Moviegoers (the)

Liam Davis and Worth Wagers met at Kenyon College in the late 1980’s as members of the college’s all-male a cappella singing group, The Kokosingers. After reuniting with Liam’s high school drummer, Hugh Bartling, the Moviegoers were formed in Chicago in 1992. The band named themselves after the Walker Percy novel, ‘The Moviegoer’, as it featured a young man with little clue as to how to spend his life, a recurring theme in the band’s material.

In 1993 they released their first album, ‘As You Were’. Prior to recording their second full-length record, on 25 April 1995, Worth Wagers was nearly fatally electrocuted during a rehearsal in his father’s Kentucky home. The band were scheduled to open for the Reverend Horton Heat. The incident was re-enacted on the TV programme ‘Rescue 911’, giving the band nationwide television exposure. The second album, ‘Twin Pop’, was recorded together with new band member Ross Bergseth on bass and trumpet.

In 1999, they contributed a cover version of Hounds Of Love to the fan-made compilation album I Wanna Be Kate. Shortly thereafter the band broke up. Liam Davis went on to join the band Frisbie. Worth Wagers played with Steph Turner and Ethan Semone in Cow Lily. He then moved to Sydney, Australia where he joined Jason Walker & The Last Drinks. He now lives in London (UK) where he plays with indie folk/rock band, Golden Spike and is a DJ specializing in spinning Soul Music on 45. Drummer Hugh Bartling finished his doctorate and is now an Associate Professor at DePaul University.