Features

Seven years after their very welcome reunion, Moving Targets are showing no signs of slowing down. With four albums, multiple tours across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, and a lineup that bridges past and present, the band has found new momentum and perhaps its strongest voice yet. Their latest album, 'Red Eyes' (out now on Dead Broke Rekerds and Boss Tuneage), marks a turning point: the first to be written collaboratively from the ground up, produced by J. Robbins, and hailed as one of their best albums to date. We sat down with Kenny Chambers, Emilien Catalano, and Yves Thibault to talk about the chemistry that drives them, honoring the band's legacy without becoming a nostalgia act, and of course, the new album.

PRT: This year marks seven years since Moving Targets reformed — four albums, four US tours, four European tours, and two tours in Japan, not to mention singles, EPs, and a live album on Bandcamp. Looking back, what are you most proud of?

Kenny - I'm really happy that we've been able to stay together and do so much in the time we've had. It's tricky doing the band, seeing as the guys are from Montreal and I live in Baltimore, but somehow we make it work. The other thing I'm most proud of is our new album, Red Eyes. I think it's the best thing we've done so far.

Yves: i’m proud that we were able to pay respect to the past members by playing songs that people wanted to hear live for a long time and put out albums that fans of the old albums enjoyed.

Emilien: I'm proud of all the great shows and tours we did together and that we didn't ruin the name or become a band that only plays old stuff without releasing new material. I'm also really proud of the new album, I think the songs really clicked on that one and the production makes them shine.

PRT: :You’ve now released as many albums since reuniting as you did in the band's original run. How do you see this “second era” of Moving Targets in relation to the first?

Kenny - Well, this band and the original Targets are obviously different in some ways. I think what happened is when the band regrouped in 2018, we retained the general vibe of the original band, while Yves and Emilien brought their own style to the group. As we've continued on over the last 7 years, I think we've developed our own identity and approach to what the Moving Target sound is.

Yves: It’s hard to compare the two lineups, the first lineup was amazing and left a mark on many people. The new albums are something different. It was another era and we have other influences so it shows in the music

Emilien: Like Yves said, the lineup of the first album was amazing. That being said, I don't think Kenny wants to write riffs that sound like Burning In Water and pretend that he is still where he was in his early 20's. I think there's a way to have a place for elements of the past in the music without sounding like a rehash of old songs and mix it up with new ideas and still sound fresh. 

PRT: Emilien, Yves — you've been part of the band since the 2018 reunion. Was there any hesitation in joining a project that was being revived after more than 25 years?

Emilien: For me there was no hesitation at all. I knew the fans had high expectations as they loved the first four records, but I wasn't worried about Kenny and his ability to still write good songs. It was also a great opportunity to play shows outside of Canada where Yves and I are from. Only a couple months after playing our first gig in Boston, we were in Europe for a month!

Yves: Not at all, it seems to me that Moving Targets could have influence bands I listen growing up and I really like for example face-to-face and it was a great challenge to learn those songs and it made me step up my game and get better playing those great parts.

PRT: Were you already a fan of Moving Targets before joining? How did your connection to the music influence your decision?

Yves: I didn’t know the band before but Emilien did and I trust his taste in music. As soon as I listened to it, I really liked it and loved the bass parts. I knew it would be fun to play those songs. Also stepping in a band that was already known made it easy to tour and record.

Emilien: I was a big fan ! To make a long story short, I made a video playing drums along to a song from the first album and posted it on Facebook thinking nothing of it. After Kenny saw it that same day, he asked me if I wanted to go to Europe with him playing those songs. Fast forward a couple of days, Kenny asked if I knew a bass player and that's where Yves came along. Playing those great songs with a friend of mine from Montreal and go tour Europe? It was a no brainer for me!

PRT: With three albums’ worth of material already written before this, how has your chemistry evolved over the last few years as a band?

