Los Alces De los Azul

In the fall of either 1989 or 1990, Teo and I got together with a few other like-minded friends and decided to form a blues ensemble for one of our required ensemble credits. We were, along with Vinnissimo, music majors at a reasonably well-regarded music school in the southeast that had some ridiculous number of music students and an also ridiculous number of ensembles. I, for instance, was once in the electric bass ensemble, which featured more low frequencies than should ever be assembled in one place. But I digress.

Our blues band was comprised of two very, very good guitarists, a remarkable keyboardist, the thundering groove machine that is (not was, but is) Teo, and me on bass. Because one of our guitarists was the sort of guy who could convince a funeral director to hire a polka band for a paying gig, we were booked for our first gig before we'd even rehearsed - and had about four days to throw together a few sets of blues tunes. One hasty rehearsal later, we were ready to play, but we had no name. After the usual time - several hours, I think - of offering goofy names that made everyone laugh, we were still at a loss. Playing off my real last name, which isn't actually "Pinata" but has a "Mc" in front of it, we decided to name the band "McBlues". We then put a "Mc" in front of everyone else's last name and took the "Mc" off of mine. Good fun.

For reasons that I can't recall, we decided to give our band a mascot. And, as everyone knows, nothing says "blues" like a moose. (Actually, I think it's that "blues" and "moose" almost rhyme and it sounded good enough for us.) Thus, the Blues Moose was born to the world.

Initially, the Blues Moose showed up on whatever poster/flyer McBlues had for upcoming gigs. However, the Blues Moose then turned into more than a mascot - he turned into a cause. And one of the guitarists penned a song called "The Blues Moose". If I recall properly:


Just a little Irish lad, growing up on Irish folk songs
But the music made him sad, and deep inside something was wrong
He heard the tales of Jimmy Page and music from the delta
But he was much to sheltered to believe

That night he had a revelation.
God told him to go down to the station.
He also said, "You must be very patient".
'Cause something big and brown was about to hit the nation.

The Blues Moose is coming to your town.
The Blues Moose is coming to your town.
The Blues Moose is coming to your town.
The Blues Moose is coming, he's coming, he's coming to your town.


There is another verse, but I can't remember it.

We played this song at Teo's recital (with a reunited McBlues) and tore the roof off the place. Much fun. I think its final playing was at my bachelor party, which was a late night jam session at Vinnissimo's house. We could barely remember the song and butchered it, but it was still a good time.

Sadly, I've just discovered - via Google - that the Blues Moose is now used as a name for a condom dispenser. And that leaves me a bit cold.

Found:



I'm a bad person if I don't provide attribution for that photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobtravis/125216638/

It's the winning logo for the "1st Annual Maine Blues Festival", Naples, Maine. Outstanding.