Moist (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Vancouver , Canada |
| Products | Studio albums, singles, music videos |
Moist is a rock group originating from Canada, established in 1992. The lineup comprises lead singer David Usher, lead guitarist Mark Makoway, guitarist Jonathan Gallivan, keyboardist Kevin Young, drummer Francis Fillion, and bassist Jeff Pearce. Prior to the band's break in 2000, drummer Paul Wilcox left the ensemble.
After signing with EMI Music in 1994, Moist released three studio albums throughout the 1990s, becoming a significant force within Canadian rock music. Following a 2001 greatest hits compilation, the band unexpectedly paused activities for over ten years before officially reuniting in June 2013. They subsequently issued their fourth studio album, Glory Under Dangerous Skies (2014), followed by their fifth release, End of the Ocean, in January 2022.
The group has been nominated for ten Juno Awards, securing two wins. Between 1996 and 2016, Moist ranked among Canada's top 50 best-selling music acts and was listed within the top 20 best-selling bands.
Formation and peak years (1992–2001)
Mark Makoway, Jeff Pearce, David Usher, and Kevin Young—all originally from Ontario—each moved independently to Vancouver over an eight-year span. Moist was formed in 1992 with drummer Jamie Kaufmann, who was replaced by Paul Wilcox early the following year.
In 1993, the band produced a nine-track demo at 8th Avenue Sound Studio for $500 CAD, drawing inspiration from Seattle-based bands such as Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. This cassette topped Sam the Record Man's local independent chart and reached the national top ten. That same year, Moist secured a deal with EMI Music Publishing Canada and embarked on extensive touring while crafting new songs.
Their first album, Silver, was finalized in January 1994 on a budget of $3,000 CAD and independently released in February. The lead single "Push" received moderate airplay on MuchMusic, leading to nearly 6,000 copies sold within six weeks. By March, they had signed with EMI Music Canada. Silver went on to sell 400,000 copies domestically, propelled by singles including "Push," "Silver," "Believe Me," and "Machine Punch Through." The band also achieved international recognition in markets such as the UK, Germany, and Thailand. In 1995, Moist earned the Juno Award for Best New Group.
Their sophomore album, Creature (1996), garnered positive critical reception and sold over 300,000 units. It featured popular tracks like "Leave It Alone," "Resurrection," "Tangerine," and "Gasoline," all receiving heavy rotation on MuchMusic. Additionally, a remixed version of "Tangerine" became a radio favorite.
Following this period, David Usher began his solo career with the release of Little Songs.
In early 1999, Moist unveiled their third studio album, Mercedes 5 and Dime, which included singles such as "Breathe," "Underground," and "Comes and Goes." The album launched in Canada during summer 1999 before being released in the United States. While touring to support the album, drummer Paul Wilcox suffered a back injury that led him to permanently step away from the band by December 2000. He subsequently retired from his music career.
In 2001, Moist issued a compilation album and DVD entitled Machine Punch Through but did not engage in live performances that year. Although David Usher confirmed the band's continued existence as late as 2002, Moist entered an extended hiatus lasting twelve years.
Hiatus (2001–2013)
Throughout the band's break, David Usher embarked on a solo journey, delivering several albums such as Morning Orbit (2001) and Songs from the Last Day on Earth (2012). Mark Makoway authored the guidebook The Indie Band Bible while maintaining his work in record production and mixing. Jeff Pearce established the group RYE, which released the album Wolves in 2004. Meanwhile, Kevin Young toured alongside Usher and engaged in freelance writing projects.
Reunion, new albums (2013–present)
Moist came back together in June 2013, welcoming Francis Fillion as their drummer. Their first new recording in over a decade was a rendition of Greg Lake's "I Believe in Father Christmas," which debuted on CBC Music in December 2013. The band embarked on a Canadian tour named "Moist - The Resurrection" during November and December, referencing their 1996 hit "Resurrection." This tour kicked off in London, Ontario and wrapped up in Calgary, Alberta.
By January 2014, with Jonathan Gallivan joining the lineup, Moist began crafting fresh material in Montréal. Bassist Jeff Pearce scaled back his participation to prioritize family but still contributed to select tracks. The band signed with Universal Music Canada and introduced the single "Mechanical" to radio stations on May 23, followed by a digital release on May 27. Their fourth studio album, Glory Under Dangerous Skies, was officially released on October 7, 2014.
