Hermano to Release When the Moon Was High… Oct. 4
When Hermano signed to Ripple Music in 2022, the word was a new 10″ would surface in addition to the program of catalog reissues that’s played out in the time since. Well, here we are, and here’s When the Moon Was High… (gotta have that ellipse in there). Set to release Oct. 4, the EP gathers two previously-unreleased studio tracks, the classic “Brother Bjork” that I think might be the same as appeared on the 2005 live record Live at W2 — I could be wrong; I’m sure there’s a story there either way — and three cuts from the band’s reunion set at Hellfest 2016.
As frontman John Garcia and the band’s other members have woven in and out of other projects and/or solo work, Hermano‘s 2007 offering, …Into the Exam Room (discussed here), offers just one example of them as a group who never got their due in terms of craft or the sheer kickassery they were about. A new album might do more to change that conversation than an unearthed-material EP, but if this is a step on the way or it isn’t, I’m not going to argue with a new Hermano outing to chase down. Take what you can get, in all that. Nothing overly new in heavy heads knowing what the rest of the world is missing.
No songs out When the Moon Was High… yet, but preorders are up on Ripple‘s Bandcamp, which is where this info comes from:
“when the moon was high…” brings the moons of Hermano back into alignment. As we embarked on the remix/remaster/reissue Ripple series of our catalog, a new song emerged. During this process, we uncovered some valuable discoveries while revisiting tapes, drives, and cherished memories accumulated over our 26 years of friendship. We collectively thank our good friend Todd Severin for opening the door that brought “when the moon was high…” to life.
Breathe
Taking back claim to the territory they had charted years ago, Breathe, the upcoming limited-edition release from Hermano, features the first new music released by the band in fifteen years.
While the band had continued to write and perform on each other’s individual projects during the last decade and a half, Breathe showcases the sticky-sweet and heavy blues riffs and tones that are unique to these five musicians when they come together under the Hermano banner.
The title track, Breathe, travels back to the band’s first release, filled with the same swagger and heavy hand as the band’s initial offerings, reinforcing the impact the band has had upon modern heavy rock, stoner rock, and driving blues genres.
Written for the first Hermano sessions, Never Boulevard was tracked during the last few hours while recording in Cincinnati during the winter of 1998. Rediscovered while organizing the master tapes for the Ripple catalog reissues and utilizing the original core tracks, the band has finally brought the song to completion twenty-six years later.
Rounding out the limited-edition are four never-before-heard live tracks that again underline the unique place in heavy blues music Hermano occupies. Brother Bjork serves as more evidence to the band’s stellar performance at the Willem Twee Poppodium in 2004, a show that continues to be hailed as one of the finest the venue has ever hosted.
Taken from the last time the group came together to perform, Senor Moreno’s Plan, Love, and Manager’s Special all give a special glimpse into their lauded reunion at Hellfest in 2016. After eight years of not performing together, John, Dave, Mike, Chris and Dandy arrived a couple of days before the festival, rehearsed for a few hours, and came with a head of steam that left those who witnessed the event both touched and amazed. Breathe not only features a small sliver of that legendary performance, but also introduces the only existing audio recording of the band’s song Love.
“We are so incredibly thankful to be able to bring new music to both new fans and those who have followed Hermano for the last twenty-six years. We are looking eagerly forward to continuing this reissues and special editions journey with Ripple . . . so hang onto your hats because we have a lot more coming and a long way to go. Breathing new life into our catalog and having the opportunity to release special collections like Breathe, well, it is an especially ‘dream-come-true’ time for all of us. For that, and to all who have continued to stay interested, thank you.”
John, Dave, Mike, Chris, and Dandy
Tracklisting:
1. Breathe
2. Never Boulevard
3. Brother Bjork (Live @W2)
4. Senor Moreno’s Plan (Live @Hellfest)
5. Love (Live @Hellfest)
6. Manager’s Special (Live @Hellfest)
HERMANO line-up:
John Garcia – Vocals
Dandy Brown – bass
Mike Callahan – Guitar
David Angstrom – Guitar
Chris Leathers – drums
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