Starkville’s local music scene is populated with a variety of musicians and bands that may be overlooked by the casual observer. The Mooring Line surpasses many expectations for this college town with its talent and soul. Originally a three-man ensemble, The Mooring Line’s members were Phill Thompson on the keyboard, Cameron Spann on the drums and Keatzi Gunmoney on the guitar, vocals and harmonica. Recently, the band added two new members, Wilson West on bass and Sam Suttle, who plays the guitar.
West and Suttle played with the band for only the second time last Saturday at Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern. The crowd was packed with fans singing along, dancing and having a great time with music that they clearly were enjoying. When asked how the band would describe its sound, the band agreed that The Mooring Line’s influences are legendary bands such as The Doors, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Suttle described the band’s sound as having a “lounge rock” feel, a term that seems to encompass the vibe the band was emitting to audience members.
The lead singer, Gunmoney, was full of energy onstage and soulfully sang every song they played. It was a long set list, but every band member seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves, which captivated the audience even more.
Taylor Lawrence, sophomore majoring in history, was a part of the crowd Saturday night said the band had a unique sound, but displayed great stage presence.
“Their sound rivals bands like Kings of Leon and State Radio, while their enthusiastic stage presence is similar to something you would experience at a Rolling Stones concert. The Mooring Line is a great band and makes for a great night out,” Lawrence said.
Every song had its own flavor because the band added different music elements such as the tambourine or harmonica. These different sounds, along with the venue and low lighting, gave the audience watching The Mooring Line’s performance is dynamic, it does not seem like a typical Starkville scenario however; these guys could be the beginning of an era of great music around Mississippi State that’s different from what people are used to.
“The Mooring Line’s musical experience is always moving forward. Our best show was Saturday night, and we’re always looking to improve on our sound and move in new directions,” West said.
The Mooring Line is currently working on its first album, which should be out in a few more months. The band also plans on performing locally often. The Starkville community would benefit from going to these shows and supporting these great musicians.