Artist description We don't wear costumes or do "suck-faced" guitar posing (unless we mean it, or maybe there's a piece of corn stuck back there in the far back right molar). What you see is who we are--at times serious, whacked, hell-bent-for-leather, whimsical, stupid, thoughtful, but always real. Mary tunes her bass in fifths like a cello...bass players in the audience usually sit there shaking their heads going..."what the...." Chris Wagoner manages a successful guitar-stomp-box farm on the side. He runs his beat-up black Barcus-Berry electric fiddle, electric mandolin, and Oahu lapsteel through a wah, delays, reverbs, distortions, tremelos, and a Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere Leslie-simulator pedal (not usually at the same time.......not usually). If you're not looking, you'd swear there was a B-3, a blues-harp player, and a horn section up on stage. The guy in the middle, Robert J., writes the songs that make the young girls cry. Well, actually, it makes the young girls go..."ohmygod, whatdoyoumean they don't do any Britney...let's get out of here....." Cool. Go. We bounce from Shawn Colvin-esque folk-pop to twangy roots-rock to all-out jazz-blues-rock jam in the first 20 minutes of our show, so don't expect to hear one sound all night long. We would love it, however, if you all would get yer ears on our tunes here at MP3.com, visit our personal website, or come to a live show--then tell US what you'd call what it is we do!

Music Style Original Americana, Roots-Rock, Folk-Pop

Musical Influences Anything with soul that tells a story. Early blues artists--Leadbelly, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James; Great songwriters--John Hiatt, Steve Goodman, Joni Mitchell, J.J. Cale; Innovative players--Ry Cooder, David Lindley, Freddie Roullette (lapsteel), Yank Rachel (blues mandolin), Stuff Smith (jazz violin).....the list is too enormous to finish, and gets longer every day.

Similar Artists Little Feat, John Hiatt, The Allman Brothers, Dave Matthews Band, String Cheese Incident, Bonnie Raitt, The Band

Artist History Sometime in late 1998 after the disbanding of their previous group, The Common Faces, Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines joined forces with Robert J. Conaway to form The Moon Gypsies. Joining them on the drum-throne at the inception was Mauro Magellan, formerly of the Georgia Satellites. Almost 3 years later, we've released an album, toured West, toured East (including a live national radio show in NYC with special guest, Les Paul--check our website for a little audio snippage from that experience), and we continue to perform for our loyal Central Time Zone fans. We're currently working hard on our new CD and hope to have it out by fall 2001. With The Moon Gypsies we've had the good fortune to share the stage with many of our musical heroes: Ray Charles, Taj Majal, Dr. John, Keb Mo, Lowen & Navarro, Buckwheat Zydeco, String Cheese Incident, and Willy Porter to name a few. We plan to keep writing and playing as long as you'll listen.

Group Members Robert J. Conaway (lead songwriter, guitar, harmonica, vocals) Mary Gaines (songwriter, vocals, fretless electric bass, cello) Chris Wagoner (songwriter, vocals, electric violin and mandolin, lapsteel, accordion, and guitar)

Instruments Electric and acoustic guitars, fretless electric bass, cello, electric violin and mandolin, lapsteel (slide guitar), accordion, drums and percussion

