Always the End of a Good Night with Moozy
Local DC Groups Sell Out Songbyrd Music House to Open the Year
For most people, New Year’s Eve provides a mental deadline for self-reflection. Basic goal setting, full-on life re-evaluation, and everything in between occur; as we glimpse into our friends’ lives via year-end recaps in social media. DC-based group Moozy used the day to release their new, aptly-timed single “Always the End,” reminding us about the everyday ‘endings,’ not just the ones relegated to a date on the calendar.
A week later, the eclectic group came to DC’s Songbyrd Music House. Founding members Dylan Rockwell (vocals/guitar) and Pat Gunning (drums) are joined by Zack Be (keyboard), Andy Valenti (guitar/vocals), Nick Fliakas (bass/vocals), and Reed Dougherty (guitar/vocals), many of whom are well-known musicians in other DC-based projects.
Moozy started the night strong with “Overanalyze,” with Be leading the band in on the Keys. Then, Rockwell took the opportunity to let loose in a pair of guitar solos in “Tru Luv” and “Down”. Later, the sextet played a synth-heavy, recent single “Most Any Drug” before going into their song about the most expensive baseball card ever sold (Mickey Mantle). The night ended with an encore performance of the properly named “Always the End” by Gunning, Fliakas, and Rockwell, to a packed house at Songbyrd.
Supporting Moozy tonight was Something Simple, a DC-formed band of Sam Feldman and Max Berger, who entered the stage in coordinated white tees and colored slacks. The group debuted some unreleased tracks, including “Gas Station Bathroom.” And, judging by their on-stage banter, you can tell this one has a good backstory. Check out “On The Run” and “Was Something Wrong?” off of two of their pandemic-recorded EPs.
Moozy and Something Simple played to a sold-out crowd at Songbyrd, a first for the two groups. Keep an eye out for them and Something Simple playing venues around DC, including Something Simple at Comet Ping Pong on March 19. Keyboardist Zach Be is back at Songbyrd with ‘Pretty Bitter’ next week (Jan. 14) supporting EKKO ASTRAL, and Andy Valenti with “Oh He Dead’ at Summer Camp Music Festival in May.
See the full gallery of the night here!
If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
