Only Local was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of Moonlight Graham's most recent work ­ scheduled for release in June ­ here is what you can expect: Chris Bailey and Bill Littleford took the do-it-yourself route when recording their third album (right down to the cover and disc art) - perfect example of, "want something done right, do it yourself". Gone. Circus has a home-town feel. It is quite inviting with its soothing and comforting melodies. This two-man production is a unified effort ­ both men writing and singing. If you think the vocals of the Bailey and Littleford remind you of John Popper - the harmonica on this album makes you say, "yeah, hmmm, these vocals sounds oddly familiar". The vocals are also reminiscent of REM's Michael Stipe, and the lead singer for Red Wanting Blue, Scott Terry. Bailey says, "This album is more laid back, more acoustic, more our own sound". The acoustic rootsy blues taste of this CD sets the backdrop for the light, but well written lyrics that we can all relate to. Take for example the first track, "Horatio Alger", where he sings, "Maybe we're blinded by fear, sleeping through another year" or the same thing which makes so much sense when Bailey sings, "simple joy of catastrophe" - With songs like "she makes the time (roll on by)", this album is addicting and this CD is what makes the time "roll on by". Gone. Circus is chill, like sitting on the front porch with fresh squeezed lemonade while thinking about your evening plans of drinking espresso in a coffee shop. Maybe later you'll then curl up on the couch to watch  "A Love Song for Bobby Long". Overall, the CD has a Big Head Todd and the Monsters/ Dave Mathews/ Jack Johnson/Blues Traveler sound and feel without compromising the originality.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2004 Testing the weather
Moonlight Graham looks for its place in the sun
SHAUNA STEIGERWALD | CIN WEEKLY CONTRIBUTOR

Ask any member of Moonlight Graham, and he'll tell you that 2003 was an incredibly busy year for the band. Chris Bailey (vocals, guitar, keys), Bill Littleford (guitar, bass, vocals) and Michael Sams (drums, percussion) showcased the band's appealing breed of acoustic rock during a whirlwind tour of the Tristate's bars, coffee shops and other small venues. In all, the band played more than 80 shows throughout the course of the year. "It was insane, but it was also really cool," says Bailey. "The reception that we've gotten to our music has been amazing." And things aren't slowing down for Moonlight Graham in 2004. Bailey says that the band has already booked shows four months out, and those include jaunts to Cleveland and Louisville. This hectic pace was established not long after Moonlight Graham was formed by Bailey, Sams and Dave Hisch (who was later replaced by Littleford) in August 2002. The name they chose is a reference to the baseball player who was prominently featured in the movie Field of Dreams. "We wanted to go with a 'follow your dreams' type of theme," says Sams. A few months later, Moonlight Graham moved a step closer to its own dreams when it put together a five-song EP, Caught Running in the Rain, to use as a demo that would aid the band in securing gigs around town. Both the EP and the September 2003 full-length release, The Unknown Weather Test, were recorded and produced by the band. In fact, the full-length album was recorded in Bailey's Wyoming apartment, "with the windows open and the world passing by," as the jacket proclaims. But the album shows no signs of its modest roots. The tracks are polished and melodic, making good use of Bailey's harmonic voice and incorporating a range of instruments that includes a mandolin and a harmonica. Thoughtful lyrics enhance the bluesy appeal of songs such as "Weary Traveler" and make ballads such as "Nevermind the Rain" all the more haunting. Sams thinks the album will appeal to fans of "jam bands," such as the Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler and Phish. The album title, The Unknown Weather Test, comes partly from one of the tracks, "Testing the Weather," and also from the fact that, as Sams puts it, "This is the band's first real effort at getting out into the music scene. We're testing the weather, and it's unknown how things are going to work out for us."

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Dayton City Paper Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Moonlight Graham: circus 'rain' men
By Leslie Benson

