Mingo Fishtrap is seeking to audition a keyboard player (B3, Rhodes, Wurli, Clav, Piano, etc.) in the style of Soulive's Neal Evans, Richard Tee, the late great "5th Beatle" Billy Preston (to name just a few)

We are looking for someone who truly "uses" the drawbars on a B-3 (see above influences) and is deep into their sounds, equipment, arrangements and part creation. Someone who really loves to "dial it in" and tweek it, live and in recordings.
You should also understand the differences in playing style between, for example, a B3 and a Rhodes, or Piano and a Clav sound.

A great attitude and positive personality is a must as well.

Must either be living in the area of Austin, TX or interested in relocating to Austin, TX. We are also in the process of recording a new album.

If interested, please contact us here or via our website listed below where you can find more info about us, listen to us, watch video and check out our upcoming summer tour schedule so far.

You must have audio, video or both, of recent performances and recordings
to share.

Thanks for taking the time!

http://www.mingofishtrap.com
http://www.myspace.com/mingofishtrap

Kennedy Center Millenium Stage Performance

An incredible show at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage!

Our first show in Washington, D.C. just happened to be at the Kennedy Center! We played to a standing room only crowd at the Millenium Stage. It's truly difficult to put into words how cool this performance was. However, never fear, the Kennedy Center streamed live video of the concert and they keep an archive of the performances on their website!

See the video of the entire concert, on August 12th, here. (RealPlayer required to view video)

We could have continued late into the night with this fantastic audience that honored us with a full-house, standing ovation!

Look forward to many pictures in the soon-to-come multimedia gallery here on our new website.

It was amazing to see all of our friends and fans from the area who came out to see the show. Thank you all for coming out and showing all the "first-timers" that it was ok to get up on their feet at the Kennedy Center!

We hope to be back soon!

MUSIKFEST 2007

Our second trip to Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA proved to be even more memorable than the first!

Not only were we invited to headline for an unprecedented 2 nights in a row, but our first show held a surprise for us in the audience.

At the start of our show on the first night, every seat was full and after a song or two, we got some folks up to shake it around a little. I recall one particular gentleman, in the front row, had some really smooth moves. So, we finish our first set to take a small break and that very same gentleman came right up to Rog and I at the side of the stage. Something seemed vaguely familiar about this guy as we exchanged a few words and he mentioned he would be playing on this stage the next night. At that point, Roger voiced the thoughts already in my head: "Oh I'm afraid I don't want to know who you're here performing with.. " as he started to produce his business card.
Yup, time to jump-back. I mean, who would have thought that Bernard "Pretty" Purdie would be up dancing to our set at Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA? You might know that Bernard Purdie provided the unmistakeable beats behind none other than James Brown (Say it Loud, Get On the Good Foot, Star Time and more), King Curtis, Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin and the dizzying list goes on. If you don't believe he is one of the world's most recorded (and sampled) drummers, just take a look here! Truly, he was and is one of the great inspirations to us, as a band, myself, as a drummer, and soul, funk blues and R%26B music in general. Just imagine how we felt playing a James Brown medley in front of him on our 2nd set that night! What an incredible honor and what a wonderful person. Pictures to come soon!

The second night proved to be an even larger crowd on a bigger stage, even with the threatening rain. We even held off playing a requested song until the end of the night for the staff and volunteers! Hopefully, that showed, in a small way, our extreme gratitude for all of the organizers, staff and hard working volunteers of Musikfest! We truly hope to see y'all again soon!

See a review/blog of our show the second night here.

Austin Chronicle review of "Yesterday" 9.16.2005

"A waft of déjà vu hovers after spinning Mingo Fishtrap's new platter. Songs hit right from the get-go, like a friend of a friend you immediately dig after meeting. It's clear this funky Austin octet has a deep affinity for the title's alluded-to musical greats – Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power, Rejuvenation-era Meters. Yet this well-crafted album ain't about naked derivation: the 15 original tracks are as fresh as new car smell. The fourth release and second full-length of these Austin Music Award winners, Yesterday is a refinement of form and not a new stylistic direction. Wise choice, as their gumbo of tight 'n' punchy horns, deep rhythms, restless melodies, and emotive singing has garnered Mingo justified respect as a live powerhouse. Along with coast-to-coast tours, the booty-moving orchestra has shared stages with Parliament Funkadelic, Neville Brothers, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Ozomatli. But a set list ain't the same as a track list. Slower numbers like "Not the Same" and "Superman" may be suitable palate cleansers live, but here they stall an otherwise funky joyride, even if the vocals are as smooth as a chilled glass of Hennessy. Yet by launching Yesterday into the future, Mingo Fishtrap offers up one full-on funk party." - Texas Platters Record review by David Lynch

Read at the Austin Chronicle online here.


