Meet Moostache

The music of Arcade Fire and The Shins comes to mind when first listening to Moostache’s self-titled debut EP, released in October 2011. However, the Huntington Beach quartet had difficulty establishing a genre for itself.

“It has a very versatile sound,” Patrick Wardell (vocals, guitar) said of his band. “There are elements of the Southern California more style indie rock [in our music]. It’s very brash.”

Moostache is comprised of brothers Patrick, Sean (bass) and Brian Wardell (drums), and rounded out with Ryan Radcliff on guitar. Sean Wardell said music was a part of their lives as they grew up. Dad encouraged them to play music; Mom was an Irish dancer.

“We come from a really musical family, so there was always music in the house,” he said. “Our extended family always brought their instruments over and we would have big family jams.”

Despite being in a band with three brothers, the Wardells welcome Radcliff into the band as family.

“We’ve started calling him Cousin Radcliff,” Patrick Wardell said.

Since the band’s formation in 2009, it has gotten the chance to perform with popular bands from the indie scene, such as Portugal. The Man. Most recently, the band toured with AWOLNATION, which played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival earlier this month.

“The AWOL guys couldn’t have been cooler to us,” Sean Wardell said. “They were really supportive and really good guys.”

Patrick Wardell, lyricist for the band, said he is influenced by Tom Waits and Fiona Apple. He draws inspiration from life events and his own thoughts.

“I think we’re just really upfront,” he said. “Even lyrically, we don’t really hide anything. We have a high standard for songwriting and delivery.”

Currently, Moostache is mastering a full-length album, which the band hopes to release by the end of April or early May. The album is being produced by Jon O’Brien, who also worked with Young the Giant, Honeypie and Yellow Red Sparks.

“The most important thing for us right now is this album,” Sean Wardell said. “We’re really proud of it.”

When released, the album will be available on the band’s Facebook page and official website.

Moostache also hopes to tour the East and West coasts to support the album.

At 8:30 p.m. Monday, Moostache will wrap up a month-long residency at the Constellation Room, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. For more information about Moostache, visit moostachemusic.com.

hbindependent@latimes.com

Twitter: @HBindependent