Kenny - For me, I felt the chemistry from the very first night we were in a room together playing the songs that they had rehearsed on their own, before our first show in Boston. It's just always been there throughout our time together. There really didn't seem to be any having to get to know each other musically, if you know what I mean.

Yves: Knowing the old stuff and having worked on a couple albums together we knew what Kenny was expecting for the songs. So we were prepared, which was a big time saver. With the previous album, In the Dust, the first time we played the songs together were recording them in the studio. This time we had time to jam on the songs during the summer and we did a pre-prod in the fall so we knew  what needed to be fixed before recording.

Emilien: I don't think you can force chemistry, it's either you have it or not. I think we have a really good one when we are playing together but also in life as friends and that helps when you're on the road for a month!

PRT: 'Red Eyes' is the first album since the reunion to be written collaboratively by all three of you. How did that change the songwriting dynamic? Was it a smooth transition, or did it come with its own set of challenges?

Kenny - I think it was just a natural evolution for the songwriting process. When we started making records again, a lot of the songs on the first three were songs that had been kicking around before the Reformation of the band. Each record had maybe two or three new songs, but the rest were written between 1996 to around the mid 2000s. With Red Eyes, I came up with the initial riffs for the songs, maybe a couple of parts, and then once we got together to work on them, we turn them into genuine songs together as a band. Even though most of the material is brand new on the record, we recorded three older songs that I had. Right now, we are at work on 10 new songs, and they are all new.

Yves: it didn’t seem much difference because for the other albums we came up with our parts so it was basically the same except for the songs that we came up together in the jam space

Emilien: Since most of the record is all new stuff, it was a really fun process to see ideas grow day by day from just a riff to a fully formed song. The process was quick: from the time we met in Montreal one year ago to jam the riffs, the album is already out as we speak. Some of my favorite tracks on the record, Kenny came up with the lyrics and vocal melody the last day of recording. 

PRT: With the band members living in different places, how do you approach writing and rehearsing? Do you work digitally and refine things in the studio?

Kenny - What we've done a lot is, I make videos of me playing riffs or partial songs and I send it to the guys to check out. Then we figure out which ones are worth working on and we get together in Montreal, often during the summer, to play the new stuff together and turn it into songs. When we get together in the studio, we usually practice once or twice before we go into the studio to tighten everything up. The same for when we tour, we usually have one practice before we do every tour, if it's possible. The only digital thing we ever did was, Yves and Emilien recorded the bass and drums for a song at their friends recording studio, and then they sent it to me and I added guitar and vocals. The song was a demo of World Gone Mad that ended up on a split 10 inch EP with our friends the Swipes. It came out in Germany a few years ago.

Yves: Me and Émilien get together and work on the songs bass and drum like we used to do for the older songs for the previous tours.

Emilien: For the shows, we always make it work that way. Before our first gig ever in Boston with this line up, Yves and I got together a bunch of times that summer to tight the songs, but we haven't played a single note with Kenny yet before meeting him. All it took was a 45 min rehearsal and next thing you know, we're playing the next night opening for Jerry's Kids in front of 500 people. 

PRT: The album was produced by J. Robbins. How did that collaboration come about, and what did he bring to the table?

Kenny - My wife Rona and I moved to Baltimore 4 years ago. J. Robbins got in touch with me and suggested we get together for a cup of coffee and catch up. He told me about his studio and said if the band ever wanted to record there, he would love to do it. Not long after, the guys came to Baltimore and we did our first record together with J., In The Dust. What he brings to the table is fortunately, he's a fan of ours and I think he knows the recording approach we need to make the material shine. He sings backup vocals, especially on the new one as well as doing some percussion here and there. He's kind of like the fourth Moving Target. He also mixes the songs on his own away from the band, so he contributes in that way as well.

Emilien: It’s funny because right before we knew Kenny and Jay met for a coffee,I've said to Yves that we should suggest the idea to Kenny to work with him on our next record since his studio is in Baltimore. I think it was really meant to happen! 

