 |
 |
 |
Mongrel by Name, Mongrel by Nature
Rock, Western and a host of other styles are put through the wringer – with honkytonk pianos & fourpart harmonies sitting side-by-side with New Orleans grooves, electric guitars and even the odd inflection of a synth, all underpinned by taut, inventive songwriting.
Mongrel State is a four-piece band from Dublin with a sound that incorporates a wide sonic palette - from Rockabilly to Rock, Latin-American grooves and Cinematic Western Scores. Aside from their unique songwriting, what really sets them apart is the fire, commitment and energy that goes into their live performances.
The members come from all over (hence inspiring the “Mongrel” of their title): Claudio Mercante – guitarist and vocals, from Italy; Darren Flynn – bassist and vocals, from Ireland, Sebastian Jezzi – drummer, percussionist and vocals, from Argentina and Guillermo González Rodríguez – pianist and vocals, from Spain. They have been drawn together, almost as if by fate, each bringing with them their own individual sound, to make up a whole which is definitely more than the sum of its parts.
They are currently putting the finishing touches to their latest album, working with producer Gavin Glass on what is turning out to be an amazing record.
Originally starting off in 2010 under the name “Moo”, the band has been gigging solidly for the last 5 years, continuing to write, evolve and develop their sound into the complex tapestry it has become. This culminated in their decision to change name completely early in 2015 to reflect their newer sound.
As Moo, they released two records – Wanted (2011) and Tall Tales (2013) – both available on iTunes, and had several other notable highlights in 2014 – touring the UK, headlining the Trailer Park Stage at the Electric Picnic, playing at Life Festival, Fortstock, Carlow Arts Festival, and Light Colour Sound to name but a few, along with touring extensively all over the country.
