Moneen, Moving Mountains and Prawn played MHOW (pics)

photos by Mimi Hong, words by Andrew Sacher

Moneen / Moving Mountains / Prawn

Moneen, Moving Mountains and Prawn played three shows over the weekend, including Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday (12/19). They were Moneen’s first US shows in five years, and Mov Mou’s first shows anywhere in two. Prawn opened, with a set of their post rock-infected ’90s-style emo. They were tight, rocking harder than I’d ever seen them, and had a portion of the crowd up front who knew every word.

Moving Mountains really ensured these shows would be a triumphant return by amping their usual four-piece lineup up to a six-piece. Former guitarist/vocalist Frank Graniero was back in the band, giving them three-part harmonies, and his brother Steve (who’s toured with Mov Mou before) was on keys, auxiliary percussion, and sometimes fourth guitar. It was the fullest they’ve ever sounded. They mixed the set up pretty well with stuff from all over their career, including “Grow On, Grow Up, Grow Out” and “Ode We Will Bury Ourselves” off the great Pneuma, and their new song “Deathless” off their split with Prawn which is probably my favorite song of theirs since Pneuma. It was good to have them back — let’s hope they don’t wait another two years to play again.

Then Moonen wrapped up the show, wasting no time turning things right up to 11. They opened with “Don’t Ever Tell Locke What He Can’t Do” and all of them were just flailing their bodies around stage and looking as thrilled as possible to be there. Great way to end a great show.

Pictures of all three bands continue below…

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Prawn

Moving Mountains

Moneen