Led by renowned Grand Rapids guitarist Fitz Green, the instrumental surf rock band draws a devoted following to its regular haunts: Rocky’s Bar, Tip Top Deluxe and Rockford Brewing.
Retro Surf, Atomic Rock and Cosmic Blues: The Moonrays are, from left, Michael II, Bud Chrysler, Fitz Green and Jim Braun. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Bassist Jim Braun doesn’t hesitate when acknowledging why The Moonrays’ surf rock has gotten so much attention in the Grand Rapids area.
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He points squarely to the vintage strains of veteran West Michigan guitarist Fitz Green.
“It really is Fitz’s guitar-playing. That tone he gets is unbelievable,” Braun says. “People will walk by and look and they’ll watch Fitz play and they’ll go, ‘Whoa. These guys are really good.’ We’ve developed … this community that will push tables together to watch us.”
The Moonrays rocking Local Spins Live (Photo/Anna Sink)
Whether cranking out familiar renditions of surf-rock faves “Miserlou,” “Pipeline” or “Sleepwalk,” truly unique instrumental blues and rock covers of Lou Reed, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Chris Isaak and others, or their original surf-styled gems, The Moonrays turn it up with an authentic vibe, powered by Green’s classic 1961 Fender Jazzmaster played through a 1963 Gibson Falcon amplifier and 1960 Fender Showman pre-amp.
That infectious tone and appealing authenticity have helped The Moonrays – Green, Braun, guitarist Michael II and drummer Bud Chrysler – cultivate an audience of devotees who were raised on this music as well as a new generation of avid, younger fans intrigued by this instrumental rock.
GETTING ‘MOST PEOPLE’S FEET TAPPING’
“It’s good music to have in a bar because you can either pay attention to us or talk over us if you want to,” says Michael II. “Usually, we get most people’s feet tapping. It’s good, fun music.”
On Wednesday morning, The Moonrays brought that fun attitude to the studios of News Talk 1340 AM (WJRW) for Local Spins Live, performing their take on Fats Domino’s “I’m Ready.” Listen to a podcast of the show here, with a video of the performance below.
Green, whose legacy as a Michigan rock icon began in the early ’60s with his first group, the Renegades, bought his first guitar with paper route money at age 11 after falling in love with the distinctive music of The Ventures, Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, Link Wray, The Astronauts and The Chantays.
“We liked the tone, and the drums were upfront and rockin’,” Green says of his early years when bands would play teen clubs, dances and downtown record hops at the old Grand Rapids Civic Auditorium.
Through college and beyond, Green — who now teaches guitar at Rainbow Music — made his mark on Michigan’s music scene by playing with Larry Ballard, Jimmie Stagger, Frank Salamone and others. He formed The Moonrays with guitarist Michael II in 1989. “The friendship is there and the musicianship clicks,” Green says of the current lineup.
Green’s vintage 1961 Fender Jazzmaster (Photo/Anna Sink)
Chrysler adds to the band’s bona fide vibe by playing a 1953 Ludwig kit, after spending years with celebrated West Michigan acts Tanglewood (which currently is planning a reunion), Natchez Trace and Xebec, as well as once playing with alt-country artist Phil Lee in Los Angeles.
Chrysler, who owns the Eastown Frame Gallery, was no longer working as a musician when Green strolled into his shop about four years ago and asked whether he’d sit in with the band.
A MIX OF SURF CLASSICS, ORIGINALS AND ROCK COVERS
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Chrysler recalls. “We just sat down and played together and everybody said, ‘What an awesome fit.’ I can’t stop. They still have me, so I think we’ll keep going.”
On the air with The Moonrays (Photo/Anna Sink)
So far, the band has independently released a pair of studio recordings: “Blast Off,” recorded and mixed at Bill Chrysler’s Redwall North Studios in Grand Haven and Michael Crittenden’s Mackinaw Harvest Music in Grand Rapids, features some originals penned by Green, Michael II and Chrysler; “Surf Rock Blues” boasts familiar hits with a surf-rock flair.
“We’re glad when we find a niche,” Green says of fans’ enthusiasm for The Moonrays’ throwback rock. “That’s a nice thing for us.”
At 7 p.m. Thursday, The Moonrays play the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, 760 Butterworth Ave. SW. Admission is free, though the band encourages fans to toss tips into its “fish tank.”
The band plays the first Friday of every month at Rockford Brewing Co. in downtown Rockford, beginning at 8 p.m. The Moonrays also perform the second and fourth Friday of every month at Rocky’s Bar & Grill, 633 Ottawa Ave. NW, with the first set kicking off at 7:30 p.m.
For more about the band, visit its Facebook page.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
Fitz is also a remarkably talented bass player, too. He asked me if he could join my nascent band The T-BONES in 1987 playing bass. Originally, since I couldn’t find the right bass sound among a group of locals who auditioned, I launched the band’s debut at Ladies Literary Club in April of ’87.
Fitz and I played together in the Jimmie Stagger band so I only knew Fitz as an extraordinary guitarist. He played a vintage Dan Electro Long Horn bass and fit right in with the sound I was looking for. Fitz played bass with The T-BONES from 1987 up to the point I dissolved the band in 1990. You can hear his bass playing on “stripped to the bone,” the band’s only recording still played now and then on WYCE.