Yves: J.was great to work with and his studio has a really nice atmosphere to work in. He already had an amazing sound as we listen to playbacks without it being mixed so we were pretty excited all the way throughout the recording process of both albums.

PRT: There are a couple of instrumental tracks on the record as well. Maybe a dumb question, but what makes you decide a song should remain instrumental?

Kenny - The tradition of including instrumentals on the albums is something that started from the very first record, Burning in Water. Writing lyrics is not my favorite thing, so any break I can get on that is welcomed. We just kept up the tradition when we were formed in 2018.

Yves: We all liked the instrumentals on the previous albums so it was natural to have some , it made sense to us

PRT: The album features interwoven guitar lines. How do you pull that off in a live setting? Have you ever considered adding a second or touring guitarist?

Kenny - We actually had a second guitar player in the band for one American tour named Fred Montmorency, who is also from Montreal and was friends with the guys. It was around 4 years ago or so that we played with him. I was having some trouble with my hands playing guitar, and wanted to see if we could get someone else to fill out the sound. We also recorded a three song EP with Rick Harte from Ace of Hearts Records in Boston. It ended up not being released. As a three-piece band, we record songs for our records that we know we will never play live because there's so much stuff on the recordings. The rest of it, we figure out how to perform as a three- piece. On the new record we are going to play eight songs out of the 10 when we do some shows this coming fall.

Yves: Personally I really like three piece bands on and off stage. I think the dynamic is better and we’re really lucky that Kenny has such a full guitar playing/sound. I also think we can enjoy more Kenny’s guitar playing live because he’s the only guitar player in the band.

Emilien: I have always loved power trios. You can hear everything that is going on in the music and it's easier to tell what everyone is playing. Also, with only the three of us in the band, it is easier to make decisions.

PRT: All of the reviews I have read, are calling 'Red Eyes' the best of the four post-reunion albums — some even say it’s the best Moving Targets album ever. What’s it like to ride that wave of positivity?

Kenny - To be honest, it kind of blows my mind that at this point we made such a strong record. I know Moving Targets first album Burning in Water, will always be held in high esteem. I'm grateful that this band was able to create something that people seem to be so enthusiastic about.

Yves: We are really happy that people feel that way because we also feel that way.  As we were recording we thought this might be our best one so far and we’re really happy with the result.

Emilien: We all really liked the album as we were making it, so even if people were to not enjoy it, what matters the most is that we all are proud of what we've accomplished . Of course it's always nice to hear good feedbacks and have good reviews but I see it more as a bonus.

PRT: Do you feel like that translates to more interest in the band or new fans?

Kenny - I am cautiously optimistic that red eyes could bring in some new fans for us. It would be funny at this stage of our existence as the band has always had a very small but loyal fan base. I would love to see people who know nothing about the band discover this record somehow. If they do, hopefully they will check out the band's previous releases as well.

Emilien: A lot of our fans were around in the 80's and 90's when the band was active in it's first run but sometimes we see here and there younger people that dig the music and just discovered the band, and that's always great to know! 

PRT: After everything the band has achieved since reuniting, is there still something you'd love to accomplish with Moving Targets?

Kenny - We have 10 new songs right now that we're working on and hopefully we could get another 10 songs together and record a double album for the next release. That's something I've always wanted to do with the band.

Emilien: I would love to play shows in Australia ! 

Yves: We’ve been wanting to go to Australia, South America, eastern Europe and Spain for years so that would be great if we could do that. Also it would be good to put out more albums we are proud of.

PRT: Finally, what do you hope listeners take away from 'Red Eyes'?

Kenny:  That a band that's been around for over 45 years in different incarnations can pull a great record out of their hat. I'm not ashamed to say it, I think Red Eyes is a great record and I'm very proud of it

Y: We hope the older fans can relate to it and enjoy it and that new people can enjoy it as much. 

E: I hope people will finally hear and appreciate how good Kenny is to consistently write great and catchy songs.