THE NIGHT STUFF
Moondogs intent on busting Guinness record
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
The Howlin' Moondogs are not really a band. They've never done a show for an audience, and have never hustled for gigs.
WHAT: Breaking the Guinness Book world record for longest concert performed by a group WHERE: Anna Bannanas WHEN: 6 a.m. Saturday to (hopefully) 10 p.m. Sunday COVER: Free. CURRENT RECORD HOLDER: John Jerome Sangamam, a Tamil band from India, played for 40 hours ending Sept. 23, 2002 CORE HOWLIN' MOONDOGS: Carsten Vogel, Dan Hale, Mike Jankowski, Seann Carrol and Beak WHERE'D YOU GET THAT NAME?: "Moondog" was the nickname of influential early rock 'n' roll deejay Alan Freed, whose listeners were called Moondoggers. Johnny & The Moondogs was also an alias The Quarrymen (an early grouping of future Beatles John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison) used to enter Britain's "TV Star Search" competition. NO METALLICA RULE: "If we did Metallica, we'd blow all our energy," said drummer Carsten Vogel. "And you can't play Metallica quiet to conserve energy."
The closest the Honolulu musicians have ever come to a public performance together are drummer Carsten Vogel's and guitarist Dan Hale's Monday evening open-mike nights at Anna Bannanas.
Howlin' Moondogs
So why does a band that doesn't really exist want to break a Guinness Book world record for longest concert performed by a group?
Well, pretty much because it's there.
At 6 a.m. tomorrow, the Howlin' Moondogs — Vogel, Hale, multi-instrumentalist Mike Jankowski, drummer Seann Carrol and bassist Beak — will take over Anna's upstairs stage and bar on a planned 40-hour quest toward musical immortality. If all are still standing (and playing) at 10 p.m. Sunday night, the Howlin' Moondogs will make it into the Guinness Book of Records.
"Carsten came over one day and said, 'I got it. I got the big idea,' " recalled Hale.
Vogel didn't even know if Guinness had a listing for lengthiest concert for a group but e-mailed the organization in June to find out whether the band could attempt it. Guinness wrote back seven weeks later with an OK, a list of rules and guidelines, and the lowdown on the present record.
On Sept. 23, 2002, the band John Jerome Sangamam put down its instruments after 40 hours and more than 500 different songs at a stadium in Mylapore, Chennai, India. The 20-member band performed the entire show in the Tamil language.
Expecting a record somewhere within the range of "five days to five weeks," Vogel and Hale decided that 40 hours was definitely doable.
A Guinness representative will not be present for the Moondogs' record attempt, but the band will have to meet a strict list of guidelines for their efforts to be officially recognized by the organization. Among these: recognizable songs, no more than 30 seconds of silence between songs, no self-playing instruments, and zero song repeats within a four-hour period. The band will be required to take a 15-minute break every eight hours, but all starting members must be playing at 10 p.m. Sunday.
Proof of completion must be provided by qualified witnesses (e.g. Anna's management, local media via news stories or broadcasts). A log of songs played must be kept.
The Moondogs decided to fly without a set list of songs to keep things flexible. The band plans to haul a load of song books on stage for reference, and play by memory. The only pre-planned tune will be the Moondogs' opener, Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around The Clock."
"The thing is, you don't know what kind of state of mind you're going to be in," said Hale. "And all the time you put into a set list could go right out the window. ... There's not going to be that much time to bicker about it. If somebody starts playing a tune, we're all gonna just jump on for the ride. That's part of the excitement."
Hale and Vogel surmised that their final 24 hours before start time would involve ample sleep, a minimum of food and liquids to avoid emergency nature calls, and much collecting of gear.
"We'll have triple backups on amps, guitars and guitar strings," said Hale.
The final song you'll hear at 10 p.m. Sunday night if all goes well? Queen's "We Are The Champions," and perhaps a few more hours of rock — just because.
Reach Derek Paiva at 525-8005 or dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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Night notes ...
You say it's Wave Waikiki's 23rd Birthday? It's my birthday, too, yeah. Missing Dave and DJ Mei Lwun will help the gang at Wave celebrate another year of debauchery Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Spreading some love on the turntables, DJs BTF and Racer X. Surprise guests from The Wave's "past, present and future" also are being promised along with lots of prize giveaways. Entry is $12. 21 and older. And no, it's not really my birthday.
Count on The Dungeon to send Turkey Day packing in its own inimitable way. Tonight's Spanksgiving Party promises the usual Dungeon party favors (flogging stocks, the iron cross, "pervy" projections, etc.) in five (!) indoor/outdoor fetish areas. Doors open at 10 p.m., 1739 Kalakaua Ave. More information at www.dungeonhawaii.com.
Looking ahead: The Vans Triple Crown continues to surf by day and party by night with its official Rip Curl Cup Wrap Party Dec. 6 at Volcanoes Nightclub. Former Black Uhuru vocalist Don Carlos headlines with his loverman roots reggae; Neken and Hot Rain open with live sets. From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. For more information, call 528-7071.