Recent live show review by NightFlying.com 11.11.2005

Oh yeah, these guys strike a funky groove right from jump street. This is the kind of music you want to listen to when you’ve been listening to too much dreary pose-rock. They make no bones about being in the business of getting you out of your seat and onto your feet. Jump up and shake it, baby, you cain’t break it and it will be good for you, from your thumpin’ heart right down to your twinklin’ toes. There’s a father/son team at work here: Roger Blevins, Sr is the bass player and Roger Blevins, Jr is the guitarist and lead vocalist. They are ably supported by Chip Vayenas on drums, Mark ‘Speedy’ Gonzales on trombone, Steven ‘no joke’ Butts on trumpet, Dan Bechdolt on tenor sax, Greg Wilson on baritone sax, and Aeron ‘Chong’ Riordan on gee, Dad, it’s a Wurlitzer. (For those of you who missed that reference, I refer you to Stan Freeburg and admonish you to get with it.) Mingo Fishtrap comes out of culturally advanced Austin, Texas and has played with the Neville Brothers, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Delbert McClinton, and, uh, okay, I’ll resist that urge. This project was recorded at Manor Productions in Austin and mastered by Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Digital Audio there. And for those of you who think if it ain’t rap it ain’t relevant, I urge you to check out “Off The Shed” (featuring Mojoe and Overlord). They close out with a cut called “Laid It Down” that has echoes of both Sam Cooke and Phil Harris. And if Mingo Fishtrap can’t make you shake it, Jack, you dead. - NightFlying.com

Visit us at Sonicbids EPK for more press, pics & downloads.

--
Download printable (.pdf) Press & Bio.
2003 Austin Music Awards "Best Jam Band"

2002 Austin Music Awards "Best Horns"

2002 Austin Music Awards "Best Funk Band"

2002 Austin Music Awards "Best Keyboardist"

2001 Austin Music Awards "Best Funk Band"  


REVIEWS:

"Make an effort to check out this fantastic band as soon as you can. You are

guaranteed a night of top-notch music and crazy fun with MINGO FISHTRAP."

Courtney Owen, MTV Online

"Masters of music and entertainment, the music was tight, the tunes were big

and moving. This is the kind of band that will swallow you with their talent. The

music turns and twists, it curls up inside of you, this is a band you cannot ignore."

Kristina Loye, MTV Online

"With their booming New Orleans inspired sound, tight arrangements and clever

lyrics, Mingo Fishtrap is a force unlike any other on the current music scene.

Their style defies classification and combines the best of jazz, funk, blues

and rock. If you come looking for a party Mingo Fishtrap will not let you down."

Digital City Music

"Mingo Fishtrap has a sound that'll leave you soul-satisfied and nicely overheated.

It's like eating gumbo—a spicy combination of rich sounds like New Orleans-style

R&B, blues, soul, salsa, funk, pop and rock...Believe the buzz, Mingo Fishtrap is

one of the hardest-working, most refreshing and inventive

bands to come to Austin."

Sarah Marmion, MSN

"Their major influences come from a variety of musical genres - Stevie Wonder,

Otis Redding, Tower of Power, and Dr. John. A virtual chameleon, critics and fans

categorize them as soul, jazz, funk, blues and rock. When asked what kind of music

they play, the band's only response is, "Good music." Listening to their catchy, funky

tunes, and watching the audience go wild, one has to agree."

unitic.com “I had eargasm.” Peg Simmons, KLBJ

Hey all.
Not being one to write on and on about the daily minutia of a band's goings on.. Our performance and partying at MusicWorld in Houston is definitely worth a healthy mention here!

This past weekend (2/17/06) we were invited to perform as a part of their big weekend bash for the big NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston, TX. Our friend's hip-hop/soul group, Mojoe, which Roger produced their first album, were being officially signed on to the Music World Entertainment family. Ya gotta check em out.


How gracious and helpful everyone of the people we met there were was only made more amazing by the amount of work they were trying to accomplish by the evenings festivities.
They were putting together and finishing a brand new on-campus, multi-media "venue" for the main part that evening. Folks, this looked like Monster Garage, or While You Were Out.. seriously. People were everywhere frantically unwrapping furniture, assembling pool tables, installing bathroom fixtures, painting walls, assembling a bar, lights, video monitors, stage, you name it.

With all of this going on our hostess was MORE than happy to take us on a tour and introduce us to just about everyone involved with this organization. Started and known generally as the "Destiny's Child" family, Mr. Mathew Knowles (yeah, Beyonce's dad) was on hand to not only meet every one of us, but visit with us, even in all this hectic preparation, throughout the entire afternoon and evening.
Yeah, these are good people.

Check out this article on Mr. Knowles I came across
which took place at my old Alma Mater->Mathew Knowles "lecture" at Berklee College of Music

Pigging out on a lunch of wings, dirty rice and shrimp creole (right before we played), we did our thang and were beginning to pack up and reset for the next group when in walks someone we have actually had the distinct pleasure of opening up for before. The one and only, George Clinton, of P-Funk or Parliament Funkadelic!

Yeah, good times fo sho.

Sitting on brand-spankin' new couches in the upper lounge of the newly constructed music-venue area of Music World, munching on Sushi and sipping a drink or two, our only thing left to do was go support our boys, Mojoe!

Helping them open up their 3rd song, with a Second-Line N'awlins style march to begin "3rd Coast Anthem" off their first album. Spent the rest of their show shakin' ass and watching Rog tear it up with their band on guitar.
Just when you thought we could head to the hotel, kick back, get some much needed rest before our show the next night, uh oh, word has it John Travolta is on his way. Hah! "My main man from Englewood!" .. or "Vinnie Barbarino" depending on your age/memory-cells.

One fantasticly crazy day/night to be sure.