Moon Boot Lover

Peter Prince launched Moon Boot Lover amid a flurry of superhero and sci-fi visuals that placed the project among the earliest acts in the Northeast jam-band circuit of the early 1990s. The ensemble, steered by Prince and steeped in the funk language of Jimi Hendrix, preserved its core identity across frequent personnel shifts largely through the sheer force of his direction.

The group coalesced in Albany in 1990 with Prince handling lead guitar and vocals, Neal Evans on organ, and Alan Evans on drums; bass duties passed through several hands until Jon Hawes emerged as the steadiest presence. That configuration issued two independent releases, Outer Space Action in 1994 and Live Deep Down in 1995, both adorned with comic-book artwork rendered by Prince himself. The band built a following on the jam-band trail alongside moe., Schleigho, and similar outfits, and in autumn 1996 it joined moe., the Ominous Seapods, and Yolk for a brief Rock the Vote outing marked by extensive musical interplay among the participants.

Hawes and the Evans brothers soon departed to explore fresh ventures. Hawes spent time on the road with the Latin-tinged New Hampshire jam band Percy Hill; Alan Evans appeared with Karl Denson’s jazz-funk collective Tiny Universe before reuniting with Neal and forming Soulive alongside former Lettuce guitarist Eric Krasno. Meanwhile Prince embarked on two acoustic collaborative tours billed as the Merry Danksters, sharing stages with singer-songwriter David Gans and members of moe., then assembled a fresh incarnation of Moon Boot Lover.

With membership continuing to turn over, Prince stood unmistakably at the ensemble’s focal point, his blistering lines on a signature Flying V guitar, his wildly comic stage presence, and his richly soulful vocals delivering both visual spectacle and sonic intensity. Now regarded as a veteran within the jam-band world, the revamped lineup included drummer Andy Herrick, previously of Harpoon, and vocalist Jeff Merrow; Hawes eventually rejoined as well after Percy Hill encountered repeated personnel upheaval.

This roster captured the 2000 album Back on Earth, a balanced set of funk, rock, and soul originals. Yet another configuration—anchored by bassist Nate Edgar and drummer Mike Dunkle—took to the highways in support of the record, with Hawes and Herrick appearing on select dates. In spring 2001 Prince also mounted a solo acoustic tour of colleges and theaters, serving as opener for Tim Reynolds, the longtime Dave Matthews collaborator.