It's been seven years since Jacob Moon was up on a roof, playing his rendition of Rush's song “Subdivisions, ” and has since traversed through impressive collaborations, experimental solo performances and multiple albums.
It's been seven years since Jacob Moon was up on a roof, playing his rendition of Rush's song “Subdivisions, ” and has since traversed through impressive collaborations, experimental solo performances and multiple albums. And now Moon is looking back at that journey with his latest record, 20 Years: The Best of Jacob Moon.
In a novel move, fans were asked to vote on the songs from Moon's career they thought were worthy.
“I basically said, ‘Give me what you think are the best songs.' I just felt in 20 years, the time was right to do something, ” Moon told the Eagle.
Since the songs were chosen democratically, the result is “pretty eclectic when you listen to it. The songs cross a wide span of genres. People can get a sense of all the facets of my musical interests and personality through this record. ”
One of the driving forces behind the album's concept is Moon's desire to have people - fans and new listeners alike - dig deeper into his history.
“Sometimes people don't go very deep into your catalogue as an independent artist. If you want them to hear songs from 1998, you've got to kind of force-feed them a little bit. ”
What he was hoping for was a cross between a crash-course introduction for newbies and nostalgic collection for those familiar with his material.
“It's a very sharable record. It's a record I'm hoping my fans will use to pass along to their friends and get them hip to what I've been doing over the years. ”
A part of his seemingly innate tendency for mining his many musical connections, Moon is also known for his use of live looping during his performances. It involves the capturing and playback of music in real time through computer-based pedals.
“I still use the same looping technology I used all those years ago. I love it because it's just so simple. ”
Moon, widely known for his viral cover of “Subdivisions ” and then playing said cover at Rush's induction into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2010, recently placed second in the famous prog-rockers' cover competition with his version of “Limelight ” back in May.
Over the course of his career, he's collaborated with the likes of Ron Sexsmith, Gordon Lightfoot and Marillion to name a few. Sexsmith was quite taken with Moon's talent, saying in a press package: “Jacob Moon is an exceedingly gifted and watchable performer ... seems completely at home on stage, ” while Danny Miranda, bassist for Queen, concurs, “Tremendous command of the instrument ... amazing voice. I can honestly say that I am overwhelmed by his music. ”
While Moon has played Legacy Guitar and Coffee House before, he told the Eagle of his efforts to keep things novel.
“I always try to keep a record of what I do every time I go to a place and then I look at it and see a left turn I can take. ”
Moon returns to Legacy on Nov. 6. Tickets are available at jacobmoon.zoobis.com
