Chicago Public Radio Eight Forty-Eight
We'd describe Chicago's Cracklin' Moth as a dash of Beatles, a pinch of Wilco, a bit of Big Star, and a little Old 97's. In other words, one part alt-country, one part alt-rock, and one part pop. The band formed in 2004, put out a well-received EP in 2005, and they've just come back with the new five-song EP, called My Heart Is Leaking.


The Chicago Reader
by Monica Kendrick
This Chicago quintet has thus far rationed out its store of talent a
little bit at a time, putting out a pair of EPs almost two years apart
and playing a recent run of high-profile gigs. It's been a good
strategy for them: like rocks in a tumbler, they get more polished
each time around. Released in May, My Heart Is Leaking retains the
alt-country patina of 2005's Redbird—largely in the form of lots of
keening, creamy pedal steel, provided by Rocco Labriola—but now
the voice of Kentucky-bred front man Matt Ammerman curls and
unfurls in a romantic blue-eyed-soul mode, finding a new
sophistication to match his tales of lovers' ambition. The Record Low
headlines.


New City
by Tom Lynch
... local five-piece Cracklin Moth, whose new EP, the band's second,
"My Heart is Leaking," proves the group's successfully honed its skill
after its debut "Redbird" release. Through five songs that drift
slightly from the band's original alt-country sound and into a
decidedly alt-pop area, the tight, compact production and execution
is painted with melodic, catchy hooks and advanced orchestration
(leader Matt Ammerman's voice has never sounded this convincing,
either). There's an old Wilco sound to be heard here, but you can tell
the band's moving somewhere new and undiscovered.

"Our last one definitely had alt-country stuff in it, and I like that, but
I wanted to do a lot more orchestration," Ammerman says. "I've
been listening to E.L.O. lately, and for the new one, I was on a big
trip with The Flaming Lips and the Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds.'"

The band is clearly comprised of technically efficient, experienced
musicians, which Ammerman says is great help—he began as a solo
artist, and says that he's comfortable now writing for a band because
he's so confident of his mates' abilities. The lap steel guitar makes
frequent appearances on the record and, at times, steals the show—
especially on the last track, a prom-song-like ballad called "Sword of
the Word."

"Chicago is a good scene in the sense that there's a lot of good
music here," Ammerman says. "It's really accessible, where places
like New York or Austin are extremely competitive. That ups the ante,
but also I think if you really want to play out, get to know people,
this is a lot better. There's some really interesting stuff happening
here—obviously you had the Pumpkins, Wilco, but now there are
bands like the Office. We hope we'll look back on this twenty years
from now and say we were a part of something neat."


The Chicagoist
www.chicagoist.com
There's been a subtle shift in Chicago's independent music scene over the past year. As bands like The Ponys, The Changes, and Bound Stems are out of town more often in accordance with their newfound national attention, other hardworking bands are stepping up to establish themselves as the foundation of the city's new music community. One of the leaders of this pack is Cracklin Moth, who has built a following on the strength of a critically acclaimed 2005 EP, and a propensity towards great pop songwriting with a poignant undertone. Throw in some buoyant twang to keep the feet tapping, and the accessible appeal of Cracklin Moth begins to take shape.

Frontman Matt Ammerman hails from the green hills of Kentucky, and the rolling terrain of his native state seems to shape his tunes with an easygoing loveliness. Moth's got hooks to spare, and even the most jaded cool kids can't keep their heads from bobbing along to the live show. Ammerman's got a crack gang of players behind him, including pedal-steel whiz Rocco Labriola and rhythm section-about-town Griffin Baron and Shawn Rios.

The beauty of Cracklin Moth is that every song sounds familiar, yet there's a freshness in the performance that reminds the listener that this band is fixin' to be a big part of the future of pop music. Think the aural equivalent of your favorite sweater, the one that never loses your shape no matter how long it's in the back of your closet, but always makes you feel like a million bucks when you put it on.


