Mason Proper
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mason Proper | ||
|---|---|---|
 From left to right, Jonathan Visgr, Jesse Parsons, Zac Fineberg, Matt Thomson, Brian Konicek
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Alpena, Michigan |
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| Genre(s) | Alternative rock Indie rock |
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| Years active | 2003 – Present | |
| Label(s) | Dovecote Records | |
| Associated acts |
Patterns In Paris | |
| Website | Official website | |
| Members | ||
| Jonathan Visgr Matt Thomson Brian Konicek Zac Fineberg Jesse Parsons |
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| Former members | ||
| Chris Aben Pat Stafford Matt Davis Victor Kahn |
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Mason Proper are an American rock band formed in Alpena, Michigan in 2003 under the name Patterns in Paris. After moving south to Ypsilanti, Michigan, the band changed its name to Mason Proper and continued to record prodigiously in advance of their debut album, There Is A Moth In Your Chest. The band consists of singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Jonathan Visger, keyboardist and guitarist Matt Thompson, bassist Zac Fineberg, guitarist Brian Konicek and drummer Jesse Parsons.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] The Early Years and Moth
Some of the earliest Mason Proper songs can be traced back to the 2003 release of the split Sunday Sampler EP, a collaboration between independent hip hop artist Jawnrah and singer/songwriter Jonathan Visger's solo Patterns In Paris predecessor, Jonathan Apples. Shortly after the release of The Sunday Sampler, Jonathan joined up with Matt Thompson and Brian Konicek to form Patterns In Paris, and continued to perform erratically in the Great Lakes area, while working hard to record their full length debut album. It was around this point that the band made their first radio appearance on Grand Valley State University's student radio station, WCKS-AM [5]. During this performance, the band played a very early version of what was to become a future live favorite and album track, A Chance Encounter.
The band continued to record over 2004, before changing their name to Mason Proper in 2005. During this period the band went through a series of personnel changes in the process of finishing their debut album. An earlier lineup of Mason Proper played a radio session for University of Michigan student radio station WCBN in June, showcasing seven songs which would go on to make the final track listing of the record. Finally, on 17 January 2006, the band released There Is A Moth In Your Chest on their own Mang Chung label. Cover art was provided by Grandaddy drummer Aaron Burtch, while the inside of the package was designed by comic artist and film producer Rick Boven.
[edit] Dovecote and Moth Re-Release
2006 saw the group focus on promoting the debut album, touring across the country and drawing attention to themselves with sessions such as their WOXY.com Lounge Act in May.[1] After a summer of heated record label interest, the band made the decision in the autumn to sign with New York-based Dovecote Records. A well received showcase at the CMJ Music Marathon followed, as the band announced that they would be releasing a re-mixed, re-mastered, and in parts re-recorded version of There Is A Moth In Your Chest in 2007 for Dovecote. [2]
The band continued to tour vigorously into the New Year and after a series of successful shows with artists such as Faces On Film and The Mighty Narwhale, Dovecote announced the release of There Is A Moth In Your Chest for 13 March 2007. The band will be touring consistently in support of the record, including a support slot with San Francisco act Birdmonster. The band also plan to launch their secret society "The New Destroyers" in early 2007, which is a street team to help promote shows and releases.[3]
[edit] In Concert and the Media
Mason Proper has a busy touring schedule, traveling to play shows across the Midwest in states such as Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and as far east as New York. The band performed the first in a series of television and radio sessions in support of the There Is A Moth In Your Chest re-release in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 20 March 2007 for GRTV, which was in part simulcast on radio station WYCE. The band announced a further WOXY.com Lounge Act for 26 March, which saw the premiere of new song Rest Up.[4] Further appearances are scheduled for Fearless Music and MTV Canada. The MTV performance was announced as the band prepare to release "Moth" on 24 April in Canada.
