Mossheads Is Making It Look “Easy”

If you haven’t heard the name Mossheads, you will soon. 

Photo courtesy of Lily Fox Photography.

Mossheads is a Tampa-native group that have been playing together for two years; now, they’re stepping into the limelight, repping USF with their extraordinary debut single, “Easy.”

From the jump, the band’s post-punk and garage rock influences can be heard loud and clear: the fuzzy guitar is bright yet melancholic, and singer Raphel Kaiser’s crooning tenor evokes prime Julian Casablancas — think Room on Fire (or even some bits of Comedown Machine). Throw in a touch of Cage the Elephant and Pan Arcadia, and Mossheads’ got an indie rock classic on their first release.

The song strikes a satisfying balance between a powerful chorus and more subdued verses, bridged by an emotionally-charged pre-chorus that expertly ramps up the tension. The three-and-a-half minute track sees a range of different tones, but shifts seamlessly between them.

The lyric that stands out the most, “I’ll take all the blame,” comes out on a wail that’s borderline primal, a quick moment of release before returning to a strained tone of resignation — doubtlessly, it’s the part fans will be howling at future shows.

“Easy” could, in some other world, easily exist on another artist’s second record, like they finally found their footing, having stripped away what works and what doesn’t and leaving a fully-fleshed sound; Mossheads, then, have hit the ground running, skipping all the archetypal baby steps and debuting with a complete sound.

With a debut this promising, it’s clear that this band is the one to watch — tune in now so you can say you were there later.

Stream “Easy” anywhere you listen to music, and check out Mossheads’ upcoming shows in Tampa on their Instagram.