- How did the band come together?
Started back in 1989 by Michael Durbin with the help of Chuck Schwarz on guitar and Shorty Washboard "Doug" Wilson who played the phone book and an old suitcase as the bass drum along with an assortment of tin cans and cowbells. The group was 100% old school acoustic real country blues with no amplification.
Moe Hansum Band has evolved over the past two decades with various musicians joining in the band only to leave to go on to other musical projects. Like Colin Brooks, who now plays with the Band of Heathens from Austin, Texas and Stephanie Jones, who is currently singing in a production of The Lion King at Disney World in Florida.
The band today is based in Houston, Texas and includes the founder Michael Durbin, Sandy Buller on bass, who actually was the first bassist for The Moe Hansum Band but due to conflicts in schedules didn't begin to play the group until 2000. Michael and Sandy produced Moe Hansum Band's 2004 CD "Poor Boys Long Ways From Home". Stephen B. Miller on drums, and the newest member is
Past Members:Stephen B. Miller on drum, John Laird on guitar/vocals, and quiet a few more.
These days The Moe Hansum Band is an acoustic and electric country blues band with 3 to 4 core members depending on the performance from house concerts to music festivals all across Texas.
2. What was the inspiration for the name "Moe Hansum Band?"
The unofficial, but official answer, cause no one can actually remember the truth, but for an answer this time, Michael Durbin had gotten some new glasses and Shorty Washboard Wilson said to Michael, you look more handsome. Thus Moe Hansum got born. However, there are also stories about a horse and buggy designed by Joseph Hansom known as a hansom cab which in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories make frequent mention of hansom cabs, that "Moe Hansum" got derived from, too.
These days, Moe Hansum is an urban myth. There isn't a Moe Hansum. Some folks think that Michael Durbin is Moe, and are profoundly confused when told that Michael isn't Moe, and that Moe was at the sound check but hasn't shown back up to the venue, when folks ask "where is he". But Moe Hansum does appear on stage with the band in those moments when the band is performing in the pocket with a bluesy groove and soul.
3. What artists influence your music? I noticed you covered Pony Blues, a famous Delta blues song, by Charley Patton & Kokomo by Bonnie Raitt.
Moe Hansum Band has been influenced by the soul of the south from the 1930 back porch music to blues artists like Bukka White, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, R.L. Burnside to the modern alternative country soul blues of today.
4. Are the other songs written by the band?
The original songs are written by Michael Durbin with the additional musical parts and arrangements generated by the other members of the band.
An audience favorite is an unreleased original song "Water into Wine", written by Michael Durbin after the devastation of New Orleans by Katrina.
5. When the weather permits, do you prefer performing outside or inside, & why?
The band likes intimate settings where the audience can really hear the soul of their music specially in acoustic shows. However, outside performances brings on a whole new dimension of the group. But whether the show is outside or inside, when the band is creating soulful music the essense of Moe Hansum is received by both the audience and the members of the band.
MOE HANSUM BAND - Individual members bio's
Mike Durbin- Lead Vocals/Guitar/Mandolin/Resonator/ & Slide Guitars
Born in northern Texas but was raised in the delta side of Louisiana. Now calls Houston, Texas home. Been performing and writing music since the 1960's.
Sandy Buller- Upright Acoustic and Electric Bass, Mandocello
Born and raised in Pattison, Tx., and residing still in Pattison, Texas. Performing bassist since the late 1970's.
LINKS -
http://www.moehansum.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/moehansumband
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/moehansum
http://www.facebook.com/moehansum
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moe-Hansum-Band/28831364642
Additional Notes:
Hailing from Houston, Texas, the Moe Hansum Band performs country blues music with a strong emphasis in traditional acoustic blues. This 4-member band plays mainly originals with a taste of little-known covers from artists such as Bukka White, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson and Jimmy Reed. They are often joined by one or more special guests on the slide guitar, keyboards, fiddle, harmonica or horns. This Texas-bred music is a blend of country folk blues with a splash of the soul and rhythm of the Mississippi delta blues. The Moe Hansum Band moves the audience with their dynamic performance, superb musicianship, and raw edge.
The Moe Hansum Band has been together in many incarnations since the early 1989. It ignited from the songwriting, singing, and guitar talents of Mike Durbin and Chuck Schwarz, along with Shorty Washboard Wilson on homemade percussion drums. Neither Chuck nor Shorty are with the band today.
The instrumentation currently consists of two guitarists (Michael Durbin and John Laird), a bassist (Sandy Buller), and a drummer (Stephen B. Miller). They have performed at festivals such as the Kerrville Folk Festival (Kerrville, Texas) and at many other locations in Texas including Antones (Austin), the Continental Club (Houston), Dan Electro's Guitar Bar (Houston) and JP Hops House (Houston). They have also entertained at many house concerts and private parties throughout Texas.
The Moe Hansum Band has an uncanny ability to personally move their audience. Songs like "My Old House" transport audience members to the memories of a childhood home complete with the childhood dog. From being moved to tears on one song to stomping their feet on the next song, Moe's audience deeply experiences their music. Moe's music can be healing and therapeutic for those longing for an authentic voice in traditional and modern folk blues. Mary Harris, of Ken & Mary's Blues Project, calls Moe "the John Steinbeck of music...When you hear the rift of the guitar in 'Poor Boy' your body starts to sway, you see the screen door slam as it closes on your broken heart...Time with Moe is like visiting your best friend to rejunevate your soul, to laugh and dance, to drink from the fountain of words...you leave feeling nourished in body and soul and smiling...wanting mo'e..."
In 2004, the Moe Hansum Band released their first CD entitled, "Poor Boys Long Way From Home". It was produced by Mike Durbin and Sandy Buller, and is on Chocolate Buddha Records. The CD was recorded by John Hill at Loma Ranch Studios in Fredericksburg, Texas and mastered by Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Digital Audio Mastering in Austin, Texas.
They are currently creating together new material for another recording which most likely will be distributed digitally on the internet. Although, it wouldn't be unlike the Moe Hansum Band to produce some vinyl LP's or 45's just for grins.
