The Moops

Never ones to let such things as critical revulsion or utter public indifference get in their way, the Moops have instead concentrated on what they do best, leaving a trail of ringing ears and puzzled expressions wherever they have gone.

This bizarre phenomenon has been observed since May 18, 2001, when original members T.J. Hecker, Mike Dunne, and Noel McClanahan took the stage for the very first Moops show at Victorian’s Midnight Café, playing nearly two hours for a sparse but appreciative crowd.

Over half-a-decade later, little has changed but the band’s line-up. Of the original three, only T.J. remains, continuing his noble attempts at lead guitar, vocals, and other assorted rude noises. Dunne left later that first year to join a group with a “future,” or “financial prospects of some kind,” or some such thing. McClanahan departed in 2004 to return to his home state of Rhode Island and to work on his own, more avant garde music.

T.J. is now joined by bassist Jim Hutter (ex-Epicureans), guitarist Sparky (ex-Spectre) and drummer Rex Siebold. Rex is far and away the most experienced member of the group, having spent time in the final lineup of The Buckinghams and numerous other regional touring bands.

If it has not become abundantly clear, the Moops and their music are not meant to be taken all that seriously. From their jokey name to their deliberately amateurish logo to the title of their CD's, “Dressed For Failure” and "Smells like the Moops," it becomes clear that the Moops have never made a serious bid for artistic respectability. They are, in essence, a collective of amateur musicologists with a sense of humor. From their extensive experience and deep appreciation for the history of popular music, they have gathered a voluminous repertoire of cover songs. Their original songs are largely homages to and parodies of the many diverse styles found in that rich pantheon, filled with little musical gags and amusing lyrical turns of phrase. Essentially, the band is one elaborate, if not particularly sophisticated, joke.

That they don’t take themselves seriously, however, is not to say that they don’t take performing seriously. The Moops are all seasoned players who take pride in their craft; to put it as succinctly as possible, they rock. An audience of any sort can enjoy the Moops supremely, whether they get the joke or not. The band’s wide variety of material enables them to tailor each set to a particular audience or venue, and they are good enough to have been mentioned in several local music magazines, featured on various independent Central Ohio radio stations, and played by a few pirate broacasters across the nation. In short, just about everyone can find something to like about them.