Half Moon Run

This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 7 May 2024.

Half Moon Run is a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec. The group is known for their heavy use of layered percussion, group vocal harmonies, and for playing multiple instruments during live performances.

Half Moon Run
Half Moon Run in 2021. Left to right: Conner Molander, Dylan Phillips, Devon Portielje
Half Moon Run in 2021. Left to right: Conner Molander, Dylan Phillips, Devon Portielje
Background information
OriginMontreal, Quebec, Canada
GenresIndie rock, indie folk, indie pop[1]
Years active2009–present
LabelsBMG, Indica Records (Canada), Glassnote Records (USA), Communion (UK),
Indica Australia (AU and NZ)
Members
  • Devon Portielje
  • Dylan Phillips
  • Conner Molander
Past members
  • Isaac Symonds
Websitewww.halfmoon.run

Career

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2009–2013: Formation and Dark Eyes

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Half Moon Run was formed in 2009 in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhood by Conner Molander and Dylan Phillips, who had both moved to Montreal from Comox, British Columbia.[2] They posted an ad on Craigslist that said they were looking for a bassist and/or a drummer. The ad caught the attention of Devon Portielje, originally from Ottawa. Despite not being a bassist or a drummer, he got in touch with Molander and Phillips who agreed to let him join.[3][2]

Their debut album, Dark Eyes, was released on 27 March 2012, with "Full Circle" being released on 19 March as the lead single. The entire album was co-produced with Daniel Lagacé and Nygel Asselin.[4][5] They toured Europe, Australia and North America.[6] Critical acclaim has included praise for their three-part harmonies.[7]

Shortly after the release of Dark Eyes, Isaac Symonds, originally from Comox, joined the lineup.[3]

Throughout 2012 and 2013, the band played at numerous music festivals including South by Southwest, Osheaga, Canadian Music Week, Glastonbury, WayHome Music & Arts Festival, and opened for artists such as Of Monsters and Men, Metric, Patrick Watson, City and Colour, and Mumford & Sons.[8]

In August 2013, "Full Circle" was featured in a trailer for Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. The song "Unofferable" also appears on an episode of the CBS's show Elementary as a backtracking to a scene.

 
Half Moon Run in 2013

2014–2019: Sun Leads Me On and A Blemish in the Great Light

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In July 2014, they announced that work on their second album had begun.[9] They announced that it would be released in fall 2015.[10] That same year, they were the recipients of the International Achievement Award at the annual Francophone SOCAN Awards in Montreal.[11]

On 24 July 2015, the band announced a European tour that included shows in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.[12]

On 7 August 2015, the band announced, via their Twitter page, the release of their second studio album, Sun Leads Me On, on 23 October 2015. They simultaneously released a teaser track, "Trust", which was available as a free download with pre-orders of their album. Pre-orders via their website offered the album signed by all band members. A deluxe version was also released.

On 1 November 2019, Half Moon Run released their third full-length album A Blemish in the Great Light. The album won Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2020.[13]

2020–2022: Symonds's Departure, The Covideo Sessions and subsequent releases

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On 25 May 2020, the band announced that Isaac Symonds would be leaving the group.[14]

Throughout May and June 2020 while the band members had been self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they recorded and released videos of themselves performing together via video conference. Symonds remained with the group throughout this time. That same year, they also released seven new singles, six of which were then released together as an EP entitled Seasons of Change on 17 July.[15][16][17] They followed up in September with The Covideo Sessions, an album featuring the recordings of their May–June video performances.

On 21 August 2020, Dylan Phillips released his debut solo EP entitled Undercurrents.[18]

On 18 March 2021, the band released a single, "How Come My Body", to promote their Inwards & Onwards EP which was released on 18 June 2021.

On 26 December 2021, Half Moon Run released Seasons of Change and Inwards & Onwards together on a compilation album.

On 10 March 2022, the band released "Fatal Line", a song they contributed to The 1969 Record. The album also featured songs from Louis-Jean Cormier, Elisapie, Les Soeurs Boulay, Jason Bajada, and Matt Holubowski.

2023–present: Salt

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On 3 March 2023, the band released a single, "You Can Let Go". On the same day, the band announced that they signed to BMG, as well as a tour for Europe and North America.[19]

On 20 April 2023, the band released a single, "Alco", to promote their album Salt.[20] On 18 May 2023, the band released another single, "Everyone's Moving Out East".[21]

On 2 June 2023, the band released their fourth studio album, Salt.[22]

Members

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Current

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  • Devon Portielje – lead vocals, guitar, piano, percussion (2009–present)
  • Conner Molander – backing vocals, guitar, keyboard, piano, pedal steel, bass, harmonica (2009–present)
  • Dylan Phillips – backing vocals, drums, piano, keyboard (2009–present)

Former

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  • Isaac Symonds – backing vocals, drums, mandolin, synthesizer, bass (2012–2020)

Discography

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Albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
CAN
[23]
AUS
[24]
BEL (Fl)
[25]
BEL (Wa)
[26]
FRA
[27]
NL
[28]
UK
[29]
US
Folk

[30]
US
Heat

[31]
Dark Eyes 8 119 186 138 48 56 12
Sun Leads Me On
  • Released: 23 October 2015
  • Label: Indica
  • Format: Digital download, CD, 12" vinyl
4 39 152 81 110 49 46 16 9
A Blemish in the Great Light
  • Released: 1 November 2019
  • Label: Crystal Math Music
  • Format: Digital download, CD, 12" vinyl
3
Salt
  • Released: 2 June 2023
  • Label: BMG
  • Format: Digital download, CD, 12" vinyl
48
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

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Title Details
The Covideo Sessions
  • Released: 4 September 2020
  • Label: Crystal Math / Glassnote
  • Format: 12" vinyl, digital download

