HAIRBALL - INTERVIEW
In the heart of the Midwest, where the love for rock and roll runs deep, the iconic rock cover band Hairball is gearing up for a spectacular show at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, on December 8th. I had the privilege of chatting with Dave Moody, who has been with Hairball for three years, to delve into his influences, the band's journey, and what makes their performances a must-see experience.
Moody's musical voyage has been nothing short of extraordinary, ranging from gritty dive bars to global tours as Billy Ray Cyrus' bassist. Reflecting on his time with Hairball, Moody expressed gratitude for the opportunity to do what he loves. "It's been an amazing journey for me, and I'm blessed and thankful to have the opportunity to do exactly what I love to do for a living," he shared.
The night before our conversation, Moody and his wife attended a KISS show in Chicago, an experience that undoubtedly fueled his on-stage portrayal of Gene Simmons. Moody humorously admits, "I steal everything! I mean, if they put it on display, it's mine." He credits KISS as his musical gurus, emphasizing how they've played a significant role in shaping his understanding of rock and roll.
While Hairball's roots are in Minneapolis, their growing national attention has led them to perform across the country. Moody shares their ambition to go global in the near future, stating, "We preach the gospel of rock and roll like a Billy Graham convention, so we take it all across the country, and hopefully the world next year."
Despite their global aspirations, Moody assures that Hairball will keep coming back to the Midwest. "Iowa and Hairball are like chocolate and peanut butter," he declares, highlighting the special connection between the band and the region.
With an extensive discography covering iconic bands, Hairball has the flexibility to craft diverse and dynamic sets for their shows. Moody explains, "We change it up as much as we can every single year...we make sure that we sprinkle in some characters that you haven't seen in quite some time, and it makes the show special and different that way."
The band actively seeks new ideas to enhance their performances, but Moody emphasizes the importance of finding the right balance between their artistic vision and fan expectations. "We all have ideas about how to make the show better or different. We just try to not think of ourselves and think of the crowd. We don’t want to serve ourselves, because the minute you start doing that, that’s the minute you’re losing sight of what the objective is, and that’s to serve the greater good. That’s what we try to do as a band, is to keep our mind set on the audience coming to see us and the people we’re trying to entertain. So that’s our mantra, if you will, is to serve the greater good"
Hairball's unique connection with fans goes beyond the typical artist-fan relationship. Moody describes their fans as family, saying, "We treat fans as if it’s like coming home to see family, so ‘fans’ is not a proper word for us. So our interactions are, like I said, we’re chocolate and you’re peanut butter, we go great together!”
This familial bond has turned Hairball performances into a generational tradition, with fans of all ages coming together. Moody expresses the profound impact of seeing families in KISS makeup and costumes, saying, "Yeah, it’s religion at this point, and I don’t say that lightly. Especially in Iowa, it’s generational, it’s everybody from 18 to 80. It’s grandfathers, sons, and grandsons. Grandmothers, daughters, and granddaughters. It’s everybody just getting their teeth, it’s a great thing…you know you’re doing the Lord’s work at that point, because it’s bringing families together and it’s bringing people together, and the gospel of rock and roll cannot be stopped.”
If Hairball is coming to a venue near you, don't miss the chance to witness their one-of-a-kind performance. Grab your loved ones, and get ready for a night of rock and roll that transcends generations.