A staple of the Hamptons community, The Moondogs will return to Bay Street this Saturday, December 11th at 8pm! They have been covering the music of The Beatles for decades and have put on concerts at Bay Street numerous times over the years in celebration of anniversary records, milestones, and performances.
Michael Schiano, the band’s guitarist and music director, says, “We have both first- and second-generation Beatle fans in the band. For the older members, seeing them on the Ed Sullivan Show was the moment we all remember.” He went on to say, “Their influence on us has been all-encompassing. We’re musicians because of them—and still learning from them over 50 years later.”
In 2014, the band performed their first show at Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ arrival into the United States (and playing on Ed Sullivan). They returned to Sag Harbor three years later to perform Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and following yet another successful run at the theater, they came back the following year to celebrate George Harrison’s 75th birthday by playing his signature music. The band also gave an inspiring performance to both Let It Be and Abbey Road at Bay Street two years ago.
Schiano says, “It’s hard to describe how great it is to play these songs. Though we’ve all covered lots of Beatle songs over the years, playing these incredible albums note-for-note, from start to finish, connects us to the music and the band in a palpable way. To do these records justice, we all have to really get inside them—learning the little details that make The Beatles The Beatles. When it all comes together, and you bring an album to life in front of an audience, it can be like hearing the music for the first time.”
As well-integrated members of the Hamptons community and a Bay Street favorite, The Moondogs’ shows have become highly anticipated events in the area. Attendees find their concerts both moving and reminiscent, a way to recapture The Beatles’ sound in a live experience, and as Schiano says, “experience that joy all over again.”
The Moondogs were originally formed in 1988 by Michael Schiano on guitar and vocals, Joe Lauro on bass and vocals, and Howie Silverman on drums and vocals. Schiano says, “Our history together goes back even further. We were kind of a roots rock and roll band and took the name because it was one used very briefly by The Beatles early in their career.” The current lineup has since expanded since 2017 to also include Mick Hargreaves on guitar and vocals, Dan Koontz on keyboard and vocals, Fred Gilde on keyboard and vocals, and Jeff Levitt on guitar. Part of what makes The Moondogs such a tight-knit group is their attention to vocal harmonies. Schiano says, “The Beatles taught us about vocal harmony and showed us what compelling songs should be.”
The Moondogs can’t wait to take the stage on Saturday. Schiano wants the Hamptons community to know, “We’re all thrilled to be back at Bay Street with our White Album show. We’ve got a special place in our hearts for the theater because of our history there, but also because the Bay Street audiences are always so engaged and so much fun. We know we’re going to be treated well, and we know the sound is going to be top-notch, so everyone in the building will be part of a night to remember.”
Now is your chance to hear a recreation of a Beatles masterpiece, their ninth studio album, The White Album! This album was released 53 years ago, consisting of 30 songs, and is as loved by fans as ever. The Moondogs, with their moving vocal harmonies, will bring that album and the sound of The Beatles to life once again in the heart of Sag Harbor!
General Admission Tickets are $30. All tickets are available at www.baystreet.org or by calling (631) 725-9500.
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