Published: July 11, 2009 07:10 pm      

Old rockers

Band members share long history and a passion for music

Becky Kesler begins talking into the microphone.

“Check one, two,” she said as her voice is amplified through the room filled with amplifiers, microphones, cords, and guitar pedals.

The rest of the band members adjust their respective instruments.

“Which one are we doing?” Becky asks.

“‘Get Ready,’” Jeff Kesler answers.

Moe Moorehead jokes around and announces he is kind of ready to play.

Seconds later, the music explodes in the basement room as everyone begins to play.

“I never met a boy that made me feel the way you do,” Becky began to sing.

The members of Counterpoint — all grandparents — were practicing for their debut gig at 9 p.m. Saturday at Amelio’s and Ike’s Sport Bar, 431 S. Third St.

“We’re looking forward to playing at Amelio’s,” said Moorehead. “It will be our first time in public. We’re going through the song list and trying to get four hours of music worked out.”

Patti Smith and Becky Kesler perform vocals while Ron Smith plays guitar and Tom “Moe” Moorehead drums. Marty Monahan plays the keyboard and guitar with Jeff Kesler on bass. All the members take turns singing lead and backup vocals.

Except for Becky, who is originally from Warsaw, all of Counterpoint’s members grew up in Logansport,

The group shares a common interest and hobby of playing music in different bands. Most of them started playing during the mid-1960s.

Some have played in bands together in the past, but this is the first time all six have been in a band together.

“We’ve been playing for a long time,” said Moorehead. “We go back. When we started it was rock and roll, now it’s classic rock.”

The reason the group came together was for former bandmate and close friend, Bill Wharton, who played bass. Wharton passed away on Aug. 12.

“For years and years, he was not well physically,” Patti explained. “His last request was to jam again with these guys.”

To fulfill Wharton’s wish, band members decided to practice and were going to perform at an end-of-summer and end-of-winter parties held by Patti’s cousin. Although Wharton passed away before they could all play, the group invited Kesler to play bass and Becky joined along to sing.

The members played as a tribute band in memory of their lost friend.

After the performance, Moorehead said the band earned a great response from those listening.

The Keslers decided to ask the rest of the band members if they would be interested in playing together on a regular basis, under a new band name.

According to Patti, it almost seemed natural for everyone to agree to the idea.

“These guys love to play,” she said. “They’ve been doing it for years.”

Before deciding to make their debut, band members spent three months practicing together on Thursday evenings and have worked out 52 songs. The group plays a mixture of rock and roll music, R&B, Motown, and classic rock.

“We take pride in our music,” said Ron. “That’s why we practiced three months before we decided to play.”

According to Moorehead, each band member has been playing on their own over the years, when not in a band.

“I didn’t just drag my drums out of the closet,” he said. “It’s not the same playing live. We get satisfaction from playing live and being out there to entertain people.”

Ron also enjoys the long-term friendships band members have formed with one another, as well as the feeling of satisfaction from playing for the public.

“We are able to bring the music to life,” he said.

Jeff truly enjoys playing music with his current band members.

For Patti, playing in a band again is simply another opportunity for her to share something with her husband.

Becky feels the same way.

“It’s our hobby,” she said. “It’s our life. If we’re not playing music, our lives are not fulfilled.”

Band members enjoy talking about old times and others they have played with over the years.

“Some of the people made it,” Jeff said with a smile. “We’re still in the basement.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com



Want to attend?

Who: Counterpoint

What: Debut gig

When: 9 p.m. Saturday

where: Amelio’s and Ike’s Sports Bar, 431 S. Third St.