Moonalice Cap Off an Inspired 2023 with New Acoustic EP ‘Mother & Child’

This year proved to be one of the most inspired years for Moonalice to date. On the heels of an exploratory acoustic album, Light Side of the Moonalice, and a seminal live album, Live at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the Bay Area collective concludes a truly prolific year by sharing their fourth release of 2023: the acoustic EP Mother & Child, a companion piece to Father & Son. 

After celebrating the relationship of Lester and Dylan Chambers, Moonalice highlights the dynamic sister vocal trio, The T-Sisters. Erika, Chloe, and Rachel’s unique sibling harmonies shine brightly on new originals like “Blink of an Eye” (co-written by by Ann McNamee and Roger McNamee), as well as poignant renditions of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s  “Teach Your Children,” Tom Paxton’s “Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound,” and the Grateful Dead’s “Attics of My Life.” Since they officially joined Moonalice in 2019, it’s clear that the T-Sisters provide a breathtaking and spellbinding voice to the band. Listen to Mother & Child on all digital retailers (here). 

“Moonalice is a multi-generational jubilee,” says Erika Tietjen. “The family spans many decades, from old school rock ‘n rollers and their progeny to moms who bring their babes to hang backstage during shows while they sing. ‘Mother and Child’ features the voices of all these generations, blended together in our quintessential Moonalice style, but with a stripped-down acoustic sound.”

Together, the companion releases of Mother & Child and Father & Son add another brilliant chapter to the legend of Moonalice. They build upon the band’s storied past while embracing excitement for the future. 

LISTEN & SHARE “BLINK OF AN EYE” (ACOUSTIC) HERE:
https://youtu.be/4ULi9FQY7r4

For Bay-area psychedelic soul collective Moonalice, making music is more than just a career; it’s in their blood. It’s family. The 10-piece group includes the father-son duo Lester and Dylan Chambers, the T-Sisters vocal trio of Erika, Chloe, and Rachel Tietjen, and a band of musicians that have performed together for long enough to call each other brothers: Barry Sless, Pete Sears, John Molo, Jason Crosby, and Roger McNamee.

In the Fall of 2022, Moonalice began working on their latest project, adding another member to the family, Nashville songwriter and producer Dylan Altman (Trace Adkins, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean). “Everybody in the band is super talented, creative, and easy to work with,” he reflects. “Each song was a true collaborative effort where the only thing that mattered was creating something good. I really appreciated that and look forward to making more music with Moonalice in the future.” Bringing new energy to the group, Altman helps tell the story of the multi-family, multi-generational band through the companion EPs: the electrified Father & Son and the stripped-down Mother & Child.  

The first EP puts focus on the Chambers Brothers’ founder and musical legend, Lester Chambers, with the heart-pounding “Old & Proud,” a tribute to the spirit of the older generation through Chambers’ experience finding a life in rock & roll, going from the Jim Crow South of the 1940s to the top of the Billboard charts during the psychedelic 1960s. “Born to Be Ready” and “Can You Feel It?” see Lester’s son Dylan follow in his father’s footsteps. Born into a life of rock & roll, Dylan embraces the role he has been filling since he first appeared on stage with his dad and The Chambers Brothers in 1989 during a performance of “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay.”

With Mother & Child, Moonalice highlights the other family in the group, The T-Sisters. Rachel, Chloe, and Erika infuse the group with inimitable, angelic harmonies. They’ve become fan favorites for their unique renditions of Grateful Dead songs like “Uncle John’s Band,” “Brokedown Palace,” and “Attics of My Life,” the Robert Hunter-penned tune that reflects on adulthood and the ritual of succeeding generations. The T’s find a way to balance their lives as musicians and activists with the lifelong job of motherhood. It’s not easy, but they do it with style and grace.