When guitarist Mitch Micoley moved from LA to Seattle, he instantly knew he’d found his place. Rolling into town in mid-summer greeted by a scene straight out of a rock record – tattoos, black jeans, and heavy music echoing down the streets – it just felt like home.
In 2022, Mitch scrapped Moon Fever‘s initial setup and rebuilt the project from scratch. Leaving their garage-blues roots behind, he pushed the sound into heavier, punchier territory with the goal of creating a band that rips on stage. With a fresh lineup featuring bassist Dave Orton, drummer Troy Wageman, and vocalist Triston Bracht, the definitive version of Moon Fever was born.
We interviewed with the four-piece band, who performed in Analog Music Hall two years ago but have recently stepped into a bigger spotlight.
Moon Fever
Triston Bracht – lead vocals
Mitch Micoley – lead guitar
Dave Orton – bass
Troy Wageman – drums
If I’m correct, the band started in Seattle, where you first met and realized you clicked musically, which eventually led to Moon Fever. What was that extra something that made you want to build a project together? How would you describe the main things that hold you together as a band?
Dave: Yes, we’re from Seattle, the city of destiny and musical opportunities. Mitch had a past rendition of Moon Fever and came to Seattle seeking accompaniment. At the time, Troy and I were between bands and when our manager reached out to link up with Mitch – we figured, why not. We gelled, and after a couple months we auditioned Triston. He came to a rehearsal with six songs prepared on a two-day notice. We knew he was the guy within the first couple bars. When you know, you know.
After five or six years of sticking it out, you’re gonna hate each other or become friends. Even more than friends, but without the benefits. Well, the benefit of making music together but that’s where the benefits end. Unless you count needing random toiletries that you forgot at home, if someone lets you use their toothpaste or q-tips, I think that counts as a benefit.
I admit, I actually found you through an Instagram ad and I couldn’t be more grateful for it, because I think what you guys are doing is awesome. You’ve mentioned a few times which bands people most often compare your sound to, but there’s still something very distinct about your music that makes it instantly recognizable, even if someone hasn’t been listening to you for very long. Who are some of your personal favorites, and if you could take just one thing you’ve learned from them – or one thing you really admire about them – and carry it with you, what would it be?
Dave: We learned a lot going out with Steel Panther. Sure, we admire them musically, but they’re incredibly professional off stage. You wouldn’t really think it to see them. The big take away was how nice they were, especially when they didn’t have to be. So, I mean yeah, we try to be nice to everyone. Mainly venue staff and security. That guy that was supposed to kick you out might think twice if you learned his name during load in.
Kind of an unrelated note, but we take great pride in leaving green rooms/backstage areas as clean as possible. Don’t make someone else clean up your shit. We learned that from our sound guy Tyler. Who we also admire. He is very handsome.
You’ve already toured the EU, but I’m curious what’s coming next for you guys. Would you rather find a bigger band to join for a run of shows over there, or hit the road on your own and tour the EU again, or maybe even Australia? And while we’re on the subject: which band would you absolutely make a point of seeing if you happened to be playing the same festival?
Dave: Lately we’ve been touring around doing radio shows/interviews. Trying to pound the pavement to get Bury Me off the ground. There’ll be a lot more of that before the year is out. We’re still a little baby band, so it doesn’t make sense for us to headline shows outside of the Washington market. We’d love to just hop on a plane and tour Europe, but it’s gotta make sense for us.
A couple years ago we played at Sonic Temple, Limp Bizkit co-headlined with Slipknot and we sure as hell weren’t gonna miss Limp Bizkit. They were incredible, just as good as you’d imagine them. We brought my brother and we were hanging out backstage while Slipknot was getting ready to go up. They were huddled up in a circle for a pre-show ritual when he nudged me and asked what those janitors were up to. I was like: Bro, that’s fuckin’ Slipknot, avert your eyes.
Your album Forever Sleep came out at the beginning of 2025, and since then you’ve basically been dropping one catchy song after another.
How structured are you when it comes to planning? Do you usually map out the next year pretty carefully, almost like a project, or is it more impulsive and a little chaotic, depending on whatever inspires you at the time?
Dave: We schedule releases very carefully and with a team that has a much better understanding of that process than we do. If it were solely up to us, we’d probably drop songs every time we write one and nobody would ever hear them as they’d just get lost in the ether. Right now we’re so focused on pushing Bury Me, that if there’s talk about another upcoming release I don’t know anything about it, which is usually the case anyway.
Before Forever Sleep came out, we released singles about every quarter before the physical release in 2025, at least from what I remember. Those were some foggy months. Hella foggy. Probably the most fog you’ve ever seen in your life.
If you compared the beginning of your career to where you are now, what’s the biggest lesson you wish you’d learned sooner? And what do you think has changed the most in each of you individually, as well as in the band as a whole?
Dave: Biggest lesson eh? Looking back to the beginning, we were all hitting the bottle pretty hard, among other things. You ever seen that movie Money Ball? Brad Pitt says some shit like, “we’re all told at some point that we can’t play the children’s game anymore”. I think about that a lot. With the trivial amount of success we’ve had lately (I don’t think anyone really said this out loud) maybe getting completely annihilated before a show isn’t the best idea. We’re not exactly living clean and sober (minus Troy) but we take into account that we have a privileged job to do. I personally find it a lot easier on the road when I’m not crippled by a hangover. I also don’t lose stuff as often, which is a real burn when you’re poor and you’re 1200 miles from home. But I think we’ve all made great strides to take this more seriously, at the end of the day, it’s a gift.
Which of your songs came together the easiest, and which one was the hardest to write? This can be on an emotional level too, since sometimes a song can be difficult simply because the subject matter is too personal.
Mitch: Easiest was more than likely Bury Me – that one just fell out of the sky which usually means it’s going to be a good one. As far as hardest we sometimes go back to the drawing board with them. Typically, if we have revisit it over and over, it’s easier just to write another song. Some things you just can’t force.
If we looked at the people who listen to you as a group of fans who are going through a difficult time and find some kind of refuge in your music, who do you think you connect with most right now through what you stand for and what you write about?
Mitch: Well… having a song out on radio has been very eye opening. You really find it connecting with all walks of life. Triston told us a story about how he met a fan on the road who was going through some very tough life stuff and Triston being the guy he is shared a smoke and talked it though with him, and he did mention that Bury Me did help him get though a rough time in his life.
What represents absolute hell to you, and what gives you that ultimate feeling of freedom? (For example, being trapped somewhere could be absolute hell, while riding a horse could feel like complete freedom.)
Mitch: I would say tour for sure it makes you feel like a pioneer crossing the Mississippi. But also, being an independent artist, we all answer to someone but at least for us that’s our fans!
If you guys were cartoon characters, who would each of you be?
Mitch: Dave would be Bonecrusher, Triston would be Razor Hat, Troy would be Salamander and I’ve been known to be called Razor Pants in my day.
Do you have any rituals you always do together during rehearsals or while you’re on tour?
Mitch: HAHA, yes! Our fourth show we played was opening for Godsmack so we started a pre-show ritual where we lock arms in a circle and sing “I’m not the one who’s so far away, when I feel the snake bite enter my veins.”
Let’s say everything you write here comes true within the next year. What would you wish for from the dream maker for the year ahead?
Mitch: I’d love to see us on some DWP festivals I’d LOVE to get back to the EU for a tour and I’d love to rock out some US shows. But real talk, will you take us back EU? Remember all the times we used to have? We love you and we miss you. Please call.
Moon Fever
by: Viki Kocsis
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