Bay Area carnival rock jam band phenom Moonalice's social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ are all a-buzz! Ahead of his interview with David Faber on CNBC at 11 Central tomorrow (Wed. 27 July), Silicon Valley VC, and Moonalice band lead, Roger McNamee has shared the new vocabulary he has coined to describe the future of technology:

• Hypernet: the physical infrastructure that results from combining the internet with cellular and wifi. At present half the nodes are computers and half are smart phones, but the balance is moving away from computers.  
• Hyperweb: the software and services layer that leverages the Hypernet. HTML 5 appears to be a fundamental building block of the Hyperweb.

In a recent reply to a post by music blogger Bob Lefsetz, Roger had this to say about the role of HTML5 and the hypernet, "To me, the opportunity is for musicians is to view HTML 5 and the hypernet as canvases for making new music products to replace CDs / mp3s. To have any value, these products need to go miles beyond what Google did for Arcade Fire and the Beastie Boys. HTML 5 begs for people to get really creative, so mash-ups and collaborations may be a part of the mix."

Tune in tomorrow and the brave new world of a Hyperweb that leverages the Hypernet will be revealed!

/THC

Moonalice’s signature single “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” is headed for 900,000 downloads since its introduction on November 13, 2009. Recorded, mixed, and mastered for a mere $5,000, “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” is available only on the web and only for free. The FLAC version can be found at http://moonalice.bit.ly/2uZpcY

Moonalice invented the Twittercast concert, where it shares links to songs for an entire show, either live or after the fact. Moonalice has done 80 Twittercasts (and Facecasts, as the Facebook equivalent is known) and also broadcasts a song an hour over Twitter via Moonalice radio. Moonalice is also the first band to offer free LIVE videocasts of (nearly) every show. Live videocasts (and the archive) can be found at http://www.moonalicetv.com.

On the web, Moonalice can be found at http://www.moonalice.com, as well as on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/moonalice) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/moonalice). The full collection of Moonalice videos can be found at http://www.MoonaliceTV.com or on YouTube.

For further information, please contact Chubby Wombat Moonalice at management@moonalice.com

This week Moonalice, the San Francisco carnival rock jam band phenom. that invented Twittercasts, which are free broadcasts to fans over social networks, pushed the tech. envelope even further with live satellite broadcasts using HTML5. Moonalice has been using Livestream on its Moonalice TV channel for more than a year to broadcast shows live to fans. The upgrade to HTML5 has meant that these shows can now be viewed on mobile devices such as iPads and smartphones such as iPhones without an app!

According to the band’s tech. guru and leader, Chubby Wombat Moonalice aka Roger McNamee: “So far, iPads and iPhones work without an app; next will be Android and webOS. The satellite system is surprisingly inexpensive. We paid a guy to write an HTML5 API and we found a carrier willing to provide bandwidth and storage at cost.  The satellite system offers more bandwidth than alternatives at the same price.”

Roger McNamee explains further, “Thousands of fans watch every Moonalice show on the Couch Tour on moonaliceTV.com. Satellite-based HTML5 web video is the ultimate connection between a band and its fans – it is within reach for a huge range of bands. Any band can now have its own 24 hour internet TV channel for the cost of a used car. When you are trying to build a fan base, internet TV is the best tool available.”

The screen shot below captured by @ZAGrrl shows the resolution possible with satellite broadcasts using HTML5. @ZAGrrl commented: “I felt I could reach out and touch the band. The sound was incredible! Moonalice’s broadcasts using HTML5 via satellite are making live mobile music a reality! Any song, any show, anywhere, anytime! They continue to thrill their fans like no other!”

Last March when commenting on the use of Livestream technology after a private show at Dartmouth College, Roger McNamee said: "The Livestream is amazing, because I feel connected to the people who are watching." With the satellite broadcasts in HTML5 fans can now feel and be connected right back - wherever they happen to be!

Moonalice is about to embark on a Hawaiian tour to the Big Island. A highlight in June will be on the 7th when they open for U2 in Oakland, CA.

More about Moonalice:

Moonalice is a San Francisco band featuring John Molo on drums, Barry Sless on lead guitar, Pete Sears on bass and keyboards, Ann McNamee on bass and keyboards, and Chubby Wombat Moonalice on bass and guitar.

Moonalice’s signature single “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” is headed for 900,000 downloads since its introduction on November 13, 2009. Recorded, mixed, and mastered for a mere $5,000, “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” is available only on the web and only for free. The FLAC version can be found at http://moonalice.bit.ly/2uZpcY

Moonalice invented the Twittercast concert, where it shares links to songs for an entire show, either live or after the fact. Moonalice has done 80 Twittercasts (and Facecasts, as the Facebook equivalent is known) and also broadcasts a song an hour over Twitter via Moonalice radio. Moonalice is also the first band to offer free LIVE videocasts of (nearly) every show. Live videocasts (and the archive) can be found at http://www.moonalicetv.com.

