Just before the year ended I caught up with Stephen one of the band members from the Usual Suspects.
Q: Hi Stephen, do you have a stage name?
A: No stage name. Just Stephen Mooney.
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: Originally from Offaly in Ireland.
Q: How long have you lived in Lanzarote?
A: I have been on the island three years this month.
Q: What do you play or sing?
A: I sing lead vocals and play guitar.
Q: Who is your idol or inspiration?
A: No real idols or inspiration. There's so much to learn and listen to that I can't pinpoint any one person, band or genre. It's all good.
Q: What do you like about the island?
A: Been from Ireland the weather is a big plus and you get to meet a variety of different people everyday. And I get to entertain them.
Q: Do you have any special projects coming up?
A: No special projects as such. Maybe working on me figure.
Q: Favourite place in Lanzarote?
A: Mulligans stage. I even end up there on my day off.
(That's where Stephen performs Sunday to Friday at 10pm).
Q: Anything else you'd like to tell our readers?
A: And for the readers... Check out the Usual Suspects (at Mulligan's) and have a ball while you are here.
And as a sample, here he is with another Usual Suspect performing Ice Cream Man:
Stephen's repertoire goes from his own stuff, to Irish classics to cover versions as diverse as Tom Waits (he certainly has the voice for it!), Amy Winehouse and Jason Mraz and many more.
You can't fit his style under one label. I guess he is right after all: it's all good.
If you know him already, you know what I'm talking about.
If you don't, check him out. You won't be disappointed.
To keep up to date with Stephen's gigs, check Mulligans Irish Bar Lanzarote.
