Kevin Michael Moyles

"The Pulse of Country Rock!"

 “The Kevin Moyles Interview”

I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Kevin to chat about his musical career and talk about his latest release “Until We Meet Again”. - GG

When did you realize you wanted to be a songwriter?

“I was about five when I began singing along to Elvis songs from my dad's record collection. I used to stand on my bed gazing out the bedroom window, pretending there were crowds of people listening to me. I couldn't shake my hips like "The King" but I did do a mean upper lip and “I Need Your Love Tonight” imitation.  I’d belt it out for everyone that would listen!”

When did you get your first instrument?

"I picked up my first guitar at the age of 12.  A friend of mine had a Kaye Guitar with no case and never played it, so I convinced him to sell it to me. I believe I paid about $20.00 for it. It sat in my bedroom for a year after a couple of initial "guitar lessons".  Then I heard about Bob Dylan and haven't looked back since."

How did you get turned on to Dylan?

“There was a very cute girl in my class named Pauline Cecere and somehow we got on the subject of music.  I mentioned that I heard a great song on the radio that I think is called "Like A Rolling Stone", but that I don’t know who sings it.  She tells me that it's Bob Dylan and loans me his groundbreaking "Highway 61 Revisited" album for a listen.  So it’s thanks to Pauline that I discovered my passion.”

Any other early influences?

“On the rock/folk side The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Beatles, Moby Grape the list goes on…

In the early years unto forever my love of a song probably did and still does revolve around the original Byrds sound. That is not to say that I didn’t care for the later Byrds songs but find me a song that can beat the likes of  “Wild Mountain Thyme”, “Chimes of Freedom”, “John Riley”, “Time Between”, Goin Back”…. I stop because to continue I would only end up mentioning just about every tune on every album.  When The Byrds released one of their all time classic albums titled “Sweetheart of the Rodeo”; I really got “The Bug” and wore that album out.  It’s also around this time that I began to gain an much deeper appreciation for country music through folks like George Jones, Merle Haggard, the “Killer” Jerry Lee, and Conway Twitty.”

Many aspiring artists have friends that they jam with that provide sources of inspiration. Were there people like that in your life?

"My best friend at the time was a kid named Bill Benedict.  His parents had just gotten him a Fender acoustic for Christmas and he was already starting to write songs. We always tried to have some level of competitiveness between us so it really put the pressure on me to come up with something original."

When & where was your first gig.

“My first live performance was when I was 15 years old, with a band called “Beethoven’s Dream Group”.  There was a place called the “Tryst” which was a sort of a “coffee house for the younger crowd, in Batavia, New York.  Lead guitarist, Paul Tyedelski, asked if I would help sing background on a song by a Canadian band known as the Paupers entitled "You and Me".  Having no stage expertise whatsoever and not really sure what my vocal parts actually were, I was doubtful of my ability. But I also loved the experience and how I felt connected with the audience.  I knew right then that’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

When did you write your first song and what was it about?

“I was 17, when I wrote my first song.  It was a "Neil Young" type song titled "Fallin'". There's something about me, girls and rain and this song covered it all.”

I know you've played  thousands of gigs over the years.  Can you tell me about some of your bands and give the reader some insights about your performance career?.

"My first real band was called “Burlington Fields” in my hometown of Batavia, New York. The band influences were mostly the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Cream and believe it or not, John Sebastian and Moby Grape.  Living in my hometown was always a fun time. There were a lot of great people and a lot of great musicians namely Bill McDonald, Bobbie Delson, the Catino Brothers, Brian Graziaplena, Paul Tydelski, Steve Holnbeck and Steve Huff, Mike Murray and the Houseknect Brothers-from Corfu, NY just to name a few from this wonderful place.  

Later I started “Diamond Reo” which was my first band that actually performed originals. We did a lot of Springfield, Byrds, CSNY along with our own tunes. The band was basically Steve Holnbeck and myself on vocals and guitar, Brian Graz on lead guitar and background vocals, and Jeff Houseknect on drums and vocals. I don’t remember who played bass or maybe we were like TJ and the Shondels- just didn’t have one.

But there came a time when my singer-songwriter buddy Steve Holnbeck and I took a vacation trip to Loveland Colorado, spent about 10 days.  I fell in love with the place and became hooked. Steve was heading off to school, and without him around I knew that things probably wouldn’t be as musically fruitful as they had been for the last three years.  So I decided to head out for the Mountain State and ended up living there for five joyous years. There I thought I would have ample opportunity to perform as much as I would like and pretty much did.   

I had a couple of bands while living in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. One band was named “Eddy”, like the current. The other more successful band was called “Red Feather” after Red Feather Lakes. The core of both bands was John Pedley, a good friend from Chicago and myself.  We did a lot rock & roll stuff along with some blues. Played all over the eastern slopes of Colorado and Wyoming. 

One funny story comes to mind, however it wasn’t very funny at the time. The band was playing at a great venue called the Mishauwaka Inn up the Poudre Canyon. It was Saturday night and I had this huge fight with my girlfriend that afternoon. She ended up punching a hole in my guitar after telling me it had come between us one too many times. I didn’t know how to tell John and the rest of the boys what happened. As you can imagine the razzing I would have gotten. So I made up this big story that I was hitch hiking to the gig after my car stalled and these guys picked me and attempted to steal my guitar. The guitar busted under severe impact.  I confessed about a week later! 