Albums The Moon Gypsies

Press Reviews DIRTY LINEN - USA "This self-titled debut is filled with groove oriented genre bending bluesy tunes. It's a fine recording of eclectic electric-tinged originals." FIREWORKS MAGAZINE - UK   By Nicky Baldrian "I found myself getting into almost every song. The way the band blends their influences astounds me. Their style ranges from sexy jazzy rock and blues to folk. Their musicianship is of a very high standard and their songs flow with elegance, character and passion." ISTHMUS - THE CULTURE RECORDINGS /MUSIC  By Tom Laskin The Moon Gypsies (Big World)     Proving that good things sometimes come from bad, the breakup of the folk/soul favorites Common Faces facilitated the formation of the Moon Gypsies, a thoroughly professional country-rock outfit that’s pitched more at boomers than the denizens of Music City. While ex-faces Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines contribute their share of stirring vocals to the project, it’s plain that the songwriting of Madison vet Robert J. is what will give’em a shot at serious FM radio play. He’s had nibbles in the past from labels, publishers and national songwriting contests (in fact, he won the R&B song category in Billboard’s contest last year), and this new vehicle is custom-made for his polished Americana. From the meditative Steve Earle-style twanger, “The Next Big Thang”, to the high lonesome prairie-rocker “Moon Gypsies”, he’s in total control of his craft. Each chorus inevitably gooses the beat, the most pensive verse always ends on a hooky vocal tag, and each brief instrumental break is designed to kick the song into a higher gear.    My suggestion to the music “pros” would be to give Gaines’ aching take on “A Million Miles Away” (Robert J’s Billboard award winner) a spin or two. A great piece of songcraft, it begins in heartache then ups the ante by questioning the entire notion of unrequited love. And all the while, Wagoner’s keening violin and some well-placed single-note guitar work keep the production anchored in the blues. Clearly, a big league singer like Bonnie Raitt could do a lot with the track, but here’s hoping the Gypsies get a chance to take their own version nationwide. Lord knows, after decades of gigging in the clubs, they deserve at least that much of a break. MOON GYPSIES: Thanks to chief songwriter Robert J. Conaway, the Gypsies have quickly matured into a supple country-rock outfit. Ex-Common Faces violinist Chris Wagoner is another reason their well honed material screams for something more than the bar circuit. (See review on page 24.) Fri., Jan. 14, Regent St. Retreat, 10pm. Moon Gypsies’ full range    Accomplished players, talents of each show in new CD By Natasha Kassulke, The Capital Times                           Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999    The Moon Gypsies’ new self-titled CD lives up to its name by traveling over a lot of musical ground.    And although the Madison quartet is just a year old, they sound polished, mining from blues to rock to folk.    Shoot for the moon, and you’re bound to end up with a few stars. In this collection, though, there are not one or two, but 13 unique and shining selections that show the full range of the Moon Gypsies’ talent, vocally and instrumentally.PP    Perhaps the chemistry comes from the fact they’ve been fans of each others work for some time and they are individually accomplished performers with backgrounds that range from rock to country, classical to jazz.    The CD, which was recorded at Randy’s Recording in Cottage Grove, opens with “The Next Big Thang” and an introduction to Chris Wagoner’s fuzz-wah fiddle, Mary Gaines’ perfect cello touch and Robert J. Conaway’s hearty, husky blues vocals. It has a Sheryl Crow sound and the musical message of Bruce Springsteen.    It’s mellower Springsteen to a Dylan dose on “Franny’s Got A Cadillac”, the aching “Don’t Forget Me”, and a remake of Stephen Stills’ “Bluebird”.    “Other People Say” is more reminiscent of the soul-blues and Grateful Dead grooves of Gaines and Wagoner’s former band, the Common Faces. Gaines and Wagoner lend some vocal help to Conaway, who doesn’t need it but who seems to welcome the variety and range is allows.    Among the CD highlights is a remake of “A Million Miles Away”.  While Conaway says he wrote it with  Bonnie Raitt in mind, the song is handled just as soulfully  on the lips of singer-bassist-cellist Gaines. Wagoner’s violin is just the spark the song needs to maximize its impact. Conaway won first place in the Billboard Magazine songwriting contest this year in the R&B/blues category for the song. Listen and you’ll know why.    Gaines’ smooth vocals also are highlighted on the slower but just as progressive “Orion”. Drummer Tim Schmitt (also known for his work in country-rock band Under the Gun) provides solid rhythm throughout the CD, but here guest musician and Phat Phunktioner Pauli Ryan jumps on congas and percussion. Wagoner slides between accordion and mandolin.    “Don’t Shoot Me” and “Rockin’ the Full House” are roots rockers with a little roadhouse roughness rubbed in. What is disappointing though, is that the latter is one of the few songs that showcase Conaway’s harmonica.    The tone of “The Reggae Zone” is obvious from it’s name, but it will stick in your head like one of Santana’s new hits. It features drummer Mauro Magellan.    Keyboardist Mike Massey also guests on the more folky “Nightwind” and “A Million Miles Away”. He trades in the piano keys for the synthesizer variety on the folky title track.    Most of the songs found on the CD were penned by Conaway, who has written more than 500 songs in his career and whose style has been compared to Townes Van Zandt’s.    But Gaines’ songwriting also is strong and is featured here in the more bluesy “Devil Sittin' In My Chair”. Mark Davini adds organ to the mix.    