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The Moment

Showdown at the Discotheque (2005)
self-released

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: greg0rb
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on May 2nd 2006

Rockford, IL’s the Moment was at one time the project of Zach Newman, former lead singer of local legends God’s Reflex. They released an EP as a trio, which sounded pretty much like God’s Reflex with minimal electronics. But then Newman left the group and they added vocalist PJ Heckinger, formerly of another Rockford group, Carly’s Day Out, and Phil Gordeau, also ex-God’s Reflex, to play guitar alongside Nate Kirschmann and drummer Eliott Porter. Though Newman gets co-songwriter credits on four of the songs on this full-length, the Moment is like a new band. They no longer share much with God’s Reflex; electronics have stepped up to the forefront, and the overall feel is much heavier with help from Heckinger at the mic. Building upon the harder post-punk sounds of bands like Hot Water Music or Small Brown Bike, but giving you more backbeat to shake your ass to, The Moment really deliver on Showdown. Think Death from Above 1979 -- dancey but hard, and with the synth and drum machines of the Faint, but more guitar heavy. Sometimes the layers of synths remind me of `80s throwbacks like the Killers, but The Moment have way more backbone and anger.

I was very impressed right away with track two, “Remove the Cancer,” with its sweet synth line linked between guitar blasts, all with the simple lines of “We’re cutting / We’re c-c-c-c-cutting! / We’ll bring it / We’ll b-b-b-b-bring it!” I know that stuttering trick has been done a bunch (the Who’s “My Generation” probably started it all, and ATDI already did “c-c-c-cut it!” in “Rolodex Propaganda”), but I’m a sucker for it and I almost always love it. Another simple great line is found in “James Dean” where PJ yells “So hit that floor/ Shake it up, shake it off!” over a break with guitars slamming in at the tail end.

Some tracks rely more heavily on electronics than others. “One Dollar Love Affair” has dancey drum machines throughout and sparse electronic instrumentation, sounding very Faint-ish, especially with the frightening whispers of “The girls make the boys scream / The boys… The boys.” The bridge of closer “Burn the Heretic” breaks down to just electronics until the guitars bring the song crashing into a small major-key moment. On tracks where Heckinger sings more than screams, like “The Kids Dig the Murder Scene” you get the more DFA1979 feel, and “The Evening” has moments that find the band more in their God’s Reflex sound of the past (Newman is credited to this track), but they never stay for long.

“Take What You Want” has an evil Killers vibe to start, but then it breaks down into just drums, bass and minimal synth and a chant of “Take what you want, when you want it, if you want it!” It feels oddly similar to “This shit is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s!,” and that’s a good thing here. It’s so simple; it works because you can sing/shout along after only one listen. People like to yell while they shake their ass.

Although the dance-punk thing is getting a bit overplayed, the Moment take an angle on it that keeps things fresh. They don’t settle with some formulaic disco groove like many others, they switch things up considerably throughout the album to keep it interesting. I will add these guys to the list, alongside Ryan’s Hope, Cougars and Colossal, of my favorite active bands from the state of my birth.

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Anonymous (July 11, 2006)

"anyone remember when pj sang for cusak that shit was bad WHOO!"
Ahhh but Simon Brown was the shit. I miss This Is The End.

God's Reflex will always rule.

PJ is not a singer, but the Moment still puts on a great show.

I miss Zach.

We need less scene kids and shitty hardcore bands.

The Felix Culpa rules, who cares what their religious believes are? They are making some of the most interesting music in the area.

All of the best Moment songs, regardless of who sings, were written by Zach.

jreflex (May 7, 2006)

tee hee

Anonymous (May 4, 2006)

does anyone remember the boston band MOMENT.

the good one.

this was like during the Salem Elks Club, Ames Curve, Closer Than Kin, Switches, Young Idea, There Were Wires era.

FUCK THIS BAND, LISTEN TO MOMENT

Anonymous (May 4, 2006)

i can tell none of you fucking KIDS have ever heard a single record by gods reflex. this band is shit.SHIT! with out newman this is just your average crap. i have heard it a million times. i hope they fail at everything they ever try to do. buy the e.p. and fuck everything else. fuck the moment! LONG LIVE GODS REFLEX!!!

Anonymous (May 4, 2006)

Anyone have this on SLSK. The album is out of stock on Interpunk and it sounds exactly like the stuff I dig.

eleanora (May 3, 2006)

I adore this record. Thank you for having a scene, Rockford; it is a valiant attempt, but my heart belongs to Milwaukee.

