Local Review: The Moss — Free Ride

The Moss
Free Ride
S-Curve Records
Street: 10.03.2025
The Moss = Drowners + The Bee Gees

If you’re looking for a record that can pick you up and drop you in a world of honest feelings and head-nodding indie rock, look no further than The Moss’ latest EP, Free Ride. Based in Salt Lake City and originally from Oahu, Hawaii, The Moss are made up of trio Tyke James (vocals/guitar), Willie Fowler (drums) and Tyler Harris (guitar). 

With only four tracks, The Moss are able to transport you into a different world for a little bit, a world that is groovy, honest and fresh-sounding, with a good mixture of rock flavor from the modern indie that took over Tumblr in 2014 (Hello, Arctic Monkeys!) and the 1970s falsetto notes typically found across disco and rock (think The Bee Gees’ “Tragedy”). I love it. It immediately drew me in with the very first track, “Darkness.”

“Darkness” is a groovy, head nodding tune. It’s catchy, with deep emotional substance that will have you going back to it over and over. It’s about accepting that life might get dark at times, but the secrets you keep and the darkness you find yourself in doesn’t have to be an all-consuming burden. You can trust someone else, and find the hope you need to find the light. Life has its ups and downs, and “Darkness” speaks on that.

“Free Again” is the next track, and definitely my favorite. It’s very 1970s rock; funky, kind of trippy at times and sort of reminds me of the Grateful Dead. One of the lines that really conveys this free-wheeling feeling is “There may not be an answer, man.” Near the end there’s a very grand guitar solo that starts off with some chatter, as if they’re performing in a bar, which then leads into the next track, “Higher,” itself starting off with chatter as well. In my head, these two tracks are the day and night versions of each other, each present in the same bar. “Higher” is also groovy, but with raw and scratchy vocals as opposed to the polished, lighter-sounding vocals of the previous track. This track captures that staticky live recording very well, placing you into the dim, smokey nighttime side of a dive bar. There’s also a piano solo that I love, and overall is such a great track. 

The last track on Free Ride is “Oasis,” the breakout single from the record. It’s the most modern rock sounding track, very pop-like and a bright change sonically from the other tracks. It sounds much like the title — a drink of cold water. It’s about finding someone you connect with, saying that even if it’s fleeting, it’s still worth it. Life is made up of the connections we make with other people. If you’re lucky you’ll remember the positive ones over the rest. 

Across Free Ride, The Moss focuses heavily on creating atmosphere, experimenting with different rock genres and making music that to hear is an experience you’ll never forget. It’s a sonically rich EP that leans into atmosphere as much as structure, creating tracks that stay captivating from start to finish. If this is your first time hearing the local band’s work, it’s a fantastic entry to their world, and I can’t wait to hear what’s next. 

The Moss’ latest release is their single “Another Way to Waste Time,” released on February 20. You can catch them on their spring tour coming up in just a few weeks. They will also be performing at Salt Lake City’s Kilby Block Party in May. More info can be found at themossband.com. —Cherri Cheetah

Read more music reviews from Cherri Cheetah:
Local Review: BCKRMS — Prototype
Local Review: Hurtado — Cavalier