea for a long time until we came across Jamie Bagshaw, another Little League friend.

We needed a singer, and I was too shy to do anything. I felt most comfortable with my guitar in front of me, and that was it. Jamie was the man back in the day, he turned me on to a lot of great blues music I wouldn't have discovered that soon otherwise. But nothing crazy about the first incarnation, truly the atypical implosion story … Nobody's fault except our own. When you’re 19-22, I dunno, you don’t take things that seriously. I don't think I really had a true thought that mattered until I was 25. (Laughs.)
So for the current record, Jamie is gone, and I’m singing … We also added Andrew Blowen (keys). The bottom line with Andrew is no one sounds like him. My ultimate goal as a musician is to find my own voice as pure as possible and Andrew does that every time he plays. So having him come in and put his touch on each tune brings that spice that no one else has! He was an invaluable addition!

Spotlight: What are you hoping folks take away from this music when they experience ‘Gypsy Tea Room’?

Michael Moore: I think when I go into something – a book, a movie, an album, a live show … I want the journey. You sort of know what you're getting into, but then you forget everything and are just going with it. Those are some of the best moments in life; when the analysis portion of your brain shuts off and you simply take the ride. That's the experience I enjoy the most and is hopefully what I've provided here with this record.

Spotlight: How would you describe the music of Fire in the Field to someone who hasn't heard you yet?

Michael Moore: Ah, the ever difficult ‘don't box yourself in’ question!

Spotlight: Don't box yourself in!

Michael Moore: (Laughs.) To avoid the box I usually say, ‘psychedelic-blues-rock ‘n'roll-soul.’ After I give the multiple genre
description I usually say, ‘Well, we love heavy riffs, groove is most important, but old blues and old soul music is really what we love to listen to the most, and psychedelic I guess encompasses the strange tales and lyrics thing.’

Spotlight: What does ‘music’ mean to you? What are YOU looking to take away or gain from creating it?

Michael Moore: Music has always been around, and will never go away. It's somehow inherent to our nature for whatever reason - there's actually a billion reasons that I won't get heady on right this second due to time limitations, and space limitations …
I've always loved and played music since I was a kid … Been in bands since high school. It's something I've fallen into. It wasn't really a choice or a plan. Just pure passion from the get-go. So I just keep doing it. The more I discover my unique voice, the more I want to keep going. Now it's to the point where I'm just diving in all the time. Is it spiritual? Well, yep. Yep it is. Sounds corny but it's true. It’s a form of communication, and there is no other form I love more than music. My sincere hope is that we’ve done our job as best we can and people find a bit of enjoyment out of this record.

Spotlight: I have no doubt that they will. - NH Seacoast Spotlight

"The blues is the sounds and stories that honestly shows the range of emotion of what it is to be an individual in a world that is constantly changing and full of mystery. It taps that vibe with immediacy not found elsewhere."


Mike Moore: Burnin' Rock & Roll Fire

The self-titled album of Fire In The Field from 2009 was released as the last gasp of the first incarnation of the band, before Mike Moore took front man duties and followed the vision for 2014's "Gypsy Tea Room." After three years of being on the run with other bands, there was a dark cloud threatening Moore. Music was almost not in the cards after suffering a major injury to his left arm resulting in ulnar nerve surgery. He recouped and began crafting the new batch of tunes meant to reunite the band and moniker that is the new Fire in the Field. His best friends and players John Santarelli (drums), Jeff Badolato (bass), and Andrew Blowen (keys & backing vocals) converged at Oil Can Studios in Rollinsford, NH to track live in the room, and make an original statement along the path of honest rock and roll.

Moore has found his role as songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, and front man. After only a year of singing and fronting live (first show was April 12th, 2013) Moore and the band officially lit the fire May 3rd, 2014 at The Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA. With the album released and Boston venues clear under their belts: TT & The Bears, Middle East (up & down), Church of Boston, Sally O'Briens, Bill's Bar, The Hard Rock Cafe, Oliver's, The Paradise, The Paradise Lounge (RIP) the band is excited to penetrate the markets of NYC and points north with their unique brand of rockn'roll psychedelic soul.

'Gypsy Tea Room' is a concept album meant to be played loud. There lies a keyhole somewhere above, around, inside, all leading... well, you'll see. The songs and stories peek into a once black and white existence, now multicolored in horror and exaltation. The band grooves with blood and sweat as the seam to their vision quest; let them take you to the entrance of the tea room. The mysteries it holds are for you and your ears to discover.

Interview by Michael Limnios



What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

I don't know why, but the blues seems like natural law, and has always felt that way to me. It's raw expression. It's sounds are not for people who are sad and only sad (I hate when non-blues people think that's what it's sole purpose is). The blues is the sounds and stories that honestly shows the range of emotion of what it is to be an individual in a world that is constantly changing and full of mystery. It taps that vibe with immediacy not found elsewhere. What I learned from the blues is hard to explain. I guess, the blues is medicine, it has healing and soul expanding power.

What characterize the sound & songbook of Fire in the Field and what is the story behind the name of band?

