I had the pleasure of sitting down with Moonbeard for a drink at Loosey’s this week.
This four-piece, college rock group will be some of the local talent you’ll see this year at FEST 13.
You can find Moonbeard on Facebook and at bandcamp.com; go ahead and give a like and look out for the band’s newest release, which it hopes to have out by the end of October.
I was able to get to know the band at its favorite local watering hole and ask the members some questions.
Q: What are you guys listening to right now that kinda pushed the songwriting that’s going on right now?
Cory: ovlov.
Chico: I’d like to think it’s a wide array of influences overall that are part of the sound, early Weezer, obviously Dinosaur Jr., even as far back as Big Star, maybe yeah, but ovlov is one of the contemporaries.
Josh: I think hearing the record that came out last year kinda triggered a lot of what’s happened with us afterwards.
Q: How do you guys feel about being a local act on FEST?
Josh: FEST is huge. There’s a lot of unfair publicity just for playing FEST. You don’t even have to be good for people to check your band out and like it.
Cory: We’re up to like two likes a day on Facebook.
Chico: What’s really cool for me is that, especially for me, being in my old band and being on tour and stuff, it’s kinda like a family reunion with bands that you’ve played with from around that country, I’m very excited. I have friends that are from England that will be here and playing, and it’s really cool.
Q: What’s your guys’ favorite venue to play locally?
Chico: This place (Loosey’s) is f***ing great because the owners, they really give a s*** about local musicians.
Brian: Yeah, Loosey’s is probably the best place to play in town.
Josh: Yeah, free food, free beer.
Chico: I love 1982. Jen Vito is like one of the most amazing human beings I’ve met since I’ve moved here.
Cory: She seems like she likes Moonbeard.
Chico: Oh no, she loves the Moonbeard.
For FEST 13, Moonbeard will be playing on Nov. 1 at 10:40 p.m. at 1982 Bar, 919 W. University Ave.
You can read the full interview online at alligator.org/the_avenue.
[A version of this story ran on page 8 on 9/25/2014]