On the web, Moonalice can be found at http://www.moonalice.com, as well as on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/moonalice) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/moonalice). The full collection of Moonalice videos can be found at http://www.MoonaliceTV.com or on YouTube.

For further information, please contact Chubby Wombat Moonalice at management@moonalice.com

/THC

Guest post by Crystal Hayes WHUS 97.1 FM 

It’s All About The Music

Featuring the music of Moonalice on “Words & Music,” Saturday night from 10 – midnight ET, as I fill in for Steve Herzog. Tune In … Turn On…

For quite some time now, I’ve seen many of the people I follow on Twitter reference or quote profound lyrics or basic philosophy and attribute it to: @Moonalice. This has become a more and more common practice, so being the curious individual I am, one afternoon I tweeted, “Who is @Moonalice?” Which initiated a prompt reply:

Moonalice RT @crystalhayes917: Who is @Moonalice? ~SF's hottest jam band: John Molo, Pete Sears, Barry Sless. http://bit.ly/hbjEEg 

So I decided to check them out. I’ve always loved the San Francisco sound, and though I’m not too fond of the term ‘jam band,’ I get the connotation, and of course no matter what you call it, I love a band performs live and jams freely. This band seemed right up my alley. I suppose one question that remained was, why had I never heard of them before?

According to their website, Legend has it: Moonalice is a band of hippie musicians from California with no label, no manager, no publicist, no problems, and lots of fans. With John Molo on drums, Barry Sless on lead guitar, Pete Sears on keyboards and bass, Ann McNamee on keyboards, and Chubby Wombat on guitar and bass, Moonalice is committed to taking the business out of music.

Moonalice invented Twittercast concerts, which are free broadcasts to fans over social networks. The band’s eponymous first album was produced by T Bone Burnett. Its second album, “Free,” is available only over the web and only for free. The first single from that album, "It's 4:20 Somewhere," has been downloaded more than 850,000 times. Moonalice grew up with Elvis and practices freedom of speech every day.

It seems to me, for Moonalice, it’s all about the music, and I love that! I remember hearing an interview with Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart and Bob Weir once, and I believe it was Mickey that helped simplify it. He said, “We’re a band that loves music. We go places no one else ventures. We love playing off each other. It really is all about the music; we do it for and with each other. We just invite people to watch us…to enjoy us.” Perhaps this is why they were (and are) so successful. Success was never the catalyst for the band. It was the music. I see this in Moonalice. I feel like they’ve invited me to listen. I’m glad I got turned on to this band…even if it was via Twitter. Musically they are so in line with my tastes. They blend a sort of happiness to their music that is genuine and true. What more can you ask for?

Moonalice is the band that formed from previous members of the Flying Other Brothers, which of course has a story all of their own. Individually I’ve known about these guys forever:

Pete Sears~ keyboards and bass ~ Pete’s been playing for years with the best of the best. He’s one of the founding members of Jefferson Starship, but his resume goes so much deeper: he’s played with the likes of Rod Stewart, Hot Tuna, Phil and Friends, Steve Kimock, The Flying Other Brothers, just to name a few; jammed with anyone whose anyone, plus he’s done session work on over 100 albums.

John Molo~ drummer and percussionist ~ He’s an east coast guy that’s played with Bruce Hornsby, The Other Ones, Phil and Friends, David Nelson, and Jemimah Puddleduck just to name a few.

Barry Sless~ guitar and pedal steel ~ Another east coast guy with talent and influences from the best around. Done work with the Flying Other Brothers, David Nelson Band, Phil and Friends, Kingfish and the Rowan Brothers.

Roger McNamee ~ bass and guitar ~ A founding partner of the venture capital firm, Elevation Parters, is well-known for making an unprescented move by making venture capital investments in Electronic Arts. He was a founding member of Flying Other Brothers. Is the techie of the band.

Ann McNamee ~ bass, percussion, keyboards, vocals ~ Ten years ago, Ann retired as a Professor of Music Theory in order to pursue a new career as a songwriter and performer. Since then, her portfolio of over 200 songs offers a fresh perspective on relationsips and the ever-changing world. She was a founding member of Flying Other Brothers, and with her band Ann Atomic has been part of Lilith Fair. 

So, there you have it. Please join me tonight, 9 April, will you?

Crystal Hayes

More about Moonalice:

Moonalice is a San Francisco band featuring John Molo on drums, Barry Sless on lead guitar, Pete Sears on bass and keyboards, Ann McNamee on bass and keyboards, and Chubby Wombat Moonalice on bass and guitar.