Anonymous (May 3, 2006)

Aaron Here!

Lets keep the rockford scene alive. This album kicks my ass, and i will be listening to it when i come back to rockford this weekend. RoCK on Guys

Anonymous (May 3, 2006)

Screw the Culpa, The MOMENT rocks harder than anyone!

Anonymous (May 3, 2006)

The Moment is one of the best bands around! You can't listen to their music and not wanna dance like crazy. Their shows have an amazing energy too, which makes the music even better still.

Anonymous (May 3, 2006)

these guys used to be pretty damn good when zach was in the band...but p.j. is NOT a singer at all...and i get a little sick of half of their songs being pre-programmed.

Anonymous (May 3, 2006)

The moment rules! Put them in AP every fucking month, not the culpa! they're christian and suck!

Anonymous (May 3, 2006)

anyone remember when pj sang for cusak that shit was bad WHOO!

Anonymous (May 3, 2006)

I have known the boys in the Moment for a very long time. I was lucky enough to host the cd relaese for "Showdown", it was an amazing time. their fanbase keeps growing and growing, and they are a joy to work with.

The album ended up being better than I expected, way more energy and more sing alongs.

Folks close to Rockford should see them Saturday at the Lion's Den at Rockford College. Then PJ's solo gig at the ELB may 19th with Mark from the Felix Culpa.

Steve/AFN/ELB
myspace.com/elb3

Anonymous (May 2, 2006)

I run at lot of shows in rockford. I have to say are one of the best bands to work with.
The sound they put out is one of the best I have hear in a long time.

laidoffforlife

Anonymous (May 2, 2006)

By chance I saw The Moment at the ELB in Rockford in February '06. I got their CD that night and listened to it ever since then. It stays in my car since that's where I'm at most of the time.

When I saw them live again in Madison they blew me away. I was exhausted after dancing my ass off. And on top of all that, they are REALLY awesome guys.

I hope they make it far.
-Annie

Anonymous (May 2, 2006)

The cd is fun to listen to driving around with the windows down, blaring, singing along to....it has flare, but you're definately not getting the whole feel or vibe for them unless you've been and danced at a live show. Keep it up boys.

Anonymous (May 2, 2006)

1300 songs on my computer, and i find myself listening to the same album over and over.
These guys totally roxzor joor boxors

Anonymous (May 2, 2006)

the moment fucking owns all of you...

and never compare the moment to the felix culpa...the culpa can and will suck the moment's dick, i promise you that.

up with the moment

down with the over-hype that is the culpa.

Scode (May 2, 2006)

Friggin rockin. I saw The Moment the first time at Big V's in Saint Paul, MN. I fell in love and bought every different item they had for merch. It's been a few months now, and I still listen to 'Showdown' everyday.

Anonymous (May 2, 2006)

the moment are real time party dudes. always.

steveman (May 2, 2006)

Once again... ROCKFORD!

Yes we have The Felix Culpa AND The Moment.

I swear I wrote a review for this cd forever ago. I think the co-writting credits are for more than 4 songs. They were playing half this cd for a lonnnnng time.

While I miss Zach's vocals quite a bit, The Moment has quickly become my favorite band to see live. They just bring a ton of energy, especially in the Rockford area when the turnout is massive.

The Kids Dig The Murder Scene, the breakdown at the end seems perfectly made for a small venue with kids climbing over each other grasping at the mic.

James Dean: While I love the original better, it's still the awesome dancy sing along.

Burn The Heretic: So dancy. Lincoln Guns flopping on the floor during this song is burned into my memory.

While Zach is missed, I think the band is doing great things and completly changing their style and it makes for an awesome live show. I still have Gods Reflex and the first Moment ep to listen to though when I need that Promise Ringish action.

Check out Zach's solo stuff: http://www.myspace.com/zachnewman

zaximusprime (May 2, 2006)

Thanks for the shout out, but this album really kicks ass. The Moment has worked their cans off and done really good things since I left. It's a little wierd hearing someone else sing your lyrics, but these guys deserve your attention.
- Zach Newman

Anonymous (May 2, 2006)

now that zach is no longer in the band there really is no reason to listen to these guys. pick up the ep though and then check out the braves. the best of the post gods reflex groups. zach does have some solo songs on his myspace page. its great to hear his voice again. i miss gods reflex...

Anonymous (May 2, 2006)

These guys rocked really hard the time I saw them play. Totally not my style of music, but they were energetic as hell.

-Ken

Anonymous (May 2, 2006)

Rockford!

danperrone (May 2, 2006)

showdown! at the discoteque