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a globe-trotting labyrinth

Indie-psych-orch-garage-rock practitioner Richard Davies, a.k.a. the moles, has held a seminal but secret role in the history of the alternative music scene since the 1990's. He's a songwriter’s favorite songwriter, appreciated by Kurt Cobain, the Flaming Lips, Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices, and Gruff Rhys of the Super Furry Animals, and among many others.

 

The story of the moles is a globe-trotting labyrinth that started in the late 1980's in Sydney, Australia. Davies, born to Welsh immigrants, never felt like he belonged to a place, or a scene - he had an outsider's perspective. He’d read music magazines to discover bands, without hearing them - literally - since he was born hearing-impaired. Bands from the other side of the world were like mysteries for him to solve.

upcoming live shows

Live moles shows are rare and usually pretty secret, but...

4.6.24
Knitting Factory NYC

 
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6.21.24
Irving Plaza NYC
with Guided by Voices
 
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6.22.24
Royale Theater Boston
with Guided by Voices
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A playlist curated by Richard Davies featuring some all time favorites, inspirations and a set of songs The moles will be playing at their upcoming live shows!

discography

press + reviews

The Australian-bred, New England-based Richard Davies has long been a secret-handshake artist for indie diehards; his songs suggest self-contained pop hits from a crooked dimension. After years recording solo and in the ornate duo Cardinal, Davies recently revived the Moles, the eccentric garage band through which his songs first greeted the world. Forget a humdrum reunion: in an arrangement of admirable inefficiency, the singer has established different groups of Moles for various stops of his tour. The local pros that will form the New York edition hit the stage after a set by Doug Gillard, of the fellow-travelers Guided by Voices.

Jay Ruttenberg, The New Yorker

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