Back in 1994, Garth Mosbaugh got his chance to join the a cappella band The Nylons 鈥� and it was all because he didn鈥檛 really want to move to Vancouver for a different opportunity.
鈥淚 was living in Toronto and I auditioned for a show called Forever Plaid,鈥� said Mosbaugh. 鈥淭hey offered me a part in the show, but in the Vancouver show. At the time, I really didn鈥檛 want to move to Vancouver, so I turned the job down. However the show鈥檚 casting director told me she had something else for me, and then she introduces me to The Nylons.鈥�
Formed in 1978, The Nylons are known for their a cappella style and popular covers of songs by the Beatles and Turtles. Mosbaugh, a tenor, said he spent some time sitting around singing songs with the members in a living room, and just like that, he was in the band.
Mosbaugh not only had a gig with a popular and well known act; he also got his wish to stay in Toronto.
So it was kind of ironic that two years after joining the band, Mosbaugh decided he did indeed want to move to Vancouver.
鈥淚 had a change of life and I didn鈥檛 want to be in Toronto anymore,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 started looking at different horizons and decided I wanted to move to Vancouver.鈥�
Even though it could mean the end of his career with The Nylons, Mosbaugh said he knew he had to make the move.
鈥淚 told the band that I was sorry, but if I had to leave the band, then so be it,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut they said it was OK, so I鈥檝e stayed with the band ever since and still tour with them.鈥�
After living in East Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay, Mosbaugh eventually made his way up the Sea to Sky Corridor and settled in Brackendale eight years ago. 鈥淎fter moving to Vancouver I met someone, and we started looking at real estate,鈥� he said. 鈥淏rackendale turned out to be the best option for us. And we love it here.鈥�
And Mosbaugh has also started performing regularly in town.
鈥淭ours with The Nylons have sort of levelled off, and I wanted to continue to perform regularly,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, I now play every Friday night at the pub in the Sea to Sky Hotel.鈥�
Mosbaugh plays a mix of covers and popular tunes from a wide variety of eras, and he describes his sets as 鈥渃hill, lounge-style.鈥澛�
鈥淚 play lots of Beatles songs,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I also play music from Don McLean and Sting, as well as some Calypso music because I actually grew up in Barbados.鈥�
Mosbaugh said playing on stage at the Jumping Seagle gives him something he was missing when performing with The Nylons. 鈥淭he Nylons gave me 20 years where I was singing, but not playing,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut at the Sea to Sky Hotel I accompany myself on guitar and keyboards.鈥�
And when not performing solo, Mosbaugh also plays keyboards and saxophone with Squamish鈥檚 Will Ross Band. 鈥淎nd of course I still tour with The Nylons,鈥� he said.
But in the meantime, you can catch Mosbaugh every Friday at the Jumping Seagle, Sea to Sky Hotel, starting between 7 and 8 p.m. There鈥檚 no cover charge.聽
