CHSR-FM 97.9 | Once On Much

Episode 05 – Moist

In the 1990s, Canadian alternative rock wasn’t just a genre—it was a shared cultural experience. For Jeff Pearce, bassist of Moist, that era is best defined by the chaotic, beautiful energy of the MuchMusic Video Awards. Unlike the polished veneer of MTV, MuchMusic felt accessible and DIY. Whether it was the street-party atmosphere of the CHUM building or the parking lot performances that blurred the line between audience and artist, the network bridged the gap between fans and the bands they loved.

Before Moist dominated the charts with multi-platinum albums like Silver and Creature, they were a band in a van. The 90’s landscape was built on pure determination, defined by touring the country on a shoestring budget and crashing at fan houses while selling T-shirts just to pay for gas. Pearce recalls a pivotal free festival in London, Ontario, where tens of thousands of people unexpectedly showed up, overwhelming the minimal staff. It was in that moment of raw, unbridled connection that he realized the band had truly become “something.”

Pearce also credits the staying power of hits like “Push” and “Ophelia” to a sense of honesty that resonated across the country. This authenticity was amplified by the Big Shiny Tunes compilations, which brought Canadian music into every living room coast to coast. In today’s world of isolated, algorithm-driven listening, Pearce misses that communal discovery where the entire country was tuned into the same frequency at the exact same time.

For anyone discovering Moist for the first time in 2025, Pearce suggests starting with the “Push” music video. It serves as more than just a promotional clip; it is a time capsule of an energy that remains frozen in time. It stands as a reminder of what Canadian music once was, the DIY drive that fueled it, and why the spirit of that era still matters today.