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| Bio of the Artist |
The Moon-Rays are unique, As MonsterKid Magazine said, "There is nothing quite like them out there today". They have taken Instrumental Surf and blended it with Beatnik jazz, 1950's Exotica, 60's Spy sounds and dressed it all up in a retro Halloween package.
In 2001 the Moon-Rays ( scott mensching-drums/greg griffiths-keys/harry reinhart-guitar/tony DeMichele-bass/and terry bernett-sax) recorded the theme from WGN's "CREATURE FEATURES" television show. It got them immediate attention across the country with people who grew up in the 60's and 70's in Chicago and remembered fondly sitting in front of the TV on Saturday nights watching the show
This recording gave them the opportunity to record their first CD for Sound Imp Records. "THRILLS AND CHILLS" came out in 2002 and was comprised of mainly cover songs of groups like the John Barry 7, Henry Mancini, some music from the television show the "MAN FROM UNCLE", as well as two original songs.
One of these songs "1313 MOCKINGBIRD LANE" (named after the address of the Munsters home) found it's way onto numerous Halloween broadcasts that year and was picked up for two movies, "DR HORRORS EROTIC HOUSE OF IDIOTS" and the upcoming documentary on the Horror Host history "AMERICAN SCARY".
93 WXRT radio in Chicago picked "THRILLS AND CHILLS" as best instrumental release for 2002, quite an accomplishment for a "spook" band.
In 2004 they released their second CD for SVI titled the "GHOULS GO WEST". Unlike the previous CD this one was all original songs except for one and had much more of a "spooky" feel to it. The one thing it had in common with the previous CD is that several songs off of "GHOULS" also were picked up to be featured in films. Their unique blend of beatnik surf and jazz has set them apart from other so called "spook-surf" or Halloween bands, most of which rely on a darker heavy metal sound. We like to refer to our music as "Halloween Lounge" with a lot of humor.
"GHOULS" got widespread airplay on many college radio stations across the country as well as radio stations in Europe, Japan, and Australia.
In 2006 Thrills and Chills won the JPF Indie music award for best Surf Instrumental.
2006 also saw a new album of original Moon-rays material called Sinister Surf ,along with a few personnel changes in the band. Brandon Cochran replaced Harry Reinhart on guitars, Paul Luka was now on bass, and Andy Blanco was doing the horn work and arranging for the band.
2008 brings the biggest changes of all as the MoonRays bring out their most ambitious project to date. "Swingin at the Seance'" is an album of 1920's -1940's Halloween songs that have mostly never been touched since their first release, going all the way back to Bessie Smiths Haunted House Blues back in 1918. Were all very excited about this project, and we think it will be our best effort yet!!!! Swingin at the Seance' will also feature the talents of a full brass section, a number of Chicago's best singers and package design and artwork by the most fabulous Ms. Wendy Amdahl |
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