I think "Piece Of My Head" sums up a lot for sure. This is really our take on a standard blues progression with a driving percussive guitar lick. We're all about driving blues and heavy spacey riffs. "Stone Hearted Creature" is a great example of our love for the heavy riffs.

The story behind the name goes way back. The drummer John and I were in English Lit together our junior year of High School. We were a dangerous duo, not the best students you could say. We would always come up with different sayings and had our own sort of language. We developed this barbaric phrase in reference to escaping the classroom to a field outside the school. We would begin to shout, "To the field!", and this meant a myriad of things. More and more we would say it in other situations when we desired freedom. Being in a store with a girlfriend and you just want to leave I'd think, "To the field!!" Years later when we were trying to find the right name for this project we were joking around about the high school days and John came up with,"Fire in the Field." And it totally works! It's about passion and freedom and not following the rules... albeit it started in a juvenile manner but it still holds up.

Why did you think that the Blues & Rock music continues to generate such a devoted following?

I think the key word is "devotion." Because in terms of numbers and industry success I wouldn't say blues & rock really are at the forefront of anything. I don't understand anything that passes for rock in the charts today. I'm not massive fans of Jack White or The Black Keys but I think they are definitely the good guys in the trenches.

I think the devotion comes from that honest resonance, that unexplained vibe that's within any serious music listener. It's the rhythm, the timing, the vibration. It's the soul, and when a sound shows its soul especially when flawed, it's the honesty that gets the devotion.

Are there any memories from gigs, jams and festivals which you’d like to share with us?

I think jam wise, once of the coolest things this band ever did was by mistake. We were recording "Stone Hearted Creature," in the studio and we finally got the keeper take with guitar, bass, and drums; we were recording live in the room for the basic tracks so we everyone in the band had to be on and get their shit right or we'd have to start over... this is an old school approach and it keeps it real. Anyways we got the take and we were still recording... we just started jamming and out came this 10 minute one chord jam and it had some serious groove. We had fun and forgot about it. It wasn't until the mixing process our engineer discovered this thing. We have no recollection of it.



What do you miss most nowadays from the music of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I think today there are just so many bands and musicians that want to be "successful" without knowing what it actually means. And there are too many fucking DJ's, and too many "musicians" that don't even play there instruments... and too many pop stars that can't actually sing... it seems there is a lack of original story telling... Hollywood has the same problem.

My biggest hope for the future is to continually grow musically and perfect my craft. I'd love to tour and play bigger and bigger shows but only if it's right. When you're about the music only it's tough to, "make it," but that's ok with me.

My biggest fear is that DJ's will take over completely and people's ears will get scared when they hear a real player on a real instrument.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

I'd really like to see people place more value on the musical content rather than marketing, image, and celebrity. For example: When I see Rihanna, I immediately want to have sex with her but her music is still the most useless waste my ears have ever heard.

It really makes me sick when pop stars say, "I'm so excited for my record to come out. This has been such a journey," yada yada. And they didn't even write the tunes, a team of fifteen people did! Ok some main stream artists do some writing but it's few and far between.

Important note: Justin Bieber does not bother me. What bothers me are the people who obsess over hating him and consistently talk about him, make a stink... it's just like, "Why are we caring about this? Why? He makes music for little girls. It is not relevant and never will be." Let's stop paying attention to MTV Movie Awards scandals and shit that has ZERO to do with music.



What has made you laugh lately and what touched (emotionally) you from the music circuits?

I love seeing the comeback of Prince. This is a guy who is a celebrity yes, a little nuts, yes, but he's 100% in it for the music and has always done what he felt was right and couldn't give a shit what anyone else thinks.



Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

I'd probably go see The Bandy of Gypsys when the live record was recorded... technically that record was from 1969 and 1970, so one of the nights. - Blues.GR

May 11, 2016

Fire In The Field’s “Look So Strange” reveals its heart and soul as blues mixed with rock n’ roll. With a classic rock sound accompanied by a slow burning fiery passion these songs recall a sweeter more stylish time in pop. Everything works from the incredible emotional vocal delivery to the rollicking rhythms right down to the expressive organ. This is the kind of music that is as much physical as it is emotional, with the vamps being done pitch perfect to every song’s small yet significant flourish of sound.

http://fireinthefield.bandcamp.com/album/look-so-strange

“Honey Cup” begins things with an anxious guitar riff. From this small introduction the song’s tension is slowly built up ever so gradually. Fire In The Field takes its time in letting the energy rise up until it absolutely overwhelms. By far the highlight of the collection the song gets ever more expansive in nature. Wasting absolutely no time is the downright lush sound of “These Hills”. Precise percussion leads the way as the song morphs into something oddly beautiful, almost serene at times before interrupting this piece with dramatic fanfare. Heavy in nature is the distortion lead work of “Most Evil” whose chaos is engrossing, as Fire In The Field show off their considerable chops as the guitar solo tears through it all. Ending things on a high note is the high energy “Eyes”.

“Look So Strange” shows Fire In The Field harking back to the best of classic rock.

http://fireinthefieldmusic.com/

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