TRIBAL JAMS MAGAZINE
MOSES GUEST
Article by Stephen Veefkind

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Moses Guest is a band on a mission. Founded by philosophy PhD  candidate Graham Guest (the band is named after Guest's fifth generation grandfather). this Houston-based southern rock band has risen through the ranks these past six years since their first release to become one of Houston's hottest music makers. They also host a three day ski festival at Grand Targhee Ski Resort, and have had their music showcased on MTV's "Real World." They have previously released four self-produced cds (Geniality of Morality-1996, American Trailer Home Blues- 1997, Live Stages- 1999, Three New Ditties-1999), and now a fifth, Moses Guest, released in 2002. This one was produced by Dan Workman (ZZ Top, Destiny's Child, Average White Band), who also plays guitar on a number of songs. Moses Guest is: Graham Guest (guitars, banjo, lead vocals), Rick Thompson (keyboards, vocals), James Edwards (drums, percussion, and vocals), and Jeremy Horton (bass guitar).

This Dead-influenced band has been know to cover Grateful Dead songs like "I Know You Rider" and "Franklin's Tower," but they are pure southern rock.

Disc 2 of "Moses Guest" (I start with disc 2 because I can...) opens with "Song for Dead"- an over-produced song for my taste, but the second cut, "Best Side Up," brought back memories of 70s disco sucks days of southern rock rebellion. Heavy on the pedal steel guitar, it is a foot-stompin, ass shakin country tune. "de jam>Stealin"- did I detect a little Jerry Garcia in that guitar, Graham? Great wah-wah's guys. Great groove. Let's dance. "Waterville" slowed the train down. The song is a bit long at 9:44, and I have to admit I fast-forwarded through this one. Couldn't wait long enough for the climax at the end. It's a bit of an opus. "Mario's End," however, is a song I really like. This song should be expanded into a full fifteen minute jam. It's psychedelic, dripping walruses, it's aqueous vitreous. It's jam-band festival material boys, take it from me. "Take Me"- a rollicking honky-tonk tune with some dancing ivories on the piano. The song cascaded into a great dobro solo that did not last long enough in my humble opinion. God, I love the dobro. At 10:32, it seems like it would be long, but the song is so sweet you want to hear more.

Side 1: "Cellophane Man" features some great guitar solo work. "I Do Not Love You" is a '66 Mustang ragtop with the top down rolling across the prairie at 80 mph. It's a groove tune that makes you want to drive across the country with your arm out the window and your hand finning in the air rushing past. Good changeups. Another good festival tune. "Boogie Heartache"- more good guitar solo work. "Rag Doll"- jazzy and horn-driven, "Rag Doll has a 70s funk sound, parts of which could have been Earth Wind and Fire. "A Phrygian Way"- the best song on the cd in my opinion, is a psychedelic Jefferson Airplane sounding trip in a papyrus raft down the Nile. It's the song with the most depth, despite the fact (or because of it) that it is an instrumental. Lots of reverb, echo, wah wah and like 60s electronics compliment, rather than detract from, the excellent music. It moves right into "How Does it Feel?", a hippie skip-dancing down a crowded city street. A happy tune.

I'd have to say that "Moses Guest" is a solid thumbs up, despite a couple of tunes that would have dragged a lesser album down. I look for this great group to play at some festivals in the near future. Come on over to the east, boys, and play for us. We'll dance for sure...

See you on the Golden Road...
Sunflower and Stephen