Too Many String Band: 30 Years of Serenading the Jewel of the Prairie
“I can't imagine a more satisfying group to play with. We congratulate each other and forgive each other and generally have a good time,” says Betty Moffet, retired Ƶ College Writing Lab teacher and founding member of the Too Many String Band.
Decades ago, a group of Ƶ College faculty members got together to play for fun in the Forum or the physics seminar room. “There was never a “let’s form a band” moment,” says Bob Cadmus, professor emeritus of physics and guitar player.
The group was mainly focused on the simple joy of playing together, but after several years they decided to “take their show on the road,” as Sig Barber, professor emeritus of German studies and band member since the formalized group’s inception, puts it. They began playing at a handful of fundraisers, a wedding or two, and other local gatherings in 1993 and have been performing around the Ƶ area and beyond ever since.
“A lot of people think the word ‘string’ should be plural, but it's not. We are the Too Many String Band, as the ‘stringband,’” says Sandy Moffet, professor emeritus of theatre and another founding member of the group.
The band has become a staple at a local coffee shop, Saints Rest, where patrons can find them playing typically once a month. New and established fans alike come and enjoy the twang of guitar and banjo strings and the soul-filled vocals of original songs and covered tunes.
“Some of my best memories come from playing at Saints Rest and feeling the response from the audience,” says Betty.
Sandy has loved the whole experience. “Who would have thought that we would still be doing this after 30 years? I love our gigs during Alumni Reunion. State Fair is fun, and Saints Rest is great. We did a few shows at the Women's Prison in Mitchellville which I have fond memories of.”
“My favorite memory with the band is playing in Des Moines for Hillary Clinton when she ran for president,” says Barber.
Toe-tapping Tunes
Mark Laver, associate professor of music, and self-proclaimed “ruiner of the ‘string band’ motif” as a saxophonist, says some of his favorite songs to perform with Too Many String Band are the originals. “Betty has written some wonderful songs about living in Ƶ, like ‘If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home Now,’ says Laver. “Sandy’s 'Deep River Blues’ is another favorite.”
In addition to the beloved originals, the group also covers several crowd-favorites, such as “Wagon Wheel” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
“I don’t have a single favorite song. I am personally fond of blues, such as ‘Deep River Blues,’ ‘Sitting on Top of the World’ and Phil Ochs’ ‘Bould for Glory,’” says Cadmus.
The sense of connection built around the music has left a lasting impression among the bandmates, the College, and community of Ƶ. Laver notes, “the thing about music making that I find most meaningful is the human connections that we make through singing, playing, and listening together, and those connections — to family and friends and community — are so loving and strong in Too Many String Band.”
Don’t miss Too Many String Band as the featured performance on Thursday, July 31 during ! Bring your blanket or lawn chair at 7 p.m. and enjoy a musical evening at Ƶ’s Central Park Stage.