Date: Fri 28-Nov-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Moppin-Sauce-Dean-band-funk

Full Text:

Moppin Sauce: Reinventing Fusion, Fashion & Funk

(with cuts)

BY SHANNON HICKS

One of the biggest bands to be playing in the area these days is a dance band

called Moppin Sauce. With a nine-piece operation of musicians, the band has

one of the largest line-ups around.

On Saturday night, Moppin Sauce -- a band that covers retro '70s funk music

from the well-known to obscure while putting on a stage show that rivals

anything in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade -- will make its Newtown debut

at The Fireside Inn. If Moppin Sauce's track record is any kind of indication,

Saturday will be the first of many performances in Newtown.

"Response has been 100 percent," says Glenn Dean. "Everywhere we've played,

we've been asked back. We get a good response from the people who catch the

show, too."

Moppin Sauce is the brainchild of Dean, the band's percussionist. Along with

Dean, the band's current line-up is Kathy Buda, vocals; Alex Miller, vocals;

Spencer Real, lead and rhythm guitar; Tim McMahon, bass; Cass Stevens, sax; Ed

Zang, trombone; Charlie Spolar, drums; and Joe Standley, lead and rhythm

guitar.

Dean was playing in another band a few years back when he started picking up

on some older funk tunes and wanted to do more with them. A year or so after

that project fell apart, Dean and a few musicians wanted to put something new

together, with the emphasis on fun music.

By holding auditions to fill all the spots a full dance band would need, it

took a few months to find the right combination of musicians. It then took

nearly seven months of concentrated rehearsals before the band was in playing

form.

"It takes a lot of rehearsal time to get it right, a long time to put nine

pieces together," said Dean. "With this type of music, you really need

everyone to do their part."

Moppin Sauce plays what Dean describes as "all retro '70s funk." Moppin

Sauce's repertoire is all cover material. The group isn't out to reinvent a

sound, but to bring back the heyday of something that has been going through a

resurgence in recent years. Set lists include everything from "Brick House" by

The Commodores and Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music," to Maceo Parker's

"Pass The Peas" and Stevie Wonder's "I Wish," which vocalist Kathy Buda says

goes over extremely well every time the song is played.

"You play the first few chords of that song, and everyone knows what's

coming," she said. "It's real big all the time."

The look of the '70s has been creeping into the fashion industry in recent

seasons, while the sound of the decade has also been sneaking its way into

mainstream music. Moppin Sauce shows combine the best of both: wonderfully

colorful and flamboyant costumes coupled with a great musical presentation.

Nearly two years after Moppin Sauce started rehearsals, the group's audience

is growing through word of mouth, and continued efforts by all the band

members.

"This lineup is not the original one by any means," Dean pointed out. "We've

gone through musicians like water in some cases." The newest members are Joe

Standley and Charlie Spolar, guitarist and drummer, respectively. Standley has

been around for two months, having played two shows so far. For Spolar, who

came onboard three weeks ago, Saturday night will be his first night playing

with Moppin Sauce.

Shows have been performed in clubs around western Connecticut, including

Boppers in Danbury. The group has also played at special events, like a

Newtown High School ten-year reunion and a Boston Billiards Block Party

earlier this year.

In addition to the Newtown show on November 29, the band has dates set up for

Next Door Cafe in Stamford on December 19, and Fat Daddy's in Watertown

January 23.

"The thing that keeps us going is the amount of fun we have," said Dean. We

get a good response, both from people who happen to be where we're playing,

people who are total strangers, and we have been building a good following."

"We're here for the people to have a good time, and it's really been a ton of

fun," added Dean. "It's a real good time for everyone. You can't beat that."