Artists:Gangly Moose

Fairbanks-based cabin funk rock jam band.

Formed in 1994, Gangly Moose was originally comprised of Dave Parks on guitar, John Knechtel on bass and Kliff Hopson on drums. In 1998, they were joined by drummer Michael Dattola.

Dave Parks grew up in sunny California, it’s no wonder Dave plays the California PT Custom Schecter as his main guitar. Cut from the same cloth as Jerry himself, Dave was heavily influenced by the surfer scene, AC/DC and Johnny Cash throughout high school.

John Knechtel grew up in small-town Pennsylvania, John’s 200 plus trips to Grateful Dead shows before high school graduation made it obvious to him that a rock-and-roll lifestyle was the way to go. John migrated to Alaska in 1993 after a few years in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Kliff Hopson grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, and was heavily influenced by the bluegrass scene. He has been addicted to drumming since the age of 10. After graduating from college in VA, he played music in Madison, WI for several years. Kliff eventually migrated north to Fairbanks in 1992, joining the MoOsE after Dave and John heard him play at open mics.

After 17 years in Alaska, Michael Dattola's early years growing up in Southern California seem like another lifetime ago. He completed a masters degree in 1988 and then migrated to Southeast Alaska where he commercial fished, made drums, taught classes and performed with several bands, including African Rain and Salsa Borealis. read more.