Motionless is: Chris McTarnaghan, Jay Penman, Matt Reed, and Adam Tedeschi

Motionless is also occasionally accompanied by violinist Katie Fortier.

Motionless was formed in the summer of 2001 in Mansfield, MA. Although the name has stuck, Motionless is very much a different band today then it was then. Several members have come and gone since that summer, Matt Reed (guitar) and Chris McTarnaghan (drums) being the only original members of the band today. Since its birth Motionless has seen many different faces, and has gone through many different forms. Slowly morphing from one sound to the next the band has never made it a point to restrict themselves to one certain sound.

In mid-2002 Adam Tedeschi joined the band on guitar and ushered in a new era of Motionless music. The band adopted a new sound and a new message. Those who saw Motionless during this time would most likely remember the energy that the band displayed, perhaps most notably remembering Joe Kelly, the bands vocalist, who consistently displayed his natural ability to connect to the audience and bring everyone in the room into the performance. Later, in early-2003, Motionless welcomed their newest addition to the band, Jay Penman. Jay added his skills on the keys, and soon became an integral part of the bands sound.

As the next summer rolled around the band took on their next project: an epic 13 minute song called “The Walrus”. Joined now by Matt Sisto on bass the band created this beast of a song to be played twice and then never again. After the days of “The Walrus” the band went back to the original set of songs and continued to play shows, until forced to take a break as Joe headed to South America (this period often being referred to as “Joe-tionless”). In the summer of 2004 the band regrouped to play what would be the last show they’d play with this material. Symbolically, the last show took place in Chris’ basement, the place where the band had rehearsed for the previous years. Since that summer Joe Kelly has moved out to Oregon and Matt Sisto went on to write new music and tour with his band The Lido Venice.

Now that you’ve read the whole story, let’s catch you up to speed. The Motionless of the present is an instrumental band consisting of four core members: Matt Reed (guitar), Chris McTarnaghan (drums), Adam Tedeschi (guitar), and Jay Penman (Keys). Their music could be lumped into many different genres (post-rock, prog, indie etc.), but really what good are labels? When you listen to Motionless today you are hearing the combined efforts of four best friends who have put their hearts into every note they play. After years of shifting members and sounds it is only now that Motionless has formed its truest identity. Integrating a vintage Fender Rhodes electric piano, warm sounding guitar melodies contrasted with heavy effects and steady unrelenting drums the band continues to discover ways to make their art new and exciting.