Driven by invigorating rock dynamics and the dazzling vocals of singer, gui… Read Full Bio ↴Driven by invigorating rock dynamics and the dazzling vocals of singer, guitarist, and chief songwriter Jeremy Griffith, Moments in Grace is richly melodic yet fraught with a potent, progressive edge. The debut Album showcases the bands talents with songs such as the stirring first single, "Stratus," and the energetic "My Dying Day" explore haunted emotional terrain - loneliness, struggle, regret - yet ultimately achieve great beauty and genuine catharsis. Produced by Brian McTernan - known for his work with the likes of Thrice, Cave In, the Movielife, and Hot Water Music - "MOONLIGHT SURVIVED" is a genuinely moving, often inspiring premiere that stands as a powerful introduction to a remarkable new band.

Griffith and bassist Jake Brown first met in the late 1990s, when the two musicians played in a couple of North Florida punk combos. Griffith eventually moved north to Boston, but they maintained their friendship via e-mail and late night phone calls. In 2001, Brown issued a disc of Griffith's demos, called The Purple Magnolia, through his "really, really, really indie" label, Computer Club Records. When Griffith returned to Florida the following year, it seemed obvious that the two friends should team up in a band. They enlisted guitarist/keyboardist Justin Etheridge and drummer Brandon Cook to fill out the line-up. Taking their moniker from a lyric by Fugazi precursor Rites of Spring, Moments In Grace was born. They quickly began playing live gigs, but most of their time was spent holed up at Griffith's rented rehearsal space - dubbed "the Factory" - writing songs and refining their sonic approach.

In June 02, Moments In Grace supported Liars Academy at a show near Birmingham, Alabama, and the two like-minded outfits became fast friends. Later that year, Liars Academy was recording tracks with renowned indie producer/engineer McTernan at his Salad Days Studio in scenic Beltsville, Maryland. During a break between sessions, McTernan overheard the band's guitarist listening to Moments in Grace's early demo CD.

"I was like, Holy shit, who is that?'" McTernan recalls. "Jeremy's voice was unbelievable. I just couldn't stop listening to it."

Impressed and moved by what he'd heard, McTernan reached out to the young band, with an eye towards signing them to his new Salad Days imprint. He flew down to St. Augustine, Florida to see them play live, and while he was intrigued with their provocative sound, it was clear Moments in Grace was still in its embryonic stage. It wasn't until drummer Tim Kirkpatrick (formerly of prominent hardcore outfit As Friends Rust) was drafted into the fold that the band began to truly gel into something special.

The four musicians knew they had found their fire after penning the yearning, anthemic "Stratus." "It really set the tone for what we wanted to do with the band," says Griffith. "Recording it was awesome as well. We rented a Hammond B3 organ, which is really cool to get to play. We also brought in a string section, which took the song to a whole other place."

On April 18th 2006, the band posted a blog on their Myspace page saying that they "had decided, after extensive touring and promotion for our album "Moonlight Survived", to take a rest from the band. Did we break up? Not officially, there's always a chance that Jeremy, Tim and I will write music together again (touring? no.). However, we're all very much wrapped up in our own separate lives at this point."

As of 2009: Tim is currently living in Hollywood, CA and recently played drums for an As Friends Rust reunion tour in Europe. Jeremy lives in Atlanta, GA and records all sorts of great bands. Jake lives in St. Augustine, FL and is currently playing bass for Frodus, and singing/playing guitar in The Eastern Wave.

The Past
Moments In Grace Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Watched as the dark fades to dawn
Then wished the past never happened

never x3

walking home as the street lights are turning off
And the print on the papers is hardly dried off
My blood shot eyes struggle to adjust to the sun

I always stop when I note that I was wrong

I wish the past never

happened to you x3

quietly turned away trembling
I felt the weight of your words
As they finally met your lips

I would give anything to take away this pain you live with
I gave you my soul
I'd give you this wish

I wish the past never

happened to you x3

I wish
This never happened
I wish
The past never happened
I pray
Ohhh

happened to you x3

Overall Meaning

The song "The Past" by Moments in Grace depicts the singer's regret over the events that occurred in their life as well as the pain that their loved one is currently experiencing. Starting with the opening lines, "Watched as the dark fades to dawn/Then wished the past never happened," the singer is reflecting on the passage of time and how they wish they could change certain things that have happened in the past. As they walk home in the morning, they struggle to adjust to the light and realize that they were wrong about something. The repetition of the phrase, "I wish the past never happened," emphasizes the weight of their regret.

The rest of the song is focused on their loved one, as they feel the weight of their words and the pain they're experiencing. The singer would give anything to take away their loved one's pain and wishes that the past had never happened to them. The repetition of this phrase highlights the singer's desperation and desire to change what has already occurred. The final lines of the song, "I wish/This never happened/I wish/The past never happened/I pray," further emphasize the singer's regret and their determination to move forward.

Line by Line Meaning

Watched as the dark fades to dawn
I watched as the night turned into day

Then wished the past never happened
Then I prayed that the past could be erased

walking home as the street lights are turning off
As I walk home with the streetlights flickering out

And the print on the papers is hardly dried off
And the news in the papers is barely new

My blood shot eyes struggle to adjust to the sun
My eyes, tired and bloodshot, try to adjust to the sunlight

I always stop when I note that I was wrong
I always pause when I realize my mistake

quietly turned away trembling
I turned away silently, trembling

I felt the weight of your words
I felt the heaviness of your words

As they finally met your lips
As you finally spoke them out loud

I would give anything to take away this pain you live with
I would do anything to relieve the pain you carry

I gave you my soul
I gave you my everything