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After their sold-out 26-date tour of The Netherlands, five-piece Moke are
gearing up to play Germany. Their second album, The Long & Dangerous Sea,
hit the # 2 spot of the Dutch album charts. It will be released in Germany by
Universal. “The band is a well-oiled machine, that gives a lot of confidence.”
By Alfred Bos
Moke
set their
eyes on
Germany
“My interest in music began when I got interested in ‘60s beat bands: Stones,
Yardbirds, The Who”, say Felix Maginn, singer, guitarist, songwriter and bandleader
of Moke. “I have been playing in bands since I was about 16 years old. Music is a big
thing in Ireland. It’s part of growing up.”
Moke is named after Maginn’s favourite uncle; not after Mokum, the local name
for Amsterdam. Maginn (Belfast, 1969) moved from Northern Ireland, by way of
London, to the Dutch capital in 1992. “When I was in London I met a girl from
Holland and she invited me to Amsterdam for Christmas. I came over not planning
on staying very long and here I am, many years later.”
After recording several albums with the Amsterdam-based rock foursome Supersub,
Maginn started Moke to record and perform his recently written songs. During the
recording of Moke’s debut album, Shorland, the band met Paul Weller, who was
recording his As Is Now album in the same Amsterdam studio. In December 2006,
Moke played two shows at The Forum in London, supporting Weller.
Big sound
Moke’s first album, Shorland, sold 30.000 copies upon its 2007 release and the band
turned out to be a great live act. Last year Fall, they did a sold-out tour of 26 club dates
in The Netherlands. “The big test for us was to go to Germany”, Maginn says. “We did
support slots with Keane and Razorlight. And we did the whole European tour with
Paul Weller, playing venues of 7000/8000 capacity. We found that our sound could
easily fill these venues. We have this really big sound. And that’s the sound we wanted
to put on our second album. We also wanted to work with an orchestra.”
The Long & Dangerous Sea, released last year September, rock(et)ed into the
Dutch album charts and settled at the # 2 position. It boasts a bigger and more
sophisticated sound than Shorland, the result of some serious touring. “What
surprised me most after weeks on the tour bus with the band and the crew: no
arguments”, Maginn relates. “On the road, you find out how good the band is. You
only have limited time to prepare as a support act. And the band got tighter and
tighter. It’s a well-oiled machine. That gives you a lot of confidence.”
The secret is the chemistry of the bandmembers: apart from Maginn, guitarist Phil
Tilli, keyboard player Eddy Steeneken, bass player Marcin Felis and drummer Rob
Klerkx. “Everyone has his little job”, Maginn explains. “We have a lot of success in
Holland and people might think it comes easy. But no, we all work very hard.”
2010 is going to be quite a busy year for Moke. They’ll perform at Noorderslag.
In February, they’ll play in Berlin at the Fashion Week (the band sports suits
sponsored by Karl Lagerfeld) and there’s a German tour lined up, following the
German release of The Long & Dangerous Sea by Universal.
“Honestly, I can’t really complain”, says Maginn. “I’m doing what I always wanted to do.
I am living my dreams. We’re very happy and I hope we can keep expanding the band.”
Friday 15 January @ Huize Maas, 22:00 - 22:45
Saturday 16 January @ Buma Cultuur Zaal, 22:00 - 22:45
www.mokemusic.com
www.myspace.com/moketheband