Moonalice’s signature single “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” is headed for 900,000 downloads since its introduction on November 13, 2009. Recorded, mixed, and mastered for a mere $5,000, “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” is available only on the web and only for free. The FLAC version can be found at http://moonalice.bit.ly/2uZpcY

Moonalice invented the Twittercast concert, where it shares links to songs for an entire show, either live or after the fact. Moonalice has done 80 Twittercasts (and Facecasts, as the Facebook equivalent is known) and also broadcasts a song an hour over Twitter via Moonalice radio. Moonalice is also the first band to offer free LIVE videocasts of (nearly) every show. Live videocasts (and the archive) can be found at http://www.moonalicetv.com.

On the web, Moonalice can be found at http://www.moonalice.com, as well as on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/moonalice) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/moonalice). The full collection of Moonalice videos can be found at http://www.MoonaliceTV.com or on YouTube.

For further information, please contact Chubby Wombat Moonalice at management@moonalice.com

/THC

As Chubby Wombat, the intrepid leader of San Francisco jam band phenom. Moonalice would say: "According to Moonalice legend, history was made last night!!!"

The band, already known for it's ground breaking Twittercast concerts (see below), last night videocast its first live concert in HTML5 via satellite upload from the band's gig at the Iota in Arlington, VA. 

In a post on the band's Facebook page, Chubby Wombat, aka Roger McNamee said: "From our perspective, this was beyond cool. It should make the Couch Tour a zillion times better." He continued: "We plan to use HTML5 from now on, including for the show tonight from Sellersville, PA."

The photo below, taken by @ZAGrrl, shows a screen shot of the Moonalice HTML5 videocast as it displayed on an iPad.

/THC

More about Moonalice:

Moonalice is a San Francisco band featuring John Molo on drums, Barry Sless on lead guitar, Pete Sears on bass and keyboards, Ann McNamee on bass and keyboards, and Chubby Wombat Moonalice on bass and guitar.

Moonalice’s signature single “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” is headed for 900,000 downloads since its introduction on November 13, 2009. Recorded, mixed, and mastered for a mere $5,000, “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” is available only on the web and only for free. The FLAC version can be found at http://moonalice.bit.ly/2uZpcY

Moonalice invented the Twittercast concert, where it shares links to songs for an entire show, either live or after the fact. Moonalice has done 80 Twittercasts (and Facecasts, as the Facebook equivalent is known) and also broadcasts a song an hour over Twitter via Moonalice radio. Moonalice is also the first band to offer free LIVE videocasts of (nearly) every show. Live videocasts (and the archive) can be found at http://www.moonalicetv.com.

On the web, Moonalice can be found at http://www.moonalice.com, as well as on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/moonalice) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/moonalice). The full collection of Moonalice videos can be found at http://www.MoonaliceTV.com or on YouTube.

For further information, please contact Chubby Wombat Moonalice at management@moonalice.com

Guest post from interview on Summit-Daily.com 03/24/11

Where'd the name come from? Two sources: (1) “To the moon, Alice!” was our favorite line from Jackie Gleason's Honeymooners. (2) We are descended from an ancient tribe of farmers and bass players. The Moonalice tribe has been everywhere since the beginning of time. Each night we reveal stories from the Moonalice Legend related to the town we are playing in. 

Home base: San Francisco

Type of music: We play folk music on electric instruments. We are a jam band in the musical tradition of the Grateful Dead. 

If your music were a tangible item, what would it be, and why? A psychedelic drug. We blow your mind for a few hours, after which you have nice memories. 

Why do people love ya? We give away as much music and art and as we can afford. Every show is videocast live on the Internet. Every show has a unique poster that we give away. Our fans are tribe who support us everywhere we go. 

How do you keep it fresh? We constantly write and perform new songs. Half of our current set is list is less than three months old. The band is only four years old, and our “thing” is to create new music and art every day. That's one of the things fans like about us. 

What's the craziest thing you've done/weirdest experience? We recorded our first album with producer T Bone Burnett at the same time he was producing “Raising Sand,” which won the Grammy for album of the year. About four months before release date, our publicist and label explained that no one cared about a bunch of old-time hippie musicians, so we fired them both, along with our manager. That's when we committed 100 percent to Twitter and Facebook to promote Moonalice. We now have 130,000 fans on those networks, so it worked out really well. 

/THC

Moonalice invented the Twittercast concert, where it shares links to songs for an entire show, either live or after the fact. Moonalice has done 101 Twittercasts (and Facecasts, as the Facebook equivalent is known) and also broadcasts a song an hour over Twitter via Moonalice radio. Moonalice is also the first band to offer free LIVE videocasts of (nearly) every show. Live videocasts (and the archive) can be found at http://www.moonalicetv.com.

