Artist description One Brown Shoe performed for Cincinnatians for over 8 years, releasing 2 CD's, contributing to the soundtrack of two movies "Vamps: Deadly Dreamgirls" and "Evil Ambitions", and participated in many local events and benefits.

Music Style Rock Alternative Country

Musical Influences Everybody

Similar Artists The Beatles

Artist History One Brown Shoe was the brainchild of Mike O'Moore, Barry Moermond, and John Faxon. The band added various members throughout their 8 years of playing together, including Chris Edwall, Russ Bowman, Vince Homan, and guests James Ibold and Bruce Weil.

Group Members Primary Members: Mike O'Moore: guitar, bass, vocals; Barry Moermond: guitar, vocals; John Faxon: drums, percussion. O'Moore and Faxon recently conceived ILLEGAL ZUCCHINI and hav released 2 CD's "Candy Bubbles" and "The Legend of Johnny Stagger. See Illegal Zucchini Home Page for details!

Instruments Guitars, bass, drums, percussion, keyboard

Albums "Basement Flies", "Through The Curved Glass"

Press Reviews "On The Heels of Success: Cincinnati's One Brown Shoe makes its mark on MTV and the movies" If you were to follow the four sets of footprints that belong to Cincinnati band One Brown Shoe, you'd find they lead to places most bands usually don't travel. These Shoes take detours on the road to musical nirvana, forgetting tradition and forsaking hip for hippie. Although many other groups have failed the neo-hippie bell, this band basks in a nostalgic, fire-rekindling glow, sounding more like the classic Doors than the current Black Crowes. Jeff Sindiong, who produced a video for the band and aired it on local cable access, says, "It's nice to see a non-Seattle type band – and one with the talent they have." A better-fitting assessment of their versatile, high-energy romp style of music could even go so far as to park them in the same driveway of legendary '60s bands like The Animals or The Mamas and the Papas. But what keeps their music less airy and more substance-driven is the incomparable way they manage to wrap social commentary around lighter sonic impulses, sneaking curtained messages into glossy pop-oriented material, like the slipping of flavor into a fat-free syrup. Their versatility is expressed in songs like "You Say" and "Nothing To Me", which send assertive pleas to end dysfunctional relationships, and the psychedelic "The Worm", which simulates a symbiotic acid trip. Drummer John Faxon relates how they refuse to let themselves be trapped in a rut of monotony. "I guess we run a wide range of diverse, 'separate' kind of stuff. We try to remain open-minded about how things will evolve." That evolution has included a couple of line-up changes; their former guitarist Vince Homan is now, for example, their new manager. "Homan was with us in the earlier days when we were primarily a cover band," says present guitarist Barry Moermond. Adds keyboardist Russ Bowman: "I think the switch has worked out for the best. Homan's an insurance exec, so he understands the business side." Other changes may not be as dramatic, but they are significant just the same. Faxon describes how their music has matured and become more spontaneous. "It's more relaxed; we're a lot more focused and confident." Perhaps because of the discipline of their day jobs, they make a concentrated effort to hone their craft. Moermond takes it all a step further by explaining how they approach the creative process: "Our music is pretty structured now, and I think that comes from a lot of trial and error. But we're still open enough to try new things; we’re still learning." The competition factor is down as well. Whereas many bands may wrestle with controlling egos, the Shoes live and let die, allowing each other to walk where they wish. Says Moermond: "I admit I used to step on some toes, but we've learned how to give each other more space to grow. We depend more on each other than we have in the past." Bowman agrees: "It's more supportive than it used to be." "I think it's that we have a lot of trust and chemistry between us," adds the lead singer and bassist Mike O'Moore. "Sure, we've had our spats, but we don't let it divide us." Even though these guys have a cohesive and compatible relationship, the freedom they give each other is unusual. Although side projects often ignite friction for some groups, Bowman's "side thing," a cover band known as Under The Influence, is accepted by the other Shoes, despite the envy they may have about him making some extra money. "There may be a little jealousy that Russ is pocketing more bucks that the rest of us, but it's cool because it gives us some more breathing room," says Moermond. Then he jibes, "We call him a band slut." Back in the fall of '92, I had the pleasure of working with these guys on a music video production. The tune being filmed was the anti-suicidal "Sacrifice Yourself" from their debut release, Basement Flies. Apart from the accidental singeing of my hair in a ritualistic candle scene, the experience left an indelible impression on me. What intrigued me most was how this small-time band could deliver such a powerful theme, then execute it so effectively. Others obviously agreed, because in late '94, MTV honored them with a "Special Merit" award as a result of a video contest – and video often paves the way for feature films. The next avenue the foursome chose to go down was all the more dark and sacrificial. Two of their tracks, "Lone Palm Juice Bar" and "It Doesn’t Pay to Play Reggae," were featured in a recent B-movie filmed in Cincinnati, Vamps: Deadly Dreamgirls. "A lot of people are asking about them and I can see why. They have a fresh, vital sound," says the film’s producer Mark Burchett. They've contributed some music for the local Neediest Kids of All compilation and have been regulars on WAIF's (88.3 FM) "Kindred Sanction" program. Still, the band's main objective is to land gigs that offer them the opportunity to play live. Says Moermond: "Most of the places we've played are more conducive to covers, and that's tough being an original band." The other guys share similar views about the local music scene, disenchanted with the wet blanket that a lot of clubs seem to throw on original music. "Cincinnati needs to forget about grunge, it's over," quips O'Moore. Yet they're not discouraged. They tread on, their best feet forward. Katie Tillery, Everybody's News, March 1-7, 1996.

Additional Info "Special Merit" award for video contest, MTV 1994

Location Cincinnati, Ohio - USA

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