The KEXP Blog (90.3 FM Seattle Show Review)
So spellbound were they by those mysterious, potentially undead gypsies that they even stayed in place as Mikey Dance Panther stumbled down from the DJ booth and arrogantly sashayed across the stage to give another round of thanks and praise to artists, sponsors and himself as well as raffling off a few more Live at KEXP Volume Three discs. Typically he would be ignored but this time it was different. It very well could have been that an ancient black magic held the darkroom in place but it is equally likely that anticipation for the luminous Cracklin Moth was so great that no one wanted to risk missing even a second. Indeed, the rise to local prominence for Cracklin Moth has been meteoric, eliciting rave reviews from even the viciously fickle Darth Vader of music critics himself, The Sun Times' own Jim DeRogatis and causing lines around the block for their lately frequent live shows. Cracklin Moth is without a doubt an example of Chicago's most accomplished players creating a caliber of music for which this city is increasingly becoming known. Matt Ammerman (songwriter), Sean Rios (drums), Rocco Labriola (Guitar) and noted session bassist and the man with the most dignified sounding name in Chicago show-biz P. Griffin Baron form the core of Cracklin Moth with Dan [Moulder] providing keys and pedal steel. So, with an unusually captive audience Mikey Dance Panther began to hype the band by revealing that they had all been up since 5am that morning taping a segment on WGN morning news viewed by millions of Chicagoans, etc, etc, but of course this somehow deteriorated into a strange and tense exchange with P. Griffon Baron regarding a supposed rumor that his exceptional talents with the "thunder stick" came from his "magical elephant sized testicles" and whether Mikey did or did not have intimate knowledge of this as fact. Yeah, awkward — but it didn't last too long because at that moment the dozen or so apple-tini's he had consumed must have caught up with him and Mikey Dance Panther hit the deck like a slutty carpenter. The room breathed a harmonious sigh of relief and Cracklin Moth wasted no time in jumping directly into their stellar set. Matt Ammerman used Mikey's unconscious body as a foot rest for the rest of the evening… I think he may have kicked him a few times too. It was a dynamic but enthusiastically accepted change in entertainment for September's Equalizer as Cracklin Moth instantly switched the vibe from dancey power pop to twangy Americana, but don't think for a moment that toes stopped tapping — this is a band that can set a mood and make you feel it with each song. I guarantee that the amount of brown liquor being poured at darkroom had doubled by the end of their set as the audience pondered mamma, trains, their pick-up truck, the dog, and bein' drunk.


PopMatters
by Chris Catania
My Heart is Leaking just caused me to rethink my view on second-hand smoke. The heart-filled vapors flowing from the ponderer on the cover are an alluring foreshadowing of what lies ahead; dreamy alt-country twang mixed with the best of Pet Sounds experimental pop and the emotionally diverse and lush orchestrations of ELO. The unsigned Chicago quintet's first EP (Redbird, released back in 2005) leaned heavy into the alt-country and Americana territories. My Heart is a delightful diversion into the more elaborate and developed mix of singer/songwriter Matt Ammerman's and his band's capability—in just five songs—to give you crisp songwriting that's colored beautifully with picture painting lyrics telling tales of love, pain, joy, grief and celebration and teaming with cloud-nine keyboard meanderings and a rhythm section that on "Other Life Forms" for example, made me wish that all second-hand plumes could be this sweet to my soul.


UR Chicago
by Alison Breitman
Like a Moth to a Flame
Chicago's Cracklin Moth is ready to inherit the alt-country torch.
There are many factors that go into making a great band - talent,
drive, a bit of luck and honesty - and there's never a guarantee
they'll combine in just the right way. Cracklin Moth, though, has
discovered that combination. Perhaps inadvertently, they've
stumbled upon a sound and an ethic that, together, puts them
among the most original bands around.

Cracklin Moth is bigger than the sum of its parts, comprising five
local musicians, each bring his own feel to the music: Shawn Rios'
ethereal flair on drums, Rocco Labriola's gorgeous conversational
melodies on pedal steel and edgy lines on electric guitar, Drew
Lindsay's twinkling jazz runs on keyboards, and, until recently, John
Hasbrouck's steady, understated sensibility on bass (local backing
musician P. Griffin Baron will step up to Hasbrouck's post). But the
driving force behind Moth's lush sound is singer/songwriter Matt
Ammerman.

Representing himself in a series of juxtapositions - equally
accessible and enigmatic, serious and devilishly funny, quietly
confident and earnestly humble - he allows his songs to come
naturally, saying "good songs come lyrically and musically in 20 to 30
minutes - it just happens." But he'll painstakingly apply himself to
the details, creating layers and depth so precise you might not even
know they're there. His voice, both recorded and live, is nothing
short of timeless, equal parts of sweetness and grit, placed in exactly
the right places.

