Tri-State Jam: Pooch and the Moochers - Grunge Rock from Waynesboro, PA

Pooch and the Moochers: Grunge Rock from Waynesboro, PA

Five to ten years from now, where do you want to be?

“By the year 2020, we'll be in Japan,” Shane Huckle says. “We'll be bigger than Godzilla.”

This prompts a round of laughter no one can with-hold. I look around at the group of musicians who make up the garage punk band from Waynesboro, PA, Pooch and the Moochers: Ty Clopper on guitar and vocals; Kyle “Pooch” Spencer, bass and vocals; Shane Huckle, vocals and guitar; and Mark Thomas on drums.

This is when it dawns on my how happy they are. To be together, in their studio, surrounded by their instruments, just enjoying their life. The realization of what drives their music hits me moments before the band members confirm it, but it should have been obvious right from the start. The complete love and fun of music is what drives Pooch and the Moochers, and nothing is going to stop them from enjoying making their music.

“Eighty percent of the time, we're just having a good time,” Ty says.

Mark, the newest member of the group confirms it. “I've never laughed so hard than when I've been with these guys.”

It's true. A good time is what equals success. Pooch and the Moochers is musical proof.

- - - -

Formed five years ago, when Ty, Shane, and Kyle were just teenagers jamming in high school, Pooch and the Moochers has come a long way since their days of playing in living rooms and searching for open mic nights.

“Once we got a practice space, things really came together for us.”

Five months ago, Mark joined the ranks, originally on bongos, when they heard him play at an open mic night at The Dawg House, a local bar in Waynesboro, PA. From there, Pooch and the Moochers found their heavier sound, moving away from all acoustic tunes, and took off without taking a look back. Since adding their fourth and final member, Pooch and the Moochers agreed they've really adapted and embraced their harder sound.

“We had just five songs. Now, we're up to twenty-four originals.”

Tri-State Jam: How has the band evolved since its beginning, besides moving away from an all acoustic sound?

Mark: We've gotten a lot tighter, and have really found our sound.

Kyle: We feed off of one another's energy.

TSJ: What is your favorite thing about performing?

Shane: To be in the zone; ultimately, the self fulfillment.

Mark: The look on people's faces, and know you are doing something that no one else is doing.

Kyle: The entertainment factor. To be up there, and have fun, and you just hope they like the sound.

Ty: Being in the moment, taking out the energy and being in the present.

TSJ: What does Pooch an the Moochers hope to inspire with music?

Mark: Just be proud of what you do.

Pooch and Moochers: Over-all, we just like to focus on comedy rock. Having a good time up there. And to remind people to continue to teach the next generation music.

TSJ: How did each of you, individually, begin in music?

Pooch and the Moochers: Over-all, we're mostly self taught in our own ways. Pooch taught himself, Mark began in rum circles, Shane's uncle purchased him his first guitar at age twelve, and Ty credits Brad Munn as his mentor.

TSJ: As a band, what is something not commonly known about you?

Pooch and the Moochers: Our nicknames; Kyle isn't the only one with a pseudonym.

Kyle: Pooch

Ty: Gummy Bear

Shane: Gremlin.

Mark: Hammer head.

TSJ: How did the name “Pooch and the Moochers” come to be?

Pooch and the Moochers: We realized that no one ever cares about the bass player; they're shoved in the corner and no one really notices him. So we (Ty and Shane) were chatting one day, and decided to put Kyle, also our honorary bachelor, in the lime light, and he just had to go along with what we created. So we brainstormed several combinations of “Pooch and...” and came up with “Pooch and the Moochers.”

Kyle: Mainly because I was also the only one with a full time job at the time, so they weren't mooching just off of my bachelorhood.

TSJ: What items, not necessarily music related, could you not live without?

Kyle: It's just music for me.

Mark: Cooking.

Shane: Oxygen.

Ty: My motorcycle.

TSJ: What does the future hold for Pooch and the Moochers?

Shane: Lots of debt.

Mark: More out-of-area shows. Looking into DC and Baltimore.

TSJ: If Pooch and the Moochers could perform any venue or event in the world, what would it be?

Pooch and the Moochers: The USO tour, playing for the troops. Supporting them like they support us, every day.

Mark: Outside of that, some hole in the wall, in some back alley bar in DC or Baltimore. A lot of 9:30 clubs.

TSJ: Where do you want to be five to ten years from now?

Pooch and the Moochers: Still jamming, at the very least. On the road, touring.

Shane: In Japan. We'll be bigger than Godzilla.

TSJ: How do you view the scene in your area?

Mark: It's a cover band wasteland.

Shane: Why would you want to play some one else's songs?

Pooch and the Moochers: “If you want a cover, go to bed.” It's a moocher nation! We'd love to see more originality in the area. We want to be as original as we can.

Ty: Local musicians support one another, even cover bands and original bands. It ups the craft, to have your fellow musicians out there supporting you at shows and open mic nights.

TSJ: What, so far, has been your favorite venue?

Pooch and the Moochers: The Dawg House. We would pack that place. And without it, there wouldn't be a band.

TSJ: Final words?

Pooch and the Moochers: Don't be a puppet to small town America. Support local music. We've noticed people would rather buy a shirt over a CD, like they would rather buy your image than your music.

Kyle: Be yourself, and have fun.

Ty: Music spans generations.

Pooch and the Moochers: And as long as it pays in beer and food, we'll be there.