The Moog
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Budapest , Hungary |
| Products | Music albums, singles, music videos |
| Website | themoog |
The Moog is an indie rock ensemble originating from Budapest, Hungary, established in 2004. They hold the distinction of being the first band from their region to secure a contract with an American record label. The group consists of Tamás Szabó (vocals, keyboards), Gergő Dorozsmai (drums), Ádám Bajor (guitar), Gergő (Miguel) György (guitar), and Csaba Szabó (bass). Critics have likened The Moog to bands such as The Strokes and The Hives, and they have been acclaimed as "Hungary's most exciting new export."
Origins
Initially formed by friends and schoolmates Gergő Dorozsmai, Ádám Bajor, and Tamás Szabó, the band started by playing covers of Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, and Placebo. In 2004, they shifted their focus towards creating original compositions. The lineup was finalized after meeting Csaba Szabó, who promptly learned bass guitar to join them, along with seasoned guitarist Miguel György.
Their name pays tribute to a bar they frequented as teenagers. With approval from Moog Music, they adopted the name "The Moog" and received a synthesizer from the company, which became a key element of their musical identity.
Sold for Tomorrow
Their first album, Sold for Tomorrow, was produced at Tom-Tom Studios in Budapest and mixed by Jack Endino—renowned for his work on Nirvana's Bleach—in Seattle. Mastering took place in Los Angeles under Dave Schultz. Drawing inspiration from 1960s rock icons like The Beatles and The Beach Boys, alongside late 1970s punk bands such as Ramones and Blondie, the album was released on April 10, 2007. The lead single "I Like You" gained traction through placements on the American television show ER and MtvU. Subsequent singles included "Everybody Wants" and "Survive". In 2007, The Moog made their U.S. debut with gigs in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Hollywood, and Las Vegas. That same year, they earned a nomination for Best Hungarian Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007. Their U.S. presence expanded in 2008 with a tour alongside The Reverse, followed by their inaugural European tour visiting cities such as Cologne, Potsdam, Berlin, London, and Madrid.
Razzmatazz Orfeum
The band's sophomore album, Razzmatazz Orfeum (2009), was recorded in Seattle under the guidance of producer Geoff Ott, known for collaborations with Pearl Jam and Queens of the Stone Age. Its lead single "You Raised A Vampire" was issued on colored vinyl featuring artwork by Gris Grimly. The B-side contained a rendition of Bauhaus' "The Passion of Lovers," recorded in Budapest and mixed by Ott; this track included contributions from David J—bassist and vocalist for Bauhaus and Love & Rockets—who became an admirer after witnessing The Moog live in Los Angeles in 2008. The music video for "You Raised A Vampire" was filmed in Budapest.
The album's release event took place at Budapest’s Merlin Theatre. In 2009, two songs from Razzmatazz Orfeum were incorporated into the television series Greek, while "Joyclad Armies" featured in the video game NBA 2K10. The second single, "When I See You," directed by Anthony Garth—who has worked with White Stripes—received extensive airplay across major U.S. music channels including FUSE and MTV. In April 2010, The Moog toured various U.S. cities such as San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Scottsdale, Austin, and Atlanta.
Seasons in the Underground
In the spring of 2012, The Moog unveiled their third studio album, Seasons in the Underground, with production led by Ken Scott in Seattle.
The band premiered the album on February 25, 2012, at Budapest's Akvárium klub, sharing the stage with Amber Smith. Later that year, The Moog embarked on a U.S. tour, performing at notable events and venues such as SXSW, The Mix in San Antonio, Texas, and the Viper Room located in West Hollywood, California. Their September itinerary included appearances at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, the Boulder Theater in Colorado, and the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs, where they performed alongside The B-52s.
On July 13, 2012, Ádám Bajor declared his exit from the group to dedicate his efforts to his alternative project, Haunebu.
November 2012 saw the release of The Moog’s second music video from this album, titled "I Wanna Take You To Paris," which featured actor Robert Romanus. The video was directed by Tamás Szabó and Art Bourasseau, filmed by Vince Sweeney, and edited by Michael Kuge.
During that same month, the band announced additional U.S. tour dates including stops at Lowbrow Palace (El Paso), Boeshakers (San Angelo), ND (Austin), and Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge (Houston). They also returned to the East Coast for performances in Harrisburg, New York City, and Boston.
On December 13, 2012, The Moog disclosed plans to create a new track based in the U.S., targeted for release in 2013.
In January 2013, they revisited California with shows at the Grove of Anaheim and Majestic Ventura Theatre, once again sharing bills with The B-52s.
On December 11, 2014, The Moog announced that their forthcoming single would be mixed by renowned producer Mark Needham.
Although the band paused activities in 2016, they regrouped for a live performance in 2022 at Live at Artemovszk 38 aboard the A38 Vessel in Budapest.
Bastiaan
Vocalist Tamás Szabó initiated Bastiaan alongside former Jacked frontman Tamás Mórocz (handling guitars and vocals), Márton Hó on bass, and Michael Zwecker (drummer from The Poster Boy). Their sound merges elements of pop, rock, and electronic music. On February 22, 2012, they released their debut EP titled Kissing A Stranger, which was made available for free download on Bandcamp. This EP comprises four tracks: World Doesn't Answer, Another Ulysses, New Dawn, and Hidden Beach.
Nibiru
Szabó also collaborated with Márk Lechner from Polar Dear to form Nibiru. Their first EP was launched on May 13, 2013, featuring three songs: I'm In Love, Yes, and You Do The Same.
Gustave Tiger
In 2013, Gergő Dorozsmai and Csaba Szabó established Gustave Tiger with Péter Mezősi joining as drummer. Dorozsmai provides vocals while Szabó handles bass duties. Their debut album Mitanni Mares was released on September 24, 2013. It contains seven tracks recorded at Tom-tom studios in Budapest. Lyrics were penned by Dorozsmai and Szabó; Erika Szurcsik contributed guest vocals on "Countess Bathory." This album is freely accessible via their Bandcamp page.
Band members
- Current line-up
- Tamás Szabó – lead vocals, keyboards (2004–2016, 2022–present)
- Gergő György – guitar (2006–2016, 2022–present)
- Csaba Szabó – bass guitar (2004–2016, 2022–present)
- Gergő Dorozsmai – drums (2004–2016, 2022–present)
- Former members
- Norbert Ladányi – guitar (2004–2006)
- Ádám Bajor – guitar (2004–2012)
Discography
- Albums
- Sold for Tomorrow (released in 2007)
- Razzmatazz Orfeum (2009)
- Seasons in the Underground (2012)
- The Moog EP (2016)
- Singles
- You Raised The Vampire (2009)
Music videos
Data as of April 22, 2017
| Year | Title | Views | Channel | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2007 | "I Like You" | 420,642 | TheMoogChannel | Dávid Vígh |
| January 18, 2008 | Everybody Wants | 186,715 | TheMoogChannel | Áron Veszejes |
| March 13, 2009 | You Raised The Vampire | 155,261 | TheMoogChannel | Áron Veszejes |
| October 1, 2009 | When I See You | 28,968 | TheMoogChannel | Anthony Garth |
| February 24, 2012 | Seasons Change in the Underground | 31,219 | TheMoogChannel | Áron Szabó |
| November 16, 2012 | I Wanna Take you to Paris | 24,146 | TheMoogChannel | Tamás Szabó and Art Bourasseu |
See also
External links
- Official website
- The Moog on MySpace
- The Moog at MuSick Recordings