Since forming in 2002, Cracklin Moth has been hard at work. The
release of their first disc, the Redbird EP, garnered attention from
WXRT's Local Anesthetic, Time Out Chicago, and the notoriously hard-
to-please Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times - all the while
enjoying steadily increasing crowds at local haunts Schubas and the
Hideout. Their latest EP, My Heart is Leaking, showcases the struggle
between their given ability and attention to their craft, having taken
almost 17 months to create. The result is a collection of five
beautifully performed and produced songs that reflect the band's
growing comfort in their genre-blending style of country, pop and
rock. What seems simple is probably a lot more complex - though
you'd never hear the work behind it. You only get the music, which is
really all you need.

"In the end I think we would like to make music we are proud of that
stands the test of time," Ammerman says of the band's future.
What they've shown us thus far leaves little doubt that they will.


WXRT 93.1fm - Local Anaesthetic
by Richard Milne
I'm really enjoying this five song debut from Cracklin Moth... From
the endearing performances to the excellent recording, to above all
the songs, this is a band for us to keep our ears on in 2006.


Chicago Sun Times
by Jim DeRogatis
Time once again to dive in to the always-overflowing bin of Do-It-
Yourself releases by local bands . . .

There's a moment during "Special," the lead track from Redbird EP,
the five-song debut by the Chicago alternative-country quartet
Cracklin Moth, that simply slays me. "Heard it from the heart/Heard
you whisper through the pines," soulful vocalist and songwriter Matt
Ammerman sings. "So we drove out to Chicago/And by the weekend,
she was mine."

Familiar faces on the local music scene, Ammerman, bassist John
Hasbrouck, drummer Shawn Rios (Palaxy Tracks, Scotland Yard
Gospel Choir) and lead guitarist and pedal steel player Rocco
Labriola first came together under the name Redbird in the summer
of 2004. Alas, another group had already claimed that moniker,
forcing them to change their name. But Cracklin Moth is more
enigmatic anyway, and the local quartet got to keep its original name
for their first strong release.

"Redbird EP" appeared last year, but the group is already promising
a full album soon, incorporating elements of the Beach Boys' "Pet
Sounds" and the Flaming Lips with the Jayhawks and early Wilco
influences that are already apparent.


Timeout Chicago
by Tim Lowery
Cracklin Moth has, "a sort of pop sound that's set in a dirty, 70's-rock
structure"...."


The Tripwire
www.thetripwire.com
"Cracklin Moth is one of Chicago's best kept secrets."


Canyouseethesuntset.com
Chicago's excellent Cracklin Moth has an excellent new EP titled My
Heart Is Leaking out now. The band seems to fly a little under the
radar here in Chicago, but (I can only guess) probably not for long.
Led by singer/guitarist Matt Ammerman's gravelly voice and some
incredibly weightless pedal steel guitar, the band is back with another
batch of sun-soaked tunes. This is (however) less twangy that their
Red Bird EP and is a bit more sprightly. I'd still probably call it urban
alt-country, but with a big classic golden pop influence.
Recommended for fans of The Jayhawks and Summerteeth-era
Wilco, Brendan Benson, etc...


