The whole kit and caboodle

James Farm, meanwhile, is a completely different endeavor. Harland likens its spirit to that of a rock band. “We’re just some hip young guys trying to do something because we like each other, almost like you see these boy bands pop up, jamming in a garage.’’ He says they try to play songs with “a certain amount of epicness packed into five or six minutes.’’

His own band, however, is a renewed priority, Harland says. “I’m looking forward in the next few years to being able to really focus on it. And to see what happens, kind of allow my mind to be open to new ideas.’’

It’s unlikely Harland has ever been truly short of ideas. That’s why his old friend Moran welcomes this new direction.

“He definitely has strong ideas about how to present music,’’ Moran says. “He has worked with some of the best bandleaders in the business, so his perspective on how to lead a band is a valuable one. But he won’t know how valuable until he has to do it over and over again. There is a bright, bright future ahead.’’

Siddhartha Mitter can be reached at siddharthamitter@gmail.com.