The Mammals
The Mammals |
|---|
The Mammals are a contemporary folk-rock band based in the Hudson Valley, NY, USA.
Current band members are Michael J. Merenda, Jr., Chris Merenda, Ruth Ungar, Jacob Silver and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger.
Band History
After jamming together in 2000, Merenda, Ungar and Rodriguez-Seeger formed the Mammals in 2001. They first performed as a quartet with Alicia Jo Rabins on the fiddle [1]. In 2002 and 2003 they became a trio, adding Pierce Woodward (bass) and Ken Maiuri (drums) for some performances[2]. Chris Merenda, Mike's brother, joined the band in late 2004 replacing Maiuri on the drums. Woodward left the band in 2005 and was replaced with Dan Rose, who was replaced with Jacob Silver as the Mammals current bass player.
The Mammals often include guests in their live shows, such as Rosie Newton; Peter Siegel; Tao's sister, Penny Blossom Seeger; Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, and Pete Seeger. Aoife O'Donovan performs backing vocals on their CDs.
Mike Merenda is the band's main songwriter and plays vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele and percussion. His songs are often on the topics of war, the environment, government upheaval, and presidential catastrophe. Mike's song The Bush Boys has caused The Mammals to be censored at some festival venues. His songs often tell stories drawing on personal events, such as the songs Haircut Money and 69 Pleasant Street.
Ruth Ungar performs on vocals, fiddle, and ukulele. She is a songwriter for the Mammals, and her songs center on themes of fair trade and the environment. Her song "Four Blue Walls", inspired by the play Danny and the Deep Blue Sea was featured on an album by Canadian band The Duhks.
Tao Rodríguez-Seeger sings and plays guitar, banjo, and harmonica. Tao sings both Spanish and American songs such as Chan Chan by Compay Segundo and John Henry.
Chris Merenda is the Mammals drummer and the younger brother of Mike. In addition to percussion he plays the guitar, banjo, piano and sings vocals. He occasionally plays the ukulele. Chris has released two solo records titled The Regimen (2003) and Hello Freedom (2005).
Jacob Silver plays electric and upright bass.
Musical Style
The Mammals play a style heavily influenced by traditional Appalachian folk music and their own motto is "Trad is Rad". Their influences are folk, old time music and rock and roll.
“Music is music. People think that The Mammals have pushed and broadened the boundaries of folk music. I think we've barely even started. There are no boundaries. There are conventions.” [3]
"We've been called a band that takes old music and makes it sound new," Mike Merenda said. "On this album [Departure] we take new music and make it sound old. We play these instruments because they're the instruments we know how to play, but what's exciting is to take them out of the realm of expectation. "[4]
Performances
The Mammals have performed nationally in the USA, and internationally in Canada and Australia.
In 2007 the Mammals toured Australia, including performing at the National Folk Festival.
They tour the USA on their "Western Migration Tour", visiting cities on the West coast and in the Midwest and southern US and during the summer months they play at many folk festivals. When possible, The Mammals pair up with the Duhks to form Platypus. They are set to play the 2007 High Sierra Music Festival.
They have been supporting acts for Nickel Creek (2006), Los Lobos (2006), and Arlo Guthrie for Alice's Restaurant 40th Anniversary Masacree Tour.
Side Projects
Tao and Jacob also perform together in The Anarchist Orchestra with Laura Cortese and Robin McMillan. Jacob is also in the bands Wild Band of Snee and Throwing Stars. Tao recorded an album with Puerto Rican folk singer Roy Brown Ramirez and Tito Auger, lead singer for Puerto Rican rock group Fiel A La Vega "Que Vaya Bien" [5].
Ruth and Mike married in October 2006 and perform together as the duo group FloraFauna and with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason in the Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band.
Ruth performs in Sometymes Why and the Wayfaring Strangers.
Ruth, Mike and Chris have solo CDs. Chris also fronts an indie rock band called Chewy.
Discography
They have released four albums, and one EP. The most recent two albums have been released on Signature Sounds:
- Born Live (2001)
- Evolver (2002)
- Migration (EP)(2004)
- Rock That Babe (2004)
- Departure (2006)
Notes
- ^ Himes, Geoffrey "Old School" Baltimore City Paper 26 November, 2004. Retrieved 4 September, 2007
- ^ Himes, Geoffrey "Old School" Baltimore City Paper 26 November, 2004. Retrieved 4 September, 2007
- ^ [1]. Retrieved 4 September, 2007
- ^ Himes, Geoffery, The New York Times "A New Wave of Musicians Updates That Old-Time Sound" 5 November, 2006. Retrieved 14 April, 2007.
- ^ "Que Vaya Bien"