Howlin' Rain

by Mark Deming
Unapologetically influenced by the strong but easygoing grooves of West Coast '70s rock, Howlin' Rain represented something of a change of pace for guitarist and singer Ethan Miller, who previously fronted the psychedelic noise rock ensemble Comets on Fire. After the recording of Comets on Fire's final album, Avatar, in 2006, Miller was eager to explore the more melodic direction the group began pursuing, and with bassist Ian Gradek (who had known Miller since high school) and drummer John Moloney (a member of the likeminded band Sunburned Hand of the Man), he formed a new band, Howlin' Rain, and began work on their first album. The independent Birdman Records signed Howlin' Rain and released their self-titled debut in 2006, while the band hit the road, touring as an opening act for Queens of the Stone Age, with guitarist Mike Jackson beefing up their lineup on-stage. After touring behind the group's album, Moloney returned to Sunburned Hand of the Man, and while writing material for the second Howlin' Rain album, Miller assembled a new version of the band. Jackson joined Miller and Gradek as a full-time member of Howlin' Rain, alongside new recruits Joel Robinow (ex-Drunk Horse) on keyboards, horns, guitar, and backing vocals; Eli Eckert (also of Drunk Horse) on guitar and bass; and Garrett Goddard (of Cuts and Colossal Yes) on drums. Rick Ruben, a noted fan of classic '70s rock, was impressed with the material for Howlin' Rain's second album, and 2008's Magnificent Fiend was jointly released by Birdman and Ruben's American Recordings imprint.