Mover

Among California's Cosmic American Music constellation, San Francisco's Mover shines as one of its more luminous acts. Their sound fuses classic rock & roll strains—chiefly the Rolling Stones from the 1969-1971 period, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Big Star, and assorted other '70s outfits—with a folk-tinged Byrds sensibility, while carrying a pronounced debt to Parsons' Flying Burrito Brothers. The band formed in 1996, its founding roster consisting of rhythm guitarist/vocalist Eric Shea (ex-Valeria, ex-Supercross), lead guitarist Paul Tyler (ex-Jupiter Sun), bassist/vocalist Mike Therieau (ex-Loved Ones, ex-Event), rhythm guitarist Matt Murdock, and drummer Matt Ellis. Murdock exited after only a few months, and Ellis departed after one year to join a "Jehovah's Witness alternative rock act" based in Benecia, CA. Drummer/percussionist Paul Burkhart stepped in as his replacement and stayed for the subsequent four years. Onstage vocal support came from "the Sisters": Mandy Taylor, Molly Tuttle, and Mary West.

Their initial manager, Katrina Sirdofsky (who later co-managed Christina Aguilera), helped secure an approach from graphic poster artist Frank Kozik in 1996, resulting in a deal with his Man's Ruin label. The group tracked its 1997 debut Original Recipe in just two weeks, with keyboardist Jason Albertini—now a member of the Seattle-based Stagger Lee—contributing additional parts. Six months went into the follow-up, The Only One, issued in 1998 on Berkeley's Mod Lang imprint. That release marked a clear step forward, with Therieau assuming greater lead-vocal responsibilities as the band emphasized harmonies and acoustic-driven material. Mover maintained a strong Bay Area profile in the ensuing years. Shea launched the Annual Sleepless Nights tribute/benefit concert to honor Gram Parsons, and he continues to host the Monday Night Hoot series at the Cafe Du Nord, modeled on Michael Nesmith's '70s Hoot nights. He also started the side-project country band the High Deserters alongside Michael Talbott (Winterflowers), Dave Gleason, and Steve St.Cin (Beulah).

Further lineup shifts occurred in 2001: Burkhart relocated to Oregon, where he fronts Cocaine Unicorn, and Stephen Anderson took his place; backing vocalist Mary West likewise left that year. In 2002 Therieau exited to focus on Dave Gleason's Wasted Days, another country-rock outfit of which he was already a member. Talbott joined on bass, leaving Shea to handle every lead vocal. The band has since been cutting its third album with producer Davy Vain at the Groove Room in San Rafael, CA.