On the web, Moonalice can be found at http://www.moonalice.com, as well as on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/moonalice) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/moonalice). The full collection of Moonalice videos can be found at http://www.MoonaliceTV.com or on YouTube.

For further information, please contact Chubby Wombat Moonalice at management@moonalice.com

"Inspired by Moonalice" sounded intersting, so we checked out the posts from personify.biz.

They are also on Facebook and Twitter. What's nice about their Facebook page is that it contains a collection of "best of" posts from both Moonalice and Ann Atomic.

Fun, inspirational, and yes, most defintely inspired by Moonalice!!!

/THC

by Jonathan Jaeger

In the last couple days I’ve been listening to the audiobook Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin. Throughout the book, Godin describes the passion and risk-taking needed to truly lead your own tribe. The tribe that you have the ability to create is analogous to your fanbase. Think of the droves of people who flocked to Grateful Dead concerts, called “Deadheads”, who kept buying tickets even though the Dead were not Billboard chart-toppers. The Grateful Dead created a tribe out of their fans, that is, a loyal group of people who followed the band throughout their career. The same goes for Slayer, Phish, and the Dave Matthews Band because they created an aura about them where fans felt like they were part of the tribe.

One of the key points that Godin makes in his book is that you don’t need to have thousands or tens of thousands of followers in your tribe. The magic number Godin says is 1,000. Imagine if each one of those 1,000 dedicated people could convince just a few friends to come to your concert or buy your music or merch. Those 1,000 people could make a true difference—admittedly, that many followers is still a big number for new artists. 

Start off small! No one said creating a tribe (or fanbase) would be easy. Create value where there was no value before. Distinguish yourself from the pack by adding things that most people don’t spend the time to release to their potential fans. Here’s a few ideas to get things rolling:

1) Make remixing easy

If you have a song with many different and interesting tracks (whether  with electronic music tracks or conventional instruments), offer the stems for each track in separated files. That way if other artists or music enthusiasts with access to recording software really dig your song, they can play around with each individual track on their computer and maybe even post a remix of your song online. I know I’ve found many good songs after first discovering a memorable remix. You can widen your audience with just a little extra work.

2) What about the gear?

Some gearheads and DJs really like to know how you recorded your music. Depending on the genre of music you produce, there might be many people in your fanbase that are hardcore recording geeks. Let them in on your tools of the trade! It’s not like it’s a secret.

3) The power of art

Many up-and-comers are quick to upload their music online, but often never put in any time thinking how they want to present their music BEFORE a listener actually presses ‘play’. Most people are drawn in by a visual, so if you don’t put a picture on your profile or create some sort of representation of your image as an artist, chances are many potential listeners will ignore your music. If you had the choice between listening to someone’s music who also had an interesting display picture on their profile or to someone with a stock photo or blank image, who would you listen to? Who is probably the more serious artist?

4) An engaging bio

Keep it short and sweet. If it’s not, then at least make it entertaining along the way. Thanks.

Jonathan Jaeger is a Co-founder at HypedSound. Contact him about the site, music, or anything else you want to talk about (jonathan@hypedsound.com or @jonathanjaeger on Twitter).

Readers of this blog will know that Twammy Awards' all time fave band is San Francisco carnival rock phenomenon Moonalice, recipient of the first two Twammy Awards. By a cosmic co-incidence, Moonalice's signature single, "It's 4:20 Somewhere" as well as other Moonalice favorites like "I'm Glad You Think So" and "Blink Of An Eye" can be streamed and downloaded FREE on HypedSound! Since Moonalice is probably the best example of a band that is turning its fans into a tribe, this is only appropriate!

/THC

Concert Benefiting Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, featuring Moonalice, Eoin Harrington, Front Street, Barry "The Fish" Melton and very special guests to be announced! A rock concert worthy of the strong musical heritage that would make founding benefactor Bill Graham proud. A Benefit Celebrating 43 Years of: "Health Care is a Right, Not a Privilege!"

$25 benefit tickets including FREE event poster can be found online here: 

http://www.gamh.com/artist_pages/haight_ashbury_free_clinic_benefit.htm

or purchased at the GAMH Box Office with just a 1 dollar service charge.

http://moonalice.bit.ly/2uZpcY

Become a fan of Moonalice: http://www.facebook.com/moonalice

Moonalice:
Barry Sless - Phil Lesh & Friends, David Nelson Band
Pete Sears -Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna
Ann McNamee - Ann Atomic, Flying Other Brothers
Roger McNamee - Flying Other Brothers
John Molo - Bruce Hornsby, The Other Ones, Phil Lesh & Friends