In a city rich with big rock and roll names, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. The likes of Aerosmith, Dropkick Murphys, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and more can be intimidating but upstarts Coral Moons can hold their own with the best of them!
Vocalist Carly Kraft joined forces with guitarist Justin Bartlett and drummer Kevin O’Connell to work on folk project Hope & Things. They released one EP prior to changing their name to Coral Moons and the addition of bassist Manuel Camacho. In 2019, Coral Moons released their debut EP, “Quarter Life Crisis”. The EP is a collection of songs reflecting upon early life choices. The release created a local buzz that garnered the newcomers’ sold-out shows in Boston clubs. Then, the pandemic struck. During a time that would cause some novice bands to fly apart, Coral Moons held it together.
During the uncertain times, the band worked on what would become their first album, “Fieldcrest”. Released in August of 2021, it has received acclaim amongst Boston music critics. “Fieldcrest is defined as a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past. It’s the street I grew up on in Upstate NY and has always held this positive emotional space for me,” shares Kraft.” Soft emotional vocals weave their way through the eclectic mix of instrumentals. Each member of Coral Moons has been influenced by very different musical styles but they bring them together to create a masterful work of genius.
Music Madness caught up with Coral Moons at the venerable Middle East located in the Boston ‘burb of Cambridge. While they were the opening act for darlings of the Pacific Northwest, The Shivas, it was clear a majority of the audience was there for the hometown favorites. Coral Moons delivered a performance not soon to be forgotten. They showed that they are an amazingly versatile band.
Most of their set was filled with vocal-driven, eclectic alternative songs which showcased their creative side. These songs were very indicative of their studio releases. However, they also let their collective hair down and belted some hard-driven rock and roll. When covering Jimi Hendrix, Bartlett delivers some powerful guitar work and Kraft delivers some gritty growling vocals.
It seems the road is split in front of Coral Moons. They deliver their alternative ethereal style music as well as anyone out there, bar none. However, when they want to “rock out”, they are spectacular. Can they combine the two styles into both their album releases as well as their live shows? Time will tell. But for now, they are both a great live band as well as studio recording artists and you should become familiar with Coral Moons as soon as you can. Check them out HERE
