Article Contributed by Mike
Published on 2026-04-26
Photo: Courtesy of The Moss
Alt/indie rock band The Moss have released their new album Big Blue Moon, an irresistible nine-song collection celebrating freedom, self-confidence, and living life by your own rules.
Tyke James of the band shares, “This is our first complete project in years. I feel like a totally different person from the last time we released an album. It’s been so long. We have been writing and touring the whole time, and growing as people. We love how it came together and are proud to have found a more current version of our music in the studio this past year. It represents breaking free from social norms and living life the way you want it to be, and not on other people's terms.”
The Moss have surpassed 75 million streams and earned acclaim from Alt Press, which named them a “Rising Artist To Watch.” Recent festival appearances include BottleRock, Levitate, Ohana, and Paradies with Briston Maroney. The band has also announced a spring 2026 headline tour, including a date at Kilby Block Party alongside Lorde, The xx, Modest Mouse, and more.
Watch / Listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OnmFS_xuMU
Whether he’s living in his van in Santa Cruz, surfing in France, working on a horse ranch in Montana, or paragliding in Utah, Tyke James is a nomadic spirit, a rolling stone who indeed gathers The Moss, the band name under which he has written and performed a unique brand of alternative rock first as a teen in O’ahu, Hawaii, and now in Salt Lake City.
“Moss grows on every continent,” explains James about the origin of the band’s name. “It’s not to be confused with its cousin algae. It’s neither commonly noticed nor loved, but it’s everywhere. It’s ubiquitous. All the things you’ve heard about moss apply to us.”
The band first broke through with the four-song Insomnia EP, led by the title track, which has earned more than 25 million streams and landed on Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 chart with major support from SiriusXM’s Alt Nation.
With an eclectic sound that echoes ‘60s surf-rock, the melodic joy of The Beatles, reggae rhythms, and a hard-edged ‘90s emo aesthetic reminiscent of The Replacements, U2, and Vampire Weekend, The Moss draw heavily from the outdoors, from Utah’s peaks to Hawaii’s surf.
“The music is definitely inspired by the environment we’ve been in. The balance of nature is the most creative thing in the world,” James says. “Getting to a place where you’re either meditating, surfing or hiking, it’s easy to tap into that energy. The things that don’t matter then disappear. That happens with music as well.”
With a robust 2026 touring schedule still ahead, James is eager to get back on the road.
“There’s something special that happens when you get an immediate reaction to a song,” he says. “Whether it’s during a live show or even just a songwriting session, if there’s a reaction from people in the room, you know you’re on the right track.”
2026 Tour Dates
4/23 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia
4/24 – New York, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
4/25 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
4/27 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Cafe
4/29 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig
4/30 – Columbus, OH – Skully’s
5/1 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi
5/2 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
5/6 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
5/7 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theater
5/8 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway
5/9 – Kansas City, MO – Madrid Theater
5/11 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
5/13 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theater
5/14 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theater
5/16 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Block Party
For more information, visit www.themossband.com.