Compilations

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Title Details
Seasons of Change – Inwards & Onwards
  • Released: 26 December 2021
  • Label: Glassnote
  • Format: 12" vinyl, CD
Title Details
Seasons of Change
  • Released: 17 July 2020
  • Label: Crystal Math / Glassnote
  • Format: Digital download, 10" vinyl
Inwards & Onwards
  • Released: 18 June 2021
  • Label: Crystal Math / Glassnote
  • Format: Digital download, 10" vinyl

Singles

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Year Title Peak chart positions Album
CAN
Alt

[35]
CAN
Rock

[36]
BEL (Fl)
[25]
NL
[28]
SCO
[37]
UK
[29]
2012 "Full Circle" 29 27 67 63 60 Dark Eyes
2013 "Call Me in the Afternoon" 19 39 69 166
2014 "She Wants to Know" 22 37
2015 "Trust" Sun Leads Me On
"Turn Your Love" 11 13
2016 "Consider Yourself" 43
2019 "Then Again" 21 A Blemish in the Great Light
"Flesh and Blood"
"Favourite Boy"[38] 36
2020 "Grow into Love" Seasons of Change EP
"All at Once"
"Jello on My Mind (More Sugar Mix)" Non-album single
"You Won't" / "Look Me in the Eyes (Skitstövel)" Seasons of Change EP
"Monster"
"Seasons of Change"
2021 "How Come My Body" Inwards & Onwards
2022 "Fatal Line" The 1969 Record
2023 "You Can Let Go" Salt
"Alco"
"Everyone's Moving Out East"
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

Other charted songs

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Year Title Peak chart positions Album
BEL
(Fl)

[25]
2013 "Nerve" 36 Dark Eyes

Music Videos

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Year Title Director
2012 "Full Circle" Pierre-Luc Racine
"Call Me in the Afternoon" Człowiek Kamera
2014 "Judgement" Matt Joycey
"No More Losing the War" Człowiek Kamera
2015 "Turn Your Love"
"I Can't Figure Out What's Going On" Heston L'Abbé
2016 "Consider Yourself" Devon Portielje and Conner Molander
2017 "Hands in the Garden" Agathe Bray-Bourret
2019 "Then Again" Sacha Roy
"Flesh and Blood"
"Favourite Boy" Philippe Grenier
2020 "Look Me in the Eyes (Skitstövel)"
"Monster"
2021 "How Come My Body"
"On & On" Alex Tomlinson
"It's True" Michał Biegański
"Fxgiving"
2023 "You Can Let Go" Alex Tomlinson
"Alco" Marc-André Dupaul
"Everyone's Moving Out East" Maïlis

References

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  1. ^ Saxberg, Lynn (7 March 2013). "Half Moon Run on the Rise". Ottawa Citizen. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b Saxberg, Lynn (7 March 2013). "Half Moon Run on the rise". Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Half Moon Run: Bio".
  4. ^ "Disques Indica – indica.mu". Halfmoonrun.indica.mu. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Half Moon Run – Dark Eyes". Discogs. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  6. ^ (14 June 2012). "Half Moon Run are indie's rising stars", Daily Mercury, p. 28.
  7. ^ Sadleir, Rose (17 January 2013). "Trio bask in moonlight", Gold Coast Bulletin, p. 5.
  8. ^ Lepage, Mark (7 December 2012). "Montreal trio Half Moon Run: Lunar rovers in the fast lane Archived 4 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine", The Gazette. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  9. ^ "Half Moon Run facebook". Retrieved 8 September 2014 – via Facebook.
  10. ^ "Half Moon Run". Half Moon Run. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  11. ^ "2014 Socan Awards | Socan". Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Tour Dates".
  13. ^ Stephen Cooke, "Virtual 2020 Juno Awards includes breakthrough win for Neon Dreams". Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 29 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Half Moon Run Part Ways with Isaac Symonds". 25 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Half Moon Run Deliver New Song "All at Once"". Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Half Moon Run Deliver a Pair of Isolation-Recorded Singles". Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  17. ^ Gregory, Allie (17 July 2020). "Half Moon Run Share 'Seasons of Change' EP". Exclaim!. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  18. ^ Gregory, Allie (29 July 2020). "Half Moon Run's Dylan Phillips Announces Debut Solo EP 'Undercurrents'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  19. ^ Major, Michael. "Half Moon Run Return With New Song 'You Can Let Go'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  20. ^ Hudson, Alex (20 April 2023). "Half Moon Run Announce New Album 'Salt,' Share Single "Alco"". Exclaim!.
  21. ^ Vigil, Dom (18 May 2023). "Half Moon Run Release New Single, "Everyone's Moving Out East"". Prelude Press. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  22. ^ MacIntyre, Dave (1 June 2023). "Why Montreal's Half Moon Run are the salt of the earth".
  23. ^ "Half Moon Run Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Discografie Half Moon Run". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien.
  25. ^ a b c "Discografie Half Moon Run". Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal.
  26. ^ "Discographie Half Moon Run". Belgium (Wallonia) Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  27. ^ "Discographie Half Moon Run". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  28. ^ a b "Discografie Half Moon Run". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  29. ^ a b Peaks in the UK:
  30. ^ "Half Moon Run Chart History: Folk Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  31. ^ "Half Moon Run Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  32. ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015.
  33. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Half Moon Run – Dark Eyes". Music Canada.
  34. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Sun Leads Me On – Dark Eyes". Music Canada.
  35. ^ Peak positions for the Alternative Rock songs in Canada:
  36. ^ "Half Moon Run – Chart History: Canada Rock". Billboard. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  37. ^ Scottish Singles Chart positions for Half Moon Run:
  38. ^ "Half Moon Run Share Steamy New Video for "Favourite Boy"". Exclaim. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
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