The Hillbilly Moon Explosion
A Swiss rockabilly combo, the Hillbilly Moon Explosion exists in the middle ground between the traditionalism of many rockabilly revival bands and the rougher, spookier sound of psychobilly. Founded by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Emanuela Hutter and bassist/vocalist Oliver Baroni, their music has more than its share of retro twang, with Hutter's polished, enigmatic singing blending with the sometimes raucous, sometimes moody guitar lines, and they add dashes of punk, lounge pop, country, and even ska to season their evocative mix. The band staked out their trademark sound on 2002's Introducing the Hillbilly Moon Explosion, they fully hit their creative stride on 2011's Buy Beg or Steal, collaborated with psychobilly veteran Mark "Sparky" Phillips for 2019's The Sparky Sessions, and showed off their rocking and sultry sides on 2024's Back in Time.
The Hillbilly Moon Explosion was formed in 1998 in Zurich, Switzerland. The group was put together by two musicians in the Zurich rockabilly community: Oliver Baroni had recently left his band the Hillbilly Headhunters, while Emanuela Hutter previously sang with MD Moon. With the addition of Pat Matteo on guitar and Aad Hollander on drums, the first edition of the Hillbilly Moon Explosion was complete. By the time the group cut their debut album, 2002's Introducing the Hillbilly Moon Explosion, Pat Matteo was out of the group, and Patrick Geser had become their guitarist. By 2004's Bourgeois Baby, Aad Hollander had left the lineup, and Luke Weyermann signed on as their drummer. American rockabilly picker Eddie Angel (best known for his work with Los Straitjackets) handled lead guitar chores on 2009's All Grown Up, but on 2011's Buy Beg or Steal, the band introduced a long-term guitarist in Duncan James. One of the tracks on Buy Beg or Steal, "My Love for Evermore," saw Emanuela Hutter duetting with Mark "Sparky" Phillips, lead singer for British psychobilly mainstays Demented Are Go, who would collaborate with the group again in the future. Phillips popped up on the song "Northern Crown" on 2013's Damn Right Honey! (Songs of Love & Loss, Life & Death), and in 2015, they did an album-length collaboration with French actress and vocalist Arielle Dombasle titled French Kiss. 2016 saw the release of With Monsters and Gods (featuring another guest spot from Phillips on a cover of the Johnny Cash/June Carter Cash duet "Jackson"). By this point, Luke Weyermann was no longer part of the band, and Sylvain Petite was behind the drums. 2019's The Sparky Sessions paired Mark "Sparky" Phillips with the Hillbilly Moon Explosion for a full album. The group backed retro-country singer Dale Watson on a cover of Buck Owens' "Act Naturally" for Watson's 2022 album Jukebox Fury. The band signed with Cleopatra Records for American distribution of their 2024 album Back in Time; the label also gave their first three albums a belated release in the United States.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
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Discography
18 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Back In Time
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on Feb 9, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Love for Evermore (All the Greatest Hits Remastered) (Remastered)
Rock - Released by The-Freed on Sep 25, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Introducing the Hillbilly Moon Explosion
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on Jun 4, 2002
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
With Monsters and Gods
Rock - Released by The-Freed on Mar 11, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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All Grown Up
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on Jun 5, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Sparky Sessions (feat. Mark "Sparky" Phillips)
Rock - Released by Freedonia Records on Mar 29, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
French Kiss
Arielle Dombasle, The Hillbilly Moon Explosion
Pop - Released by Universal Music Division Mercury Records on Oct 2, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Primitive
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on Jul 19, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Knocked Down
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on Dec 12, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Damn Right Honey ! (Sings of Love, Loss, Life & Death)
Rock - Released by The-Freed on Mar 25, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
How Soon Is Now
Alternative & Indie - Released by Cleopatra Records on Aug 15, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
French Kiss
Arielle Dombasle, The Hillbilly Moon Explosion
Pop - Released by Universal Music Division Mercury Records on Oct 2, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Act Naturally
Dale Watson, The Hillbilly Moon Explosion
Country - Released by Cleopatra Records on Mar 31, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
By Popular Demand
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on Apr 5, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sometimes Late At Night
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on Feb 1, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo