All the musicians who form the Moon Puppies are professionally trained with degrees in music.  Thus,  this group is able to play an impressively wide variety of music for dancers.  With roots in the blues, the group was formed by Anita, Chuck and Peter in 1995.  

Mark, Dave and Adam are all Maine natives.  Peter was born in Canada.  The group's manager, Anita, was born in California and raised on the legendary Route 66, the daughter of a traveling gambler.  ("That life gave me great ideas for lyrics!" she says).  Anita met Chuck in Oklahoma City at a nightspot called the "Loser's Club".  Chuck was studying art at the time.  With "golden ears", he became the group's sound system engineer - and Anita's husband.

Anita, affectionately called "the Boss" by the group, is effusive in her praise of the musicians.  "I work with the greatest bunch of guys ever", she says, remarking that they all share common views and are comfortable friends. 

Anita used to manage restaurants and has taught customer service workshops.  This background gives her, and the band, a great interest in pleasing their audiences.  "We are focused on the fact that we are musicians for hire, so we don't get so wrapped up in our art that we lose people".

About playing for dancers, Anita said that when she discovered swing dancing "it changed my life".  The band branched out immediately from blues into swing.  She was overjoyed to find that music is as important to dancers as it is to musicians.  Dancers are truly listening and trying to interpret the music, not just being passively entertained while downing cocktails.  It is very enjoyable for the musicians to watch the way the dancers interpret the music with their bodies.   Anita says "I want the dancers to know from the musician's point of view how important they are to us, sharing our passion for the art.  I hope the dancing never stops!"

 

The Moon Puppies have a website,  http://home.midmaine.com/~moonpup/swing.html   
where you can keep track of their gigs.