Jeff Pearce rejoined Moist on May 9, 2019. That year marked the 25th anniversary of their debut album Silver, which they commemorated with a nationwide tour performing the album in its entirety alongside other notable songs. In November 2019, remastered versions of Silver were issued—including a 2CD/digital package and a deluxe 180g 3LP vinyl edition—featuring demos and previously unreleased live recordings from 1994. Additionally, remastered vinyl editions of Silver, Creature, and Mercedes Five and Dime were released.
In January 2021, Moist unveiled "Tarantino," their first single since 2014. By April, they announced their upcoming studio album End of the Ocean, which was released on January 14, 2022, accompanied by its title track as a single.
Current
- David Usher – lead vocals (1992–2001, 2013–present)
- Mark Makoway – guitars (1992–2001, 2013–present)
- Kevin Young – keyboards, backing vocals (1992–2001, 2013–present)
- Jeff Pearce – bass, mandolin, backing vocals (1992–2001, 2013–2014, 2019–present)
- Francis Fillion – drums (2013–present)
- Jonathan Gallivan – guitars, backing vocals (2014–present)
Past
- Jamie Kaufmann – drums (1992–1993)
- Paul Wilcox – drums (1993–2000)
- Chris Taylor-Munro – drums (2000–2001)
- Louis Lalancette – bass (2014–2018)
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | CAN | ||
| 1994 | Silver | 12 | 4× Platinum |
| 1996 | Creature | 7 | 3× Platinum |
| 1999 | Mercedes 5 and Dime | 4 | Platinum |
| 2014 | Glory Under Dangerous Skies | 8 | |
| 2022 | End of the Ocean |
Independent Releases
| Year | Title | Chart Rankings | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Moist (independent cassette) | - |
Compilation Albums
| Year | Title | Highest Chart Positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Machine Punch Through: The Singles Collection | 58 |
Singles
| Year | Track | US Main | CAN | CAN Rock/Alt. | CAN CanCon | CAN AC | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Push" | 37 | 32 | — | — | — | Silver |
| "Silver" | — | 9 | — | — | — | ||
| "Believe Me" | — | 11 | — | 8 | — | ||
| 1995 | "Machine Punch Through" | — | 72 | — | 5 | — | |
| "Freaky Be Beautiful" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996 | "Leave it Alone" | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | Creature |
| "Resurrection" | — | 8 | 4 | — | — | ||
| 1997 | "Tangerine" | — | 25 | — | — | — | |
| "Gasoline" | — | 27 | — | — | — | ||
| "Breathe" | — | 28 | 5 | — | 22 | rowspan=4 |Mercedes 5 and Dime | |
| "Underground" | — | 36 | 7 | — | — | ||
| "Comes and Goes" | — | — | 10 | — | — | ||
| "Dogs" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Mechanical" | – | – | 3 | — | — | rowspan=2 |Glory Under Dangerous Skies | |
| "Black Roses" | — | — | 9 | — | — | ||
| "Tarantino" | – | – | – | — | — | rowspan=3 |End of the Ocean | |
| "End of the Ocean" | — | — | – | — | — | ||
| "Dying For a Light In The Dark (We Are)" | — | — | – | — | — |
- The symbol "—" indicates that the single either did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Music Videos
1996 1997 1999 2000 2021| Year | Video Title | Director(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Push" | Brenton Spencer | ||||
| "Silver" |
-"Believe Me" |
-"Freaky Be Beautiful" |
||||
| "Leave it Alone" |
-"Resurrection" |
|||||
| "Tangerine" | Stephen Scott | |||||
| "Gasoline" | Javier Aquilera | |||||
| "Breathe" | Phil Harder | |||||
| "Underground" | Ulf Buddensieck | |||||
| "End of the Ocean" | Mateo Guez |
Accolades and Honors
- Awarded Juno for Best New Group in 1995.
- Received Juno for Best Video for Gasoline in 1997.
- Secured "Q107 Canada's Rock Award" for Best Album (Silver), Best Group, Best Vocalist (David Usher), and Best Keyboardist (Kevin Young) in 1995.
- Honored with MMVA for Favorite Canadian Group in 1995.
- Tangerine music video earned Best Video and Best Director awards at the MuchMusic Video Awards in 1997.
- Jon Benedictson was the band's drummer between 1990 and 1993.
External links
- Moist entry at JAM! Canadian Pop Encyclopedia
- Articles with short description
- Canadian post-grunge groups
- Canadian alternative rock groups
- Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year winners
- Musical groups from Vancouver
- Musical groups established in 1992
- Musical groups disestablished in 2001
- Musical groups reestablished in 2013
- 1992 establishments in British Columbia
- 2001 disestablishments in British Columbia
- 2013 establishments in British Columbia