Hillbilly Moon Explosion

Hillbilly Moon Explosion is a Swiss rockabilly band founded in 1998. The group is known for a versatile mix of rock and roll, jump blues, swing, country, roots rock and surf music elements.[1]

Hillbilly Moon Explosion
The Hillbilly Moon Explosion performing at Leysin Nescafé in February 2011
Background information
OriginZurich, Switzerland
GenresRockabilly
Years active1998–present
Associated actsThe Peacocks
MembersOliver Baroni
Emanuela Hutter
Duncan James
Sylvain Petite
Past membersAad Hollander
Pat Matteo
Donovan Tose
Luke Weyermann

History

Hillbilly Moon Explosion originated in 1998 as part of the Zurich rockabilly scene.[2] The group was founded by the native English and Swiss citizen Oliver Baroni (vocals, bass, guitar) and Italian-Swiss singer Emanuela Hutter. Oliver Baroni was planning to leave his former band, the Hillbilly Headhunters. Emanuela Hutter worked with the singer/songwriter music project MD Moon at that time. The original formation was completed by drummer Aad Hollander and guitarist Pat Matteo, another former member of the Hillbilly Headhunters. The first demo tape was made in the same year. Emanuela Hutter was at the time bound by solo performances and did not enter the band until the following year.

In 2006 after the release of All Grown Up, Englishman Duncan James replaced Patrick Gese on guitar and Swiss Luke Weyermann the new drummer. Frenchman Sylvain Petite later took over drums.

In addition to touring and performing in Switzerland, the band have performed in other European countries including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Finland, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Austria and the UK. In 2010, Hillbilly Moon Explosion appeared as the opening act for Jeff Beck in Paris Olympia. In both 2018 and 2019, they also toured the west coast of the US.

The members of the group live in and around Zurich.

Style and reviews

Although some media outlets rate the band as a very good rockabilly formation from Switzerland, Hillbilly Moon Explosion is still considered an underground band.

On the album Buy, Beg or Steal, in the song "My Love for Evermore", Hutter sang a duet with Mark "Sparky" Phillips from the British psychobilly group Demented Are Go. Further duets with Sparky appeared on the Damn Right Honey and With Monsters and Gods albums, and a full album of duets, The Sparky Sessions appeared in 2019.

Current band members
  • Oliver Baroni (vocals/upright bass)
  • Emanuela Hutter (vocals/rhythm guitar)
  • Duncan James (lead guitar/vocals)
  • Sylvain Petite (drums)

Discography
  • Introducing The Hillbilly Moon Explosion (2002, Crazy Love Records)
  • Bourgeois Baby (2004)
  • By Popular Demand: The Basement Tapes (1999-2005) (2005, Crazy Love Records)
  • All Grown Up (2006)
  • Raw Deal (2010, The Freed)
  • Buy, Beg or Steal (2011, The Freed; Jungle Records)
  • Damn Right Honey! (2013, Goldtop Recordings/Jungle Records)
  • French Kiss avec Arielle Dombasle (2015, Mercury Records/Universal Music France)
  • With Monsters and Gods (2016, Jungle Records; The Freed; Cloud Hill)
  • The Sparky Sessions feat. Mark “Sparky” Phillips (2019, Freedonia; Jungle Records)

References
  1. RingMaster (2016-05-09). "The Hillbilly Moon Explosion – With Monsters And Gods". The RingMaster Review. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  2. E, Gaz. "The Hillbilly Moon Explosion - 'Damn Right Honey' (Jungle Records)". Über Röck-Kick Ass Rock N Roll. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
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