Then one day out of the blue I got a call from one of Batavia’s best-Paul Tyedelski. He asked me if I would be interested in joining a band called  “Sierra” with Bobby Delson on drums and guitarist/pedal steel/ banjo player Michael Murray. I was to be their new lead singer. I went back to western New York, spent 3 weeks singing with the band. They told me I “passed the audition” and I told them that’s great but I’m not staying here, you’ll have to come to Colorado if you want me. Well they did eventually move to Colorado and we played and we sang, but it was short lived. While everyone from my vantage point was enjoying life in Colorado, Paul Tydelski received a job offer to move to San Diego to work at UCSD in the Mandeville Studios and though reluctantly, eventually most of us followed.  

After moving to the San Diego area I was determined to make it in the music biz and was very active in the local scene.  One particular band I started along with Tom Quinn was called “The Procrastinators” we basically did Petty, Beatles, Stones, Eagles, Bryan Adams, John Mellencamp, Dire Strait, Plymsouls… After that I put together “Who Cares” which won best Rock & Roll band in San Diego County in 1988!  The music was typically the same type of Rock & Roll as the ”Nators”. One interesting tidbit was the night that Eddie Van Halen sat in with the band at the Del Mar Café. The guy is certainly incredible. 

Right after “Who Cares” won the best band award, I once again changed directions and went back to my roots.  I started a country-folk-rock band named “Ruthless” with my buddy/guitarist Michael Murray. We played and performed for the next 4 to 5 years all over Southern California.  We created a flexible rhythm section made up of local artists that we would pull in for a particular gig’s requirements. 

In my music escapades I jammed with and befriended some of the best live and session players in Southern Cal.  Many of which told me they loved the “originals and suggested that I should record an album.  So, after years of doing covers, some originals and friend’s stuff, I decided it was time to get into the studio and fulfill a dream…the result of which is the new CD. "

Tell me about “Until We Meet Again” 

“There are people in my musical and personal life who have seen me at my best and sometimes at my worst.  Most of them are involved in this project one way or another.

This project has been a dream come true.  One that any musician, or singer-songwriter would love to see come to fruition. It has been a vision I have carried in my heart for such a long, long time. To do a project like this with the caliber of musicians in the studio and the professionalism on the other side of the glass was unbelievable.  The finished mixes went way beyond what I was hoping for…the CD speaks for itself!” 

Who are your co-writers?

"Steve Holnbeck, well let’s see!! Deans list in junior college; Deans list at MSU (Montana State University) he needed a guy like me around to prove that he is a regular guy. Seriously, Steve could/does give Steve Stills a run for his money vocally and on guitar technically. He was never afraid to try and conquer the latest guitar lick that Stills might be coming up with.  We’ve written so many songs, sang so many songs, drank too many beers, (never) laughed about something, sometimes about nothin’ yet I can call him after all this time and although it may have been a while we never seem to miss a beat.

Steve Huff, let me just spill it all. Long before we ever ventured into song collaboration, Steve showed me and taught me what it meant to not only sing from the heart, but write from the heart. My love for music continues because of the Steve Huff’s and Steve Holnbeck’s in the world.

Thomas Michael Quinn III (The PantomQ) the author of “Hold On” is a long time friend and confidant. Tom is also one of San Diego’s premiere guitarists both electrically and acoustically. Tom has yet to expose his more than capable ability at songwriting. But hopefully through time we will pull more of those gems out of him. 

Bill McDonald is a guy who I believe is the epitome of the “blue collar” musician. From what I understand he is just as enthusiastic about his music now as he was when I first heard him years ago. In my humble opinion, he is one of the best songwriters ever to come out of Western New York. 

Al Robinson, singer-songwriter, excellent guitarist and dear friend. Al has played in different parts of the world and no matter where he may be performing, you get the same great musician night after night. Al is another guy who needs to get his songs out to the masses. He’s a wonderful human being.

Gregory Michael Houseknect (Gridder), another singer-songwriter, guitarist from my hometown. I didn’t know Gridder back in Batavia-we met out here on the left coast. He is a good friend and a constant source for new ideas. He is an excellent guitar player and harmonica player as well. We have played together off and on for long, long time. The Gridder just keeps on going."

Who the heck is the “The Vitamin T Choir”?

“The background singers I was fortunate enough to procure for this very special project have a long and illustrious career of doing what they do best. In my heart I have no doubt that there is no one who could do what “Vitamin T” was able to accomplish each and every night in the studio. The way they were able to consume that what was put in front of them and yet somehow still achieve such awesome performances is beyond me.” 

What are you doing now?

"I’ve put together a band that’s made up of the nucleus of the recording sessions folks.  We’re hard at work rehearsing our live show and putting together a tour to support the CD. It’s really great to work with such a great group of talented and positive individuals.  I can’t wait to get out and spread the word."

Thanks for taking the time to talk with me.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who can’t wait for the next CD and chance to see your show.

“You’re quite welcome and we look forward to seeing you and the readers out there in the smiling sea of faces!”

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