Moxie: The Real McCoy

eaturing four seasoned musicians and a young, silky-voiced chanteuse, Raleigh-based Moxie McCoy has developed a strong reputation as an energetic, must-see live act, and they continue to gain recognition around the Triangle with the recent release of their first album, Crowded Room. Music Editor David Walters caught up with drummer Adriel Boals, who also happens to be a research scholar in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Duke, to talk about the band and the brain.

Recess: You're a research scholar and professor here at Duke. What's more fun: drumming or teaching?

Tough question. Drumming is fun simply because you get to play your music with a lot of energy, but being a drummer you're kind of in the background, and some people don't even notice you. After the show people will ask me if I saw the band play, and I have to say, 'Um, yes--I was in the band.' But when you teach, the limelight is on you, and I like being the center of attention. If I could combine the two, that'd be fun.

Describe for those who haven't had the experience of catching a show what type of music the band plays.

Well, we have a female lead singer, and we play about 75 percent covers, and they're all songs that everyone will recognize. We do everything from Jewel to AC/DC to Guns n' Roses, and we also throw in our original songs, which are now available on the new album we put out.

Sometimes people have a hard time warming up to a female lead singer in a rock band, but it's clear after hearing Jessica Dick's voice that she's no joke. What's her story?

Our keyboard player Matt [Kschinka] knew Jessica. When he decided he wanted to put Moxie McCoy together, his vision was to have a female lead. We actually auditioned about a dozen different girls, but Jessica really struck us as someone who could sing well and had a lot of personality, and that really comes out onstage.

How old is she?

I do a lot of research on stress and memory. If you have a lot of stressful events in your life, that can have negative consequences.... We're working on ways to reduce the negative impact of stressful events. We find that people who write about stressful events have fewer intrusive thoughts and better overall health later on.

Serious question time. Who rocks harder: B.F. Skinner or Carl Jung?

[laughs] I would think it would be Skinner. He's probably gonna rock a little harder. Jung's probably just going to sit around and philosophize all day.

I'm sorry. The correct answer was Wilhelm Wundt. So what part of your brain helps you with keeping the beat?

Most likely that would be your cerebellum because that's involved in a lot of coordinated movements.

Is it possible that, as a white guy, I was born without one, or perhaps I severely damaged mine sticking Tinker Toys up my nose as a young child?

From a psychological perspective, you might need to further develop your cerebellum.

I'll look into that. So what are you going to be for Halloween?

I haven't dressed up the past couple of years because Moxie McCoy's been playing. Maybe a rock star?

Or a big, drumming hippocampus. What do you see in store for Moxie McCoy?

I think we have potential to do really well. We're just working really hard through all of our live shows to get a following going, and everyone should check out Crowded Room because we're very proud of it.

Check out Moxie McCoy at Fat Daddy's in Raleigh October 26 and at www.moxiemccoy.com.