Words: Caleb Boyle
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Glasgow’s own “Mooney,” and to say the conversation was interesting would be a grand understatement. As I entered the pub where I had agreed to meet the funk-filled rock quartet, I could already sense how fun it would be getting to know them and understanding what the band is really all about.
The conversation began with an incredibly clichéd interview question from me, but one that nonetheless provided some great hilarity in their answers. “Describe Mooney in three words,” I asked. The responses were fantastic: “Old Man Music,” “Dad’s Favourite Band,” “Need More Gigs” (hit them up), and my personal favourite—perhaps their most colourful response—“Jazz Cabbage Certified.” Though these made me laugh and I admired their humility in poking fun at themselves, I did think they were too humble. The music Mooney has been putting out into the world has been nothing short of (in three words) funky textured brilliance. Not only are they wonderfully funny people, but their most recent single, Meet Me in the Middle, is also full of amazing instrumentation. With bouncy drums and bass that compliments sharp electric guitar work, it offers a lyrical narrative any classic rock lover would appreciate, instantly grabbing the listener’s ear.
When discussing the music they are currently releasing, I had the chance to ask the guys (Scott, Conner, Stephen, and Paul) about what they have planned, and I wasn’t disappointed. They told me they’re working on fresh material aimed to debut at Nice N Sleazy’s on the 20th of December. Alongside this exciting gig, they’ll also release the new tracks as an EP (the band’s first) on the same day. I asked if they were making the Christmas-time gig a bit of a band tradition, to which Steve expanded, saying, “Last year at the Hug and Pint was the first time, but we had a great response, so we wanted to do one again.” Conner jokingly added, “As we’re a traditional Christian band and all very Christian men, we love playing Christmas.” Paul, in a Donald Trump-like voice, proclaimed, “WE LOVE JESUS!” All in all, what better way is there to spend a pre-Christmas Friday than celebrating Mooney’s new EP release? Be sure to grab a ticket if you’re a Glasgow-based ASBO reader!
The drinks started to flow not long after the EP chat, and we moved on to the origins of Mooney. Scott said it all began when he saw “Conner walk into college sporting a three-piece suit.” On and off, the guys have all been musically involved in projects together for years, including a brief stint in a metal band. Mooney truly started at a house party performance that got “Asbo’d for not having permits.” The lads managed to get in one cover of Take Me Out (by fellow Scots Franz Ferdinand) before the police shut down the backyard extravaganza. From there, the momentum just kept building, and the ideas for songs kept growing, with all members contributing to the creative process in different ways.
As avid music lovers, the band members easily found inspiration from some of their favourite musical experiences. Stephen described how classic bands like The Beatles inspired him to create, alongside his love for modern acts like Queens of the Stone Age, which motivated him to pick up an instrument. The buzz of the Scottish music scene as a teenager, specifically at venues like King Tut’s, also convinced Stephen that being in a band was something he needed to achieve—he needed “to be on the other side of the barrier.” Scott credited seeing Rammstein live at Download Festival as a key moment in his musical journey. Conner confidently stated, “Oasis are the best band of all time and my favourite, but who is Sally… and why can she wait?” He also mentioned that the Scottish gaff (house party) scene as a teenager was monumental in shaping his musical taste, especially hearing a demo of Real Love by John Lennon at a gaff, which he described as a “religious experience” that ignited his musical ambition. Paul likened his experience seeing Metallica live to Scott’s Rammstein anecdote, and also gave honour to Canadian band Rush, praising Neil Peart as “one of, if not the best drummer of all time.”
Amidst more banter and my pretentious questions, we moved on to the topic of social media and its influence on music promotion and production. “Social media has ruined music,” said Stephen, discussing how songs are now shorter than ever and how music has become disposable to many listeners. “Album art is almost as important now as the music… Look at the brat-summer movement,” he added. Paul chimed in: “You have songs that are brilliant for 30 seconds, and then the rest is rubbish,” alluding to the short attention span economy that now dominates music consumption. We all agreed that while there are many benefits to streaming, like the ability to access anything at our fingertips, it has undoubtedly contributed to the disposability of music. Ironically, of course, I won’t hesitate to recommend you check out Mooney on Spotify or whatever streaming service you use. Their music is refreshing in a world filled with soulless TikTok trends, and Mooney is out there fighting the good fight in the wild west of the music industry.
Wrapping up our conversation, I wanted to end on a positive note and asked the band about their proudest collective moment. They all agreed that their song Mechanical Planet is one of, if not their best, musically. However, Needed Love is their best live song, and they all have fond memories of it, especially as it was their first song written together. Unfortunately for eager listeners, we’ll have to wait for the much-anticipated Mechanical Planet, as the band is saving it for an individual release, separate from their upcoming EP. I personally can’t wait to hear it!
In summary (which is never easy), Mooney is one of Glasgow’s most refreshing acts at the moment, and I wish them every success. They are driven by a shared love of music, have grown naturally as all great bands should, and share a genuine friendship that comes through in their down-to-earth approach to promotion. This, combined with an amazing final product in their songs, makes them a band to watch. With funky rock music and great personalities, I have no doubt that Mooney will continue to build momentum and keep growing. So, go check them out on Instagram (@mooney_glasgow), TikTok (@mooney_glasgow), and all your usual streaming platforms.
One last quote from the boys on what they see as their ideal future: “Millions, rich! And just the chance to do this for a living.”
All power to them!
