To the Moon

Whatever you might think Fly Moon Royalty sounds like because of their odd-couple image, ignore it. This duo surprises with frenetic soulful performances; they get down like it’s 1953 — before TV was in most American living rooms. “Back in the day you could have an ugly motherfucker singing like an angel on the radio, not needing to look like a movie star,” says Mike Sylvester, producer and MC for the Seattle duo. Adra Boo fills out the act with upbeat vocals.

“Our music derives from an older generation, but we bring a freshness element,” Sylvester tells EW via speakerphone from the road. Boo and Sylvester produce sound their way as they navigate the new media era of music. Sylvester says that today there is an over-emphasis on elaborate video content and too much general access to performers.

“We know too much,” he notes of the modern world. “We are overly focused on what artists say when they have an opinion on something. I don’t want to be best friends with my favorite band. Imagine if Led Zeppelin had a Twitter.”

Regardless, Google Fly Moon and find highly produced music videos including delightfully catchy tracks “Lemonade” and “DNA.”

“It’s the nature of the beast,” says Sylvester of making videos. He understands the dichotomy of the industry, he says, but Fly Moon must still make videos to play the game. However, “the music comes first,” Boo says. The two have generated a lot of momentum this summer after touring for 2014’s Unfinished Business.

“It’s widespread from kids, parents and cotton tops,” Boo says about their fanbase. They say their magnetic stage chemistry also puts people at ease.

“Ideally we like to goof off, our best shows are the loose ones,” says Sylvester. Boo adds, “You gotta give them a true set. We don’t got no gimmick. We are on stage having a good time and that shows.”

Fly Moon Royalty hit the stage at 8 pm Tuesday, Sept. 23, at WOW Hall; $8 adv., $10 door.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!