The Moodyfest Band (Moodyfest)
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The Moodyfest Band at Moodyfest XIII (Nov. 1, 2003)
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The Moodyfest Band has grown! With the addition of Jon (right) on vocals and Pat (front, center) on flute, rhythm guitar, harmonica and vocals, we're filling in the parts nicely. Jon can sing the really low stuff Ray did, and with four vocalists, we can do four part harmonies. As time permits, I'm putting up the best bits of Moodyfest 2003 and band practices on my photo pages. As of 2003, the Moodyfest Band has a repertoire of over 65 Moody Blues songs.
At Moodyfest 2001, with red, white and blue theme
Early Band History
The Moodyfest Band originated at Moodyfest V in November 1995 when Shelley Giblin, Maggie Clarke, Debbie Simon, and Betsy Kishlansky gave an impromptu performance of Moodies songs. Moodyfest organizer, Lori Spencer, at Shelley's suggestion, had put out the word in the announcement for the gathering for all interested in playing at the Fest to bring their instruments. We were put in a 6x6' windowless room and came out a half hour later with six songs we could all play. The performance went so well that we decided to form a regular band to perform annually with a varying list of Moodies songs.
Initially,
Shelley, Maggie and Debbie played guitar (only Deb owned an electric guitar), and Betsy
played the flute parts. Each year since 1995 band members purchased new/different
instruments adding
more intricate parts to make the songs sound as close to Moodies
concerts and recordings as possible. It was always a challenge to
practice, since we live in 4 states! (CT, NY, NJ and PA)
Shelley's main instrument is now keyboards, with some contributions on flute,
guitar and tambourine. Maggie contributes both acoustic and
electric guitar, playing rhythm, fingerpick, and lead solos, as well as lead and
harmony vocals. Betsy is now the band's bass player, also contributing
flute (sometimes both in the same song), and occasionally rhythm guitar. Debbie has contributed rhythm guitar and lead solos but took a few years off with
her new baby but came back in 2004.
At Moodyfest in 1998
Joan Turenchalk joined the band in 1998 on vocals allowing Maggie to sing harmonies. Steven Kishlansky joined as drummer, giving the group a strong beat on the electronic drums since 1999. Cathy Wood contributed vocal harmonies at Moodyfest in 1999. At Blossomfest in 1999 Brian Kutscher, Peg Guilbert and Julie Collins contributed rhythm guitar and vocals.
The band's repertoire is now close to 50 songs from Prelude to Strange Times. (At some point I'll list them here!) Early on, the band decided to use the same arrangements as the Moodies, typically playing the concert versions of songs, where available, even playing Moodies songs never performed in concert (e.g., Sooner or Later). Getting together for practice has been a challenge as the four main band members live in four states!
At Moodyblu in New York, May 2001 (held at Cabrini Medical Center)
The band plays 3 sets for every Moodyfest, and has made appearances at Blossomfest, FriskFest, and Moodyblu in New York. In 2000 the band hosted a Poconos Jamfest, where Moodies fans could bring their instruments, trade licks, and join in the fun.
Moodyfest band at Frisk Fest in Easton, PA -- 1998, 1999
Every Moodyfest band performance has been recorded, and all but the first has been videotaped. A 2-CD set was made of the Moodyfest 2000 performance, and Maggie gave copies of the "best of Moodyfest 2001 CD" to each of the Moodies backstage in August, 2001 when she got a backstage pass at Kelowna, BC Canada. John Lodge asked her "How's the band"? Betsy and Steven made another 2-CD set of the band's 2001 Moodyfest performance. One of these days we'll get some of the video catalog pared down and make a DVD. We'll also try to get some of the audio (and later video) up on this website. Until then, enjoy the short snippet of Question, performed at 2001 Moodyfest.
In 1999 the Moodyfest band came out to Blossomfest near Cleveland, Ohio. We were joined by Brian Kutscher (far left) and Julie Collins, second from right):
At Moodyfest in 1997
The band is next scheduled to appear at
Moodyfest November 1, 2003.
Moodyfest 13 will be in early November near Poughkeepsie, NY.
See you there!
At Moodyfest in 1998
