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Moxy Früvous is a folk-pop/geek-rock band from the Toronto, Ontario area. The band formed in 1990 when Jian Ghomeshi and Murray Foster, classmates at Thornlea Secondary School, joined forces with Mike Ford and David Matheson and formed a band to busk in Toronto. They drew small crowds — and the attention of CBC Radio One, which commissioned them to write songs about political and local issues for the radio show, Later the Same Day.
They cut a six-song demo tape in 1992, and their first major-label album was released the next year. Its single, "King Of Spain", was only the second independent #1 hit in Canadian history. (Fellow Torontonians Barenaked Ladies were first by a few months, with 1993's "Be My Yoko Ono".)
The main attraction to Moxy Früvous is their close relationship with their fans and their live shows, which are full of political commentary, humourous banter, and musical improvisation.
The band reminds some listeners of the Beatles or They Might Be Giants. They sometimes sing with little or no accompaniment, in a style similar to contemporary a cappella.
The band is currently on an indefinite hiatus while the members pursue other projects. As of October 2003, Ghomeshi is hosting the arts-and-entertainment show >play on CBC Newsworld, and Foster is the bass player for Great Big Sea.
Moxy Früvous is one of the many bands whose name includes an umlaut. The name "Moxy Früvous" is a null phrase, and has no meaning in any language; however, the Bargainville liner notes contained a faux-dictionary listing of definitions for früvous. The band never gave a straight answer on the origin of their name.
Album Discography
- The Independent Cassette (1992, demo, very rare!)
- Bargainville (1993)
- Wood (1995)
- The 'b' Album (1996, b-sides and other oddities)
- You Will Go to the Moon (1997)
- Live Noise (1998, live)
- Thornhill (1999)
- The 'C' Album (2000, b-sides and other oddities)
External Links
- FDC: The Official Site (http://www.fruvous.com)
- FHDC: Fan Community (http://www.fruhead.com)
- Mike Ford (http://www.mikeford.ca)
- Jian Ghomeshi's Official Site (http://www.jianghomeshi.com)
- The Murray Foster Fansite (http://www.waytogomurray.com)
- >play (http://www.cbc.ca/play/)