The Moon Gypsies will celebrate their new CD with a party at 9:45 p.m. Friday at the Club Tavern. For more information visit the group’s Web site at www.moongypsies.com or call the Club Tavern, 836-3773. your town                Madison Magazine                      January 2000 Meet the Moon Gypsies: Familiar faces behind a don’t- miss debut. By Tag Evers   Another local supergroup of sorts, Moon Gypsies splices Robert J.’s country blues toe-tappers with eclectic world beat/contemporary folk fusion of former Common Faces Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines. These gypsies are seasoned pros, each with their near-misses to relate. Accordingly, the eponymously titled first CD throws down the gauntlet with “Next Big Thang”, Robert J.’s harrowing take on the soul-killing effects of the corporate rock machine. Things lighten up a bit, but not before Gaines’ quasi-gospel, up tempo lament “Devil Sittin’ in My Chair” further sizes up the beast. A can’t miss purchase. Award hits right note for Robert J. THE TALK                                                                August, 1999 By Doug Moe, Capital Times    HE HAS written more than 500 songs in his life, and the fact of the matter, Robert J. was saying Sunday, is that he just doesn’t remember the circumstances of writing “A Million Miles Away”.    “I think I wrote it in about 1991”, he said.  The musician Madison audiences know as Robert J. is actually Robert J. Conaway, and when he wrote that song, he was hoping somebody like Bonnie Raitt might sing it.    She just might.  Last week Conaway got a call from Billboard magazine, one of the music industry’s leading trade publications.  The news; “A Million Miles Away” had won first prize in Billboard’s annual songwriting competition.  It’s a big deal.  Anybody out there in America who isn’t writing a screenplay is writing songs—the Billboard contest drew more than 50,000 entries.  Billboard chose winners in six categories, and Conaway’s tune won in Rhythm and Blues.    “The idea of the song is, ‘How can I love you when you’re a million miles away?’  I wrote it thinking a woman would sing it, but it will work either way.”     The Billboard award includes a $1,000 cash prize, a new Gibson guitar and a state-of-the-art studio microphone.  Maybe more important for Conaway is that along with putting his song on a compilation record, Billboard will be promoting it both in the media and to industry insiders.  “The woman (from Billboard) who called last week said her goal is to get publishing deals for the six winners”, Conaway said.  He paused.  “It’s kind of like winning the lottery—only I did something to win it.”    Robert J. has paid some heavy dues.  Outside of the acts that pop up regularly on MTV, music is a hard dollar.  You had better love it and not expect much and realize that while many are called, few are chosen.  I think when I first saw Robert J., almost 20 years ago, he was playing guitar and singing in the lounge of the Stag and Hound Restaurant on the west side.  Carnegie Hall it was not.    He’s had some breaks, including opening for the Beach Boys at the Coliseum in 1996, but he also has memories of being passed a note in the middle of a gig in 1995 at Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin Dells.  The message: Call your sister-in-law.  Conaway’s mother had died.  It figured that he would be on a stage somewhere.    Robert J. has actually come to think of himself more as a writer than a singer, which makes the national recognition from Billboard all the sweeter.  There is a line of thinking that he should move to Nashville, where songwriting legends like Kris Kristofferson, either drunk or hung over, sweeping floors for the rent, wrote a trunk full of classics like “Me and Bobbie McGee.”  Nashville is still the hotbed for songwriting, but Robert J. has a problem—he likes Madison, and so does his family, which includes his wife, Jill, and daughter, Kristina.     Tennessee can wait.  Conaway’s Madison band, the Moon Gypsies, is getting ready to put out a CD, and Mary Gaines, late of Common Faces, will handle the vocals on “A Million Miles Away”.  The gypsies will play the Madison Blues Fest—the same day as Ray Charles—and they will also be touring soon in the Denver area, including a gig at the Taste of Colorado.  It’s not quite as hard a dollar when people are paying attention. Attention, please!                                           Monday, Aug. 9, 1999 By Natasha Kassulke,  The Capital Times    Madison singer-songwriter Robert J. finally is getting some of the attention that he deserves.    Billboard magazine recently named Robert J. best rhythm and blues songwriter in its annual unsigned artist contest.    Robert J. won for “A Million Miles Away”, a song that he says may be eight years old already.  People who’ve seen Robert J. perform solo or with his new band, the Moon Gypsies, know that he often jokes that he wrote the song for Bonnie Raitt but she just doesn’t know it yet.    Robert J.’s prizes for winning the contest include a $1,000, a  new guitar, music software, a studio microphone, and a chance to have Billboard “exploit” his song by peddling it to major music artists.    “I feel like I just won the songwriters’ lottery,” says Robert J., whose real name is Robert Conaway.    In Moon Gypsies news, watch for the group to perform at the Madison Blues Festival at 1 p.m. on Aug. 27.  The Moon Gypsies have been recording at Randy’s Recording in Cottage Grove.  Their new album, likely to be self-titled, is slated for release in October.  Watch for Mary Gaines, formerly of the Common Faces, to sing a slightly rewritten version of “A Million Miles Away”.

Location Madison, WI - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).