Something Glorious
by Ari Bendersky http://somethingglorious.typepad.com/
One to Watch: Cracklin MothThe idea of a cracklin moth conjures
images of friends huddled around a campfire, kickin' back on a warm
summer night. Beers strewn about, constant laughter fills the air.
Someone pulls out a guitar and starts strumming, laughter subsides
and attention is focused. People huddle closer, smile, faces burning
from the fire's warm glow. Eyes sparkle. Singing gets louder, chills
spread up your body. Friends huddle around a campfire, loving life
on warm summer night.This is what Chicago's Cracklin Moth sounds
like ... to me. Five guys from disparate backgrounds who all share
the love of good storytelling and great music and create a warm,
welcome environment when they play. Whether they were raised on
Dylan, the Dead and Johnny Cash makes no difference. Their music
says otherwise. Lead singer Matt Ammerman's songwriting has the
depth of character not found by many emerging artists today. From
start to finish, he weaves a story that pulls you in. But it's the music
that holds your focus.With tight-as-hell gorgeously flowing pedal
steel, Rocco Labriola guides the band through each track, holding the
candle to lead their path while Shawn Rios' drums create the
heartbeat that allows the band to breathe. You're hard pressed to
find Cracklin Moth's progressive Americana in a city like Chicago,
which is so rock and pop focused these days, but it's refreshing --
and welcome -- that someone is doing it, and doing it as well as they
are. It's exciting that Wilco's Illinois roots are once again moving
outward and producing young bands like this. There's a similarity
between Cracklin Moth and other alt-country acts like Tweedy's and
the Jayhawks -- maybe it's the down-home country feel or perhaps
the incredible harmony. The music has that feel-good edge that,
midway through any song, you find yourself tapping your feet -- and
you just can't stop. And why? Sure, it sounds good -- but you can
relate to every single song.It always amazes me when I hear bands
like this that aren't signed to a label. Seeing them tonight at
Schubas in the opening slot before Kunek and the Bon Savants, they
not only held their own, but pretty much took top prize. Their music is
what drives their set -- not gimmicks or antics. Just pure,
straightforward musicianship. And I thank god for that


Ghost Media
Chicago's Daily Music News--Powered By Chicago Innerview Magazine
http://www.ghostmedia.typepad.com/
Made up of music-scene veterans Matt Ammerman, bassist John
Hasbrouck, keyboardist Drew Lindsay, drummer Shawn Rios, and
guitarist/pedal steel player Rocco Labriola, Cracklin' Moth has put
some gorgeous music down on their Redbird EP, and they easily
eclipse that in a live setting. Ammerman's soulful vocal turns can't
help but remind me of Calexico's Joey Burns, and the band will be a
welcome treat for anyone who yearns for that sparse, lonely sound.
Where so many bands seem to throw in some pedal steel guitar as
an afterthought, Labriola's thoughful melodies serve as a highway of
sorts, from which the other musicians draw subtle sideroads across
the landscape. Check out "One Little Smile" from the band's Redbird
EP below.


Poem by Thax Douglas
January 20, 2006 - Buffet Castle for Schubas

Cracklin Moth

the stove
heats with life
protecting
the orphans like
a metal
parent - when
the stove
puts on its
hat and
goes searching
for fire wood
certain atoms
deep within
its alloy decree
it's
physically impossible
for metal
to love, but
the orphan's
home is ablaze
before their
decree works it's
way up
to the mind
under the
hat


Being There Magazine
by Chris Catania
(http://beingtheremag.com/reviewlive.php?id=459&issue=19)
There's proof on Chicago's north side that the alt-country genre is
getting redefined. One of the bands pushing the boundaries is
Cracklin Moth, who may appear to be following in the footsteps of
Wilco and the Jayhawks but is by no means feeling suffocated by
their predecessors' looming shadows.

Matt Ammerman (vocals/guitar), the group's founder and a Kentucky-
native, landed in Chicago a few years ago after bumping around the
Midwest. Shortly after his arrival he placed an ad in a local paper and
began to round up local seasoned musicians. Around the middle of
2005 the group solidified into its current line up of Shawn Rios
(drums) John Hasbrouck (bass) and Rocco Labriola (pedal steel).

With their debut Redbird EP completed last year, a second album on
the way and some decent radio play on local radio the quartet is
gathering momentum and their evening set at Martyr's showed much
promise.

Ammerman is a prolific songwriter (a "C. Moth songbook" laid on the
edge of the stage during the concert) who relies hard on country
music's MO to sing openly about the ups and downs (mostly the
downs) of life, love and relationships. His songs possess the power to
linger in your mind long after they're finished. Wrapped around
Matt's solid songwriting is a supporting cast that understands where
the songs need to go, enhancing Ammerman's lyrical and songwriting
gifts.

A set highlight was the acoustic gem and soul searching ballad
"Talking to the Dark." This was as introspectively searing as the
night got, "Am I talking to the dark?/am I talking to myself," but as
Ammerman lead the way through each verse, a thread of hope
emerged, "Am I talking to myself/are you talking to my heart."

Cracklin Moth also possess the ability to spur the tempo in the ass
("Forever Song") and get things rolling; but this is rare. The band's
specialty is performing emotionally transparent songs that would
make Johnny Cash and Jeff Tweedy proud.

