The Moon-Rays consist of:
Scott (Spooky) Mensching-
Drums/vibes-
Greg Griffiths-
Keys-
Adam Kraus-
Bass-
John (Flash) Ryden-
Guitar -
Andy (the Madman) Blanco-
Sax
Influences
Back in 2000 the Moon-Rays got a hold of an old dusty reel to reel with the opening theme to WGN's Saturday night spookshow Creature Features on it. They decided to re-record the theme (Henry Mancini's Experiment in Terror) along with the poem originall read by newsman Marty McNeely at the beginning of every show. It touched a nerve with thousands of people who grew up in Chicago in the early 70's and launched the recording carreer of the band into full swing. We will always have a special place in our hearts for this and thank everyone who supported our first album because of it.
We'd like to thank John Villec of WHOOZNEXT PRODUCTIONS for putting video to the audio...Thanks John!!!!!
Sounds Like
The Ventures meet Brian Setzer meets Glenn Miller while tripping on Edgar Allan Poe.
The Moon-Rays in the studio recording the theme music for "The Ghastly Love of Johnny X"
Moon-Rays video by WHOOZNEXT PRODUCTIONS of "Swingin at the Seance"
BUY THIS CD NOW!!!!!
Swingin at the Seance" has really dusted off the Skeletons in the Closet, featuring Halloween songs done in the 30's and 40's by Louis Armstrong, Artie Shaw, Louis Jordan, Bessie Smith, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey.
For a different way to listen to this CD, TURN YOUR BASS WAY DOWN and ease back on the highs until you have a nice vintage "old radio sound" coming through the speakers...the music never sounds better!!!!!!!!
WHATS THE BUZZ????
We had a blast playing the the BMovie celebration in Franklin In. with our favorite hipster guru, Will "The Thrill"! Here's Will and Prof. Spooky after the show about to be eaten by "The Blob"...
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WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR NEW CD...
This album adds to the wealth of material I have to play here at Nightmare City. I am pleased to promote and play independent artists, especially when it's this good!!
Stevoinyrstereo-WZRD
The Moon-rays have outdone themselves with this CD that celebrates some of the cooest music from the past. Always a fan, and this latest release is superb!
PAUL SCRABO- Film and television producer
From Monsterkid Magazine!
Swingin' at the Séance
The Moon-Rays
It's always been a little hard to describe the music of The Moon-Rays to the uninitiated. It's a blend of so many things that it can't really be categorized unless "cool" is a musical category of its own. Their past releases have been mainly rooted in the sounds of the '60s lounge and surf music, but always with a slant toward the unusual and spooky. Songs with titles like Blues for Vampira, The Grim Creeper, Thrillville, Drag Fink, Mysterion, Sophomore Werewolf in Love and The Devil in Nylons gives you some insight into the thematic direction of the group.
In The Moon-Rays' newest collection of spooky selections titled Swingin' at the Séance, the band trades in their bongos for brass and they explore some of the more macabre pop songs from the '30s and '40s. If you're a fan of Big Band music you might recognize the title song as a piece originally recorded by Glenn Miller and his orchestra in 1941. Other selections were recorded by well-known swing-era artists like Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Louie Armstrong and Bing Crosby.
The complete track list includes You've Got Me Voodoo'd, Mr. Ghost Goes to town, The Headless Horseman, Nightmare, Jack You're Dead, Swingin' at the Séance, Mysterioso, Skeletons in the Closet, The Spooks Jump In, Shuffle of the Damned, Creepy Charlie and Haunted House Blues (the oldest number on the CD with was recorded by Bessie Smith in 1923). Unless you're a devoted fan of old jazz and swing music, you're probably not familiar with these songs. The most well-known of the bunch is probably The Headless Horseman which is featured in Walt Disney's 1947 animated classic ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD and sung by the aforementioned Mr. Crosby.
Thanks to The Moon-Rays, new listeners can now enjoy these forgotten spook songs for the first time. Band member Scott Mersching explains in the liner notes that he became familiar with most of these songs through his father who played in bands during the '40s and recalls them as "Halloween songs" performed by many bands of that era.
Scott says, "This CD is for my dad, his generation of musicians, people that have never heard these songs and the people who both know and embrace the music of their fathers and grandfathers."
Although a stylistic departure from their previous CDs (Thrills and Chills , The Ghouls Go West and Sinister Surf) with more musicians and more vocals than before, Swingin' at the Séance hits the target it strives for dead on and conjures up a crystal ball full of swingin' and spooky listening fun. And special kudos for the CD's packaging. It's beautifully designed and provides some appropriate tricks and treats with its period-style graphics and Halloween images.
You can sample the music at the Moon-Ray's Myspace page and order the disc from the Moon-Rays website. Then grab your ghoul and get ready to hit the dance floor.
Kerry Gammill
Buy Moon-Rays CDs AT AMAZON.COM
Moon-Rays discography-
THRILLS AND CHILLS-2002---THE GHOULS GO WEST-2004---SINISTER SURF-2006--- Filmography- Dr.Horrors Erotic House of Idiots--- American Scary---Ghost in a Teeny Bikini---The Ghastly Love of Johnny X
Hello my friend!!!! Haven't been on here much. Been hanging out on FaceBook!! LOL! Come visit me over there!! Some new artwork for you!! Have a wonderful evening!! Much Luv!! ♥♥♥~Steve
Our new compilation of the coolest Electro Swing versus the hottest Speakeasy Jazz is out now on double digipack CD.
It was No 1 and Pick of the Week on Juno, Album of the Week in The Guardian and on Tunes, who also said, "Music from the decade than invented hot!" - "A sublimely decadent collection" said Clash Magazine.
VERNE LANGDON -MONSTER OF CEREMONIES RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD CAST !!!! Allen Trautman -(TarMan) Beverly Randolph (Tina) Don Calfa - (Ernie) Brian Peck (Scuz) John Philbin (Chuck) Thom Mathews ( Freddy ) Tony Gardner -Makeup Artist ROTLD,Zombieland and many more AWARD WINNING FX ARTISTS DISPLAYING AND SELLING!! 200 venders!!! MONSTER MUSEUM !!! Presentations!!!!! For more info: www.therubberroom101.com
Hey, What's up? Have you set plans for NYE yet? We are having our 9th Annual New Year's Eve Party at the W Hotel City Center in Downtown Chicago! We are just about out of VIP Tables and Hotel Rooms are running slim as well. Ticket prices go up too! So get in now if you are down! Check out WWW.SURREALNYE.COM for more details!
For the month of October 2009, any online order over $20 will receive a "signed" broken or used drum stick from Davey Calabrese. All year long, Davey has been collecting these drum sticks and saving them just for you. Why does he have so my broken drum sticks? Could it be a lack of self control behind the drums? A mental disorder that causes him to destroy? Only his therapist knows for sure!
HEY MY DEARS!!!!
Online Now!