The Moonlight Peddlers

When three or four voices blend as one, you have the rare treasure of perfect harmony.

The Moonlight Peddlers have found gold, as their voice is one … one full of an authentic Kentucky tone reflected in Americana styles and genres emerging the city’s music scene.

Good thing these Peddlers are ahead of the curve, as Heidi Stenson, Nick Stinnett, Patrick Schroering, Christopher Fisher and Brian Leonard are building a catalog of songs that are fun, lyrically-intriguing and full of sustained accordion chords.

Stenson is the lone female within in the group, playing the accordion, striving to write and create a “timeless sound” said Stenson.

Guitarist Schroering comes from a heavy metal background, switching to mandolin in the Moonlight Peddlers. A guy who used to terrorize audiences with a relentless high-speed metal sound now is impressing people by using that energy on an aggressive mandolin technique.

He’s the man responsible for creating “the riffs that stick in your head,” said Fisher.

Fisher is new to the bass as the band needed one of their guitar players to switch over to the groove position; Fisher not only fulfilled the bass-man role but also lent superb vocals as his raspy edge matches Stenson’s smooth tone for one complimentary combination.

Leonard joins in harmonically as he often completes the three-part harmonies. He handles stage presence well, writes new material for the band and keeps a mean rhythm on both acoustic and electric guitar, chords sliding up and down the neck.

Stinnett rocks the most unique kit I’ve ever seen, as he often uses a suitcase for a kick drum – keeps noise levels down for softer shows – and a whiskey bottle for a clav-like sound.moonlight peddlers

While he loves to ask for “more suitcase” in the monitor, Stinnett admits “I can’t keep buying suitcases,” as the durability of the unnatural kick drum has its disadvantages. But the aesthetic effect is pretty spot on for the identity of the band.

The band, who’s members are classically trained, want to keep it classy with its style and performances with or without everyone wearing suspenders – a former band requirement.

“I want to be able to play at a festival, a fancy restaurant, a coffee shop, a wedding or a kid’s birthday,” said Stenson. “That’s our goal, not to bash anyone doing what their doing, but I don’t want to play any hole in the wall.

“I want to keep it classy, to hold us to a higher standard.”

“We were in choir when choir wasn’t coo l… that ‘Glee’ thing … we were the biggest dorks in school,” Fisher said.

But while some were breaking bones, the Peddlers were strengthening their pipes for harmonies to shine years down the line, and now the band often sound checks with music from “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Much of the fashion and identity of the band comes from Stenson, as Fisher claimed wardrobe control is under her domain.

“We just do what Heidi tells us,” said the Peddlers’ bass-man.

Stinnett and Stenson met in college, as the two were paired together on a music assignment. The duo’s professor put them in contact with Leonard after he heard their recordings. The wheels started rolling, and eventually the rest of the guys – almost all with hard rock backgrounds –were lassoed in after a trip to Bonnaroo.

Their first show was in April at a First Friday Trolley Hop, and the band has recently tuned in on their folk-rock sound with dabbles in other styles.

“There’s no more lab work to be done: We’ve found our sound,”said Leonard.

“Our chemistry is in sync,”replied Stenson.

Now that the elements are reacting, and a self-titled EP has been produced, the Peddlers may be Louisville’s best bet at a 21st Century Fleetwod Mac. Their EP has been well received by WFPK, and all of the band members got giddy when discussing a recent shoutout from Laura Shine.

During Forecastle weekend, the Peddlers played under the moon on a rooftop at a house party on Market Street, which did not bode well for Leonard, as he had to conquer his fear of heights in the name of rock-n-roll.

Pure passion is what this band has going for it, the hunger and drive to succeed, a willingness to play anywhere and for anyone, even if it’s inches away from a ten foot fall.

With a clear identity and a cohesive sound that is extremely marketable to the region, expect to hear more news and from the ever classy Moonlight Peddlers in the coming months, as the band’s bond continues to grow stronger.

“This is the five,: said Stenson.

Let’s see how far they can go. - Insider Louisville