I then watched the show flow into a Cracklin Moth roots revelation of
sorts. Bill Mallone, one of Ammerman's musical heroes, formerly of
the now disbanded 90's alt-country rockers Vigilantes of Love, took to
the stage armed with harmonica and guitar.

Ammerman and Mallone are two gifted artists who are clearly at
opposite ends of their performing timelines but nonetheless
respectful and gracious to each other; Ammerman by just simply
playing paid homage to Vigilantes of Love, and Mallone offering his
approval of the "great music, great band," that preceded him.

The most entertaining moments of Mallone's set were his sarcastic
shots back at the distracted parts of the crowd. After about five
songs, as he changed harmonicas, he blurted, "Sorry to interrupt
your conversations… remind me to pay you for allowing me to listen
to whatever is so damn important." This is pretty much the norm for
him, since he's never been a shy shoegazer but exactly the opposite
and always eager to fling his mix of uplifting and sometimes jarring
wit at the crowd.

Resilience seems to be Mallone's greatest asset. Fresh off a tour in
Europe where he played with Edwin McCain, Mallone is once again
starting from scratch and at fifty he shows no signs of letting the
speedometer sag to zero. Unfortunately, the set was nowhere near
the quality of his past performances with the night's strongest songs
being stripped down folk/Americana versions of the alt-country/rock
Vigilantes of Love used to do. Mallone has a hard road ahead of him
but he seems ready to face it. His best music has always been when
he finds a redemptive song that's been pulled from the heap of toil
and hardship. If anything the four solo records since VOL ended
shows he has the ability, and nerve, to create great music and better
live performances like he has done in the past.

I wonder what it must have been like for Ammerman to play a better
show than his idol or if the thought that this had occurred even
crossed his mind. In any respect, the fact remains that Mallone's
touring future is uncertain for now while Cracklin Moth, as The Man in
Black once said, clearly plans to "move things a little further down the
line."


HearYa Blog Review:
by Oz of Sunnyvale , California - (http://hearya.blogspot.com/)
My Heart is Leaking EP
Cracklin Moth, one of my favorite unsigned bands, is just about
ready to release their second EP entitled My Heart is Leaking. Since
moving to the Bay area, I really miss seeing these guys perform
around Chi-town at local venues like Martyrs and Schubas. They're a
little less country this time around, but they kept enough pedal steel
to keep my inner hillbilly satisfied. If you're a fan of Wilco, Cracklin
Moth is a no-brainer for you. Matt Ammerman on guitar/lead vocals
and Rocco Labriola on pedal steel/electric guitar are a phenomenal
combo. I still find myself listening to their first EP on a regular basis.

Redbird EP
Shortly after Johnny Cash died, I went to Schubas to see a band
called Cracklin Moth. One of the best kept secrets in the Chicago
music scene, Cracklin Moth is a progressive alt-country band loaded
with talent. During this particular show, vocalist Matt Ammerman
played a song entitled Forever Song in memory of Johnny. The song
and the band won me over in an instant and I remember thinking,
"How has no one that I know ever heard of these guys?"

The song goes....

Let there be a forever Song
To be sung when I am gone
for you my love deserve this fame
that no one should forget thy name

Cracklin Moth released a superb EP called Redbird in 2004 that has
found regular rotation in my play list. Forever Song didn't end up on
the EP, so my fingers are crossed for its appearance on the full-
length album. Comparisons have been made to Wilco, M. Ward, The
Jayhawks, and I can see similarities (although Cracklin Moth might
not like this) to Ryan Adams and the Cardinals on Cold Roses and
Jacksonville City Nights.

Band Members include: Matt Ammerman (vocals & guitar), Rocco
Labriola (lead guitar & pedal steel), Shawn Rios (drums), and John
Hasbrouck (bass). Ammerman is a talented songwriter with a unique
sound and Rocco Labriola plays with a modesty that makes you
wonder if he's really as good as he sounds. A closer look and listen
proves that he is.

If you have $6 to spend, buy the Redbird EP and then check their
site to see where they'll be playing next. I'll keep waiting for a
Cracklin Moth show in the Bay area.


