One of the strongest and most popular acts of New York’s early 2000s anti-folk scene, the Moldy Peaches’ crude musicianship, lo-fi production, singsong melodies, and unvarnished emotional vulnerability served as a stark contrast for the cool distance of the rock revival that was happening at the same time. Main members Kimya Dawson and Adam Green recorded a wealth of homespun songs that eventually went from self-released CDs to their Rough Trade-released self-titled 2001 debut. At that point the band was opening for the Strokes on international tours and attracting worldwide buzz, but would break up in 2004. When one of their songs was prominently featured in the 2007 film Juno, the exposure was enough to warrant a brief reunion, and interest in the band’s raw charms continued through the years with archival releases like 2022’s Origin Story: 1994-1999.
The Moldy Peaches formed in 1994 when Green and Dawson met at an open-mike night in Mount Kisco, New York, and began collaborating together soon after. The two singer/songwriter/guitarists recorded new material often, occasionally releasing limited run media of their work. In 1999, Dawson and Green landed in New York City and expanded the band to include a drummer and electric guitarist, and began performing live around the city. The membership of the Moldy Peaches changed regularly during this phase, and at one point they existed as a six-piece band that included drummer Strictly Beats and guitarist Aaron Wilkinson. Signing on with the Rough Trade label, Moldy Peaches issued their self-titled debut in 2001, and supported the release with opening slots on tours alongside the Strokes and Tenacious D. A couple of fringe releases would appear over the next year, but come 2003 the Peaches were over or at least on hold as both Green and Dawson were exploring solo careers. It seemed they would forever be a smalltime, cultish band for insiders, but in 2007 their song “Anyone Else But You” played a big role in the hit film Juno. As the soundtrack was topping the album charts, the Moldy Peaches reunited for a handful of appearances including an early 2008 performance on the daytime talk show The View. In 2022, a newly assembled compilation of early material was released in the form of Origin Story: 1994-1999. The 21-track collection included early songs, demos, and spoken word pieces recorded during the band’s earliest days.
~ Greg Prato
