Those Mockingbirds Are Back (They Never Left) and Playing Wonder Bar (Acoustically) on 10/24, Maxwell's Tavern (Electrically) on 10/30

Change Is Good

Those Mockingbirds at The Stone Pony in February 2015

If I go by the pictures I have in my galleries, then the last time I saw Those Mockingbirds play live was during the final of the WRAT Jersey Rock Showcase back in February at The Stone Pony. The Montclair then 5-piece took the title and walked away with a beautiful Gibson acoustic guitar courtesy of Russo Music, 10 hours of recording time at Lakehouse Recording Studios, and a promise of several weeks worth of rotation on 95.9 The Rat. Their single "How to Rob a Bank" from last year's Penny the Dreadful did make it into heavy rotation on the station; and texts from friends on the Jersey Shore saying, "I just heard your song!" flowed in. Since then, I think there have been a few acoustic sets from frontman Adam Bird and maybe other members of the band; but, on the whole, Those Mockingbirds have been kind of quiet.

Adam messaged me several weeks ago to tell me that the band were preparing to release a new single and get back out for some shows. Would I like to come and hear a few of the new songs and have a chat about what the band's been up to, he asked. Our schedules finally aligned earlier this week, and I headed up to meet Those Mockingbirds at their practice space in Montclair. I can say, for sure, that not only have Those Mockingbirds been very busy during this period of relative quiet; but they're also ready to hit the ground running with a somewhat altered lineup and a leaner sound.

Following the departures of bassist Rob Fitzpatrick and keyboardist / violinist Tory Anne Daines, Those Mockingbirds wrote songs as the trio of Bird, Kyle Walters (guitar), and Kevin Walters (drums).

"We were writing songs right away," said Adam Bird. "We kind of kept our mouths shut and just figured that some people are gonna think that we're not a band anymore. Some people will ask us what the hell's going on, and some people won't give a fuck."

The band plugged away at new songs and started to find themselves moving in new directions.

Drummer Kevin Walters told me, "It was just the three of us in the room, and it was like, 'This is different.' But it was interesting different... ...A few less cooks in the kitchen. Not that it changed the writing dynamic for better or worse, but it was just different."

"We had a policy right away where we were like, 'We're not gonna change our practice schedule. It's just gonna be the three of us,'" said Bird. "I played bass for a little bit. It made rhythm come a lot more to the forefront."

Kevin Walters again, "That was a conscious thing. 'Let's find a beat that we like and just kind of roll with it.'"

The band have since added bassist Leanne Bowes and settled in to life as a quartet. The four-piece played five of their new songs for me. Selections ranged from the almost poppy, hook-driven "Cool Island Song" to the heavy "I Was Glass." Even in the heavier, harder rocking moments, there's been a move away from some of the gothic darkness of the band's earlier work. It was just a rehearsal, but the songs sounded tight. I could feel that Those Mockingbirds have settled into a comfortable place with the new material, and their excitement was obvious.

"I am so happy with the new songs that I am not really worried what people think about them because I am THAT happy with them," said Bird. "Of course, I hope that everybody loves it; but I'm just so psyched on it."

Those Mockingbirds are preparing to release a new single. They put their Lakehouse recording time to good use and worked there with John Agnello (who's worked with Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, and The Hold Steady to name just a few). "How the Story Goes" will be the first recorded taste of where the band are headed. As for the other songs they played for me on Wednesday night and the many others they've accumulated over the last several months, the band are still in the planning stages.

"You're about 18 months out from the release of Penny the Dreadful, right?" I asked.

"Yeah. A year and three or four months," confirmed Bird. "About time for new music."

You've got two chances in the next week or so to catch the revitalized Those Mockingbirds and to hear some of their new songs. This Saturday, October 24th, they'll be joining Dark City Entertainment's monthly Asbury Unplugged lineup. Those Mockingbirds will play as a full band, all acoustic. Then, next Friday, October 30th, the band play their first-ever show at the new Maxwell's Tavern in Hoboken. Joining them for that show are Franchise, Arrows In Her, and Archie Alone.

If you can, try to make it to one of those shows and say hi to new bassist Leanne. Then stay tuned here for more information as Those Mockingbirds hit us with new music. They're still here and you'll be hearing lots from them soon.