Mr! Mouray voice their pet peeves in their new single and lyric video Cats Can’t Fly — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The latest release from the Toronto pop-rockers’ most recent album What’s The Stouray, the new wave-influenced track features the band’s sonic trademarks: Hooks and harmonies, jangly guitars, groovy rhythms, and the influence of The Beatles and Badfinger. Cats Can’t Fly also showcases their knack for infectious arrangements, along with frontman Simon Bedford-Jones’ witty lyrics about a couple fighting like, well, cats and dogs:
“Cats can’t fly
Don’t ask me why I know it
They can’t do it
I know you threw it
And what you’re doing isn’t right.
“Dogs don’t laugh
At photographs you show them
They find it trying
I know you’re lying
It doesn’t bother you sometimes.”
Speaking of dissolving relationships: Bedford-James formed Mr! Mouray upon deciding that after 30-plus years on the music scene it was time to re-evaluate his role, leave what had become an unsatisfactory situation, and step into the spotlight as a frontman of a new project. He put together a crew of trusted veteran musicians to help arrange and interpret his original songs, and together they’ve become a power-pop force to be reckoned with.
Joining Bedford-James (formerly of Swedish Fish, Moving Targetz, The Last Band and more) are ex-Moving Targetz bandmate Jaimie Vernon on bass, former Last Band compadre Nelson Pereira on guitar, and fellow Swedish Fish alumnus Craig Adams on drums.
“Mr! Mouray is the best band I’ve ever been in. We’re just having fun,” Bedford-James says. “We’re all on the same page now and when it stops being fun, that’s when we’ll call it a day. Until then we’ve got a lot of material coming. All we can hope is that people like the songs.”
After launching several EPs and singles over the past few years, Mr! Mouray’s first full-length What’s The Stouray (with former member David Otanez on drums) was released at the tail end of 2022 on Vernon’s Bullseye Records and made it to International Pop Overthrow Festival impresario David Bash’s best-of list. Mr! Mouray proudly take part in the festival each year and plan to perform extensively in 2023 — and, most importantly, enjoy the ride.
“We’re also at the age where we’re not putting up with any bull. We’ll stream songs. We’ll play live if and when we want. We’ll make videos. We’ll do whatever tickles our fancy,” Vernon says. “Imagine being in a weekend garage band full time. That’s Mr! Mouray.”
Watch Cats Can’t Fly above, listen to What’s The Stouray below, and follow Mr! Mouray on Facebook.