Their new album looks like an advertisement for a 19th-century touring circus. It's scattered with images of a man waiting to perform unbelievable stunts while a ringleader shouts over the roar of the crowd and elephants practice balancing on large, rubber balls. Across the cover flap, it reads: Moonlight Graham, The Unknown Weather Test. So much for an introduction. Your interest is already sparked.When placing the 12-song CD inside the disc player, thoughts of Blues Traveler and the Dave Matthews Band may enter one's head. Easygoing, warm, male vocals leading a jazzy, slightly bluegrass-edged jam band make Moonlight Graham a unique listen. Moonlight Graham was formed in 2002 by vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Chris Bailey (yes, he also plays harmonica) and percussionist Michael Sams. Bill Littleford (vocals, guitars, bass and mandolin) joined the group after original member Dave Hisch departed. Since then, the trio has been wowing audiences with intricately layered songs from unusually titled albums. "People often ask us, 'What's the deal with all the weather-related titles?'," Bailey said. "Our first EP was called Caught Running in the Rain. The newest record is called The Unknown Weather Test (September 2002), and a lot of the songs have weather-related themes - not weather in a literal sense, but themes that attempt to emphasize the good things in life, but (to also) appreciate the not-so- good, 'cause without the bad, we wouldn't be able to enjoy the good. One example is 'Nevermind the Rain.' It's a tale of a sad bastard making his way through life in a miserable time, but someone keeps telling him, 'Nevermind the rain, forget about it...move on.'" For Moonlight Graham, the focus is on the quality of the music instead of special stage effects or circus tricks - like squeezing eight clowns in a miniature car. "We're really pushing our original music and constantly working at it. Songwriting is the backbone of our band," Bailey said. "We don't have any fancy lighting or smoke machines to thrill people, so we have to be able to connect to our audience using our songs. Our tunes seem to go over well in many different environments, from small coffee shops to louder, larger venues and festivals. We are constantly writing, performing or recording. This is the most important thing in our lives, so we give it our all." According to the trio, their song, "New Weatherman," has received local and regional independent airplay recently. Some lyrics that stand out in the song are, "I've got you/right where you want me... You say as observations stand/it was all for nothing. And you say it's good to have a plan/well, I think it's time for a new weatherman." According to Bailey, "Someone once said, 'I'm not good at explaining my songs... cause... I just work here.' I use that excuse a lot. It's hard to tell people what a song is about, because they may have a whole other conception about it, and you don't want to disappoint them." Another tune on the new album, "Caroline," reflects on a crush-at-first-sight that Bailey experienced after meeting an English waitress in an Irish pub. "She was so sweet and had the best accent, but she was moving back to England later in the week, so I never saw her again," he said. "So out of that silly, chance meeting, a song was born. Crazy, I know, but also that night my friend Cindy and I got to hug a 'slightly stumbling' Charlie Luken (mayor of Cincinnati). Then Tyrone Yates saw us hugging the mayor and thought that we had to be someone important, so he invited us back to a private party. What fun!" For a busy, touring band out of Cincinnati, Moonlight Graham pulled in 80 gigs last year, recorded a record and "kept (their) day jobs." "We've been fortunate to do everything on our own so far, and we're looking forward to that 'next level'...whatever that is," Bailey said. "We are all like-minded cats, as long as we can live comfortably and continue making music together, all will be well. The more we play and write together, the tighter we sound. We're really growing as a band." Now that you've been introduced to the band, keep Moonlight Graham in the back of your mind. They won't be playing live locally again until Friday, March 5, when they will perform at Border's Books, 2040 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. in Dayton.

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"You'd swear David Gray is singing on Moonlight Graham's EP 'caught running in the rain'...which probably kills in college towns!"
- TMCM magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

REVIEW:"caught running in the rain"
BY MIKE BREEN of Citybeat

Moonlight Graham is the new band from local singer/songwriter Chris Bailey. On the group's debut EP, Caught Running in the Rain, Bailey and band -- bassist David Hisch, drummer Michael Sams and sax-man Mark Heiple -- display an organic, reflective approach that should perk up the ears of fans of like-minded local, Ryan Adcock. Bailey's intimate, heartfelt songwriting is the cornerstone, but what makes MG more inviting is the way they flesh the tunes out with a creative, ethereal plethora of sounds. For example, on "Everywhere," keyboards and chiming guitar swells add to the Folksy grace, while Heiple's economic, crafty sax parts avoid E Street Band or Pink Floyd clichés, something few who have attempted have ever been able to pull off. Caught Running in the Rain is an enticing starting point for these promising newcomers. For more info, check the band's Web site: moonlightgraham.org.

Music from moonlight graham's
"caught running in the rain EP" can now be heard on
88.3 WAIF radio and is now in regular rotation on
91.7 WVXU radio.

...please tune in and keep the requests coming!

WVXU - 513.731.9898

WAIF - 513.749.1444

WOXY - 513.863.5665
studio@woxy.com

WNKU - 859.572.7897