Studio Mustache Review
by Mark Allen of Salt Lake CIty, Utah (http://studiomoustache.
com/blog/)
"This year I've been listening to a lot of really great new bands,
probably the best of which is Cracklin Moth. Like many great new
bands of the genre they are from all over but ended up in Chicago
and have strong similarities to other Chicago transplants like Jeff
Tweedy and Will Oldham. Plus there is some great steel guitar in
there, and you just can't ever have enough great steel guitar."


My Old Kentucky Blog Review
by Dodge - (http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com)
My Heart Is Leaking EP
MOKB talked about Cracklin Moth back in 2005, and we're still fans of
the Chicago alt-country band. They've put out a new EP called My
Heart Is Leaking. With lead singer Matt Ammerman's Kentucky roots,
they're no secret to me, but still a bit of a secret in Chicago.
Definitely a band you shouldd check into.

Redbird EP
"Cracklin Moth… don't exactly sing the type of music you'd expect
straight out of Chicago, however that fact makes their progressive alt-
country sound no less honest and believable. Lead Matt Ammerman
is a Kentucky native turned urban cowboy, so that explains some
Appalachian twang, but Ammerman is a world-traveller with travels in
India & Eastern Europe that have proven significant influences on his
songwriting.

Like OK Jones, Cracklin Moth's songs are led by Rocco Labriola's
pedal steel. For fans of Wilco, The Jayhawks, David Gray, Nick
Drake, Son Volt, M. Ward or if you enjoyed OK Jones... , you'll enjoy
these guys."

<br>A Fool in The Forrest Blog Review
by George M. Wallace of Pasadena, California
(declarationsandexclusions.typepad.com)
"The EP track, "One Little Smile," is squarely in an Americana/alt
country vein, a good old "life is beating me down but a fleeting
moment's attention from you will allow me to soldier on" song. "A
Frown That Disarms". It seems to be about a dangerous hunger for
sensation, and kicks something fierce."


Cracklin' Moth live from TwangOff
by TwangOff Chicago
"Cracklin' Moth is a really great band name."
-- Female Audience Member

And a really great band, too, giving you One Little Smile after
another. If you like pedal steel guitar, don't pass up this... Rocco
Labriola defines their overall sound, while Matt Ammerman delivers
an ever-changing range of tenor vocal stylings. Kentucky loves
everyone indeed.

Songs:Illinois Blog Review
by Craig Bonnell, Blogger, Oak Park, Illinois (songsillinoismp3.
blogspot.com)
"They have opened another small door for me into the Chicago
scene. I hadn't heard of this band in my very own backyard. Musically
the band leans heavily on the pedal steel for creating atmosphere
and mood. The lead singer/songwriter has an expressive voice and
the lyrics are consistently great." – Craig Bonnell, Blogger, Oak Park,
Illinois


Harmonium
by Samantha Herald
Cracklin Moth released their first EP, Redbird, themselves in 2005.
The songs vary in sound from indelibly rocking, alt-country
("Special") to polished pop ("Talking to the Dark") with the remaining
three falling somewhere in between. The band members themselves
are fans of bands such as Wilco, The Jayhawks and Ryan Adams and
you can certainly hear the influences in their music. Each track, in
some way or another, seems to be trying to resurrect Ryan Adams
from his Heartbreaker days. (That's the Ryan Adams we want!)

The EP's first track, "Special", raises the "alt-country" banner high
and waves it proudly with more slide guitar and twang than I
recommend shaking a stick at. The Wilco influence is most apparent
here, as this track could have been taken straight from A.M., Wilco's
first and truest to form alt-country contribution.

With each passing minute the songs get darker and deeper, layer by
layer. The alt-country sensibilities remain but the songs themselves
become much more interesting by incorporating various instrumental
effects and lovely, eerie background vocals.
The slower, more desperate tracks are more triumphant in achieving
the Ryan Adams resurrection and "Badlands" is certainly the
highlight. Matt Ammerman's vocals are smooth and distinct, much
better suited to the pop songs rather than straight up alt-country. It
is obvious how at home his voice is at a slower, more easygoing pace.

Redbird is just the beginning for Cracklin Moth and you can hear it in
these songs. The band is currently at work on a full-length follow up
to Redbird and they are ambitious, claiming that they plan to
incorporate some more experimental elements of the Beach Boys'
Pet Sounds and The Flaming Lips, so perhaps this is simply the start
of something good.