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"local favorites Moonshine
Still will have its official CD release party for its
second self-released disc, "Circle Around The
Sun." 

Naturally, the CD will be on sale at the gig, and
dedicated fans of the band will recognize many
of the tunes, but on wax (yeah, I know, but "on
laser-scanned plastic" doesn't have the same
ring to it) they sound different. 

Ray Petran said that although band members really thrive in a live setting, they
are happy with the CD. But he added that using the studio properly to capture
the band's sound is a learning process. 

"It never comes out exactly the way you picture it. I think we each had our own
ideas, but it came out good," Petran said. "It's really difficult, but I think we
capture it better this time. For me it's almost a different thing. It's like working
in a different medium." 

To our untrained ears, one of the biggest differences is the ability to hear
exactly what Petran is playing. Live, the band's rhythm section serves as a
funky, low-end anchor for the rest of the band, signaling the tune's changes and
setting the groove but not quite drawing the listener's ear. 

On "Sons of Abraham," for example, Petran's active bass lines are far up
enough in the mix that they can be heard moving around the song's chords. 

Also evident on the new disc are a few new musical flavors. In addition to the
rock, folk and bluegrass influences, there are snatches of jazz and funk. 

"We've all matured as musicians, especially the core members (lead vocalist,
guitarist Scott Baston, drummer Will Robinson and Petran). We've jelled a lot
more, and the people in the studio really jelled with us. The first (CD) was a
little more straight up, and on this one we sought to show the different styles." 

One of those different styles shows up in a hilariously retro-funk ode to band
friend Marcus Nash. The song, "Marcus Nash Funk," uses tinkling piano trills,
disco horn arrangements and a slick narrative reminiscent of Isaac Hayes
classic "Theme From Shaft" to show the band's sense of humor and ability to
take on different musical genres. 

Since their self-titled debut, the band has changed and grown considerably,
losing and adding members until finally settling on the current lineup of Baston,
Robinson, Petran, lead guitarist David Shore, percussionist Bill Jarrett,
keyboardist Trippe Wright and hard-working sound man Derek Babb. 

Of the many configurations Moonshine Still has had since forming in 1996,
Petran feels this one is particularly special. 

"There is such a sense of togetherness," he said. "There's always been a little
tension in every lineup we've had. But now it really feels like a brotherhood."