mandible

WELCOME!!!

Mandible is a pretentious experimental band from Columbia, SC. We attempt a number of different styles (e.g., indie rock, noise, freeform improv, performance art, etc.) and abuse our instruments in various ways in order to capture new sounds and textures.

Members include:

MIKE COLEMAN (aka Karakul, the sheep): guitars, synths, samples, vocals, tapes, and percussives

SPENCER MADSEN (aka Spensaur, the hypnotized lobster): guitars, synths, toys, vocals, and pick squeals

JASON MULLINAX (aka Pilesar, the horny elf): percussion, drums, toys, vocals, and various rumblings

BONE KRUSHER: crowd control, bible pusher

(other members include MYSTERIOSO THE VIRTUOSO and ZZ, who have both made numerous contributions to the vast repertoire of recorded Mandible music)
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Well, speaking of "recorded Mandible music," we have currently finished the first of two official releases. The completed album is entitled ORPHEUS and will be available exclusively at our live shows, from our website, and the NOTHING INSIDE website. It's an abstract concept album based on the life of Orpheus the pig. Following closely behind will be ART NADA, our second full-length release. Both will be off of the newly formed MILLARD FILLMORE COLLECTIVE site (see link below). If you are interested in ordering ORPHEUS($5 US), or just want some info on band happenings, please send us an email and we'll add you to our mailing list. Also, come to our live shows because we will usually have some sort of material available. Support your local music scene!!!

SHOWS:

As of this very moment we have one show lined up for August and a few more in the works.

DATES:

AUGUST 26, 2000: Private party in Cayce
w/ Damitol and Godstink

PREVIOUS SHOWS:

Considering that we've been together for over a year, we've played relatively few shows. Eight to be exact. Here's a brief summary of each:

Show #1: I think that it was in September (my girlfriend thinks that it was in November) and we opened up at The New Brookland Tavern for The Goodtimes Mountain Jamboree Band (which is another Columbia band that I happened to be a member of at that time. They are now called Death To Van Gogh's Ear and they are really good. Go see them). We played a 15-20 minute set as a duo, (in full costume too). Bone Krusher dragged us on stage one by one and poured water on us to "activate" us. Mike played guitars and I played the microphone and 4-track. Mike improvised over my vocal samples and then we simultaneously mutilated "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi and "Sweet Dreams (are made of this)" by the Eurythmics. We ended the show with a vocal jam and with Bone Krusher knocking us unconscious and dragging us off the stage again. We let our instruments feed back for the remainder of the set. It rocked.

Show #2: It was a cold Thursday night in January. Our first performance as a trio and at the Gallery 701. This show we decided to lay low on the spectacle and focus more on the music. We were opening up for Davey Williams (an avant-garde guitarist we in Mandible hold a high regard for) and Kevin Green (a Columbia based percussionist). Our set consisted of a 30 minute version of our song "Shield-Eater." The original can be found on the upcoming ART NADA release and clocks in at a mere 4 minutes (if even that). The show went relatively well considering that we had to start 45 minutes late and without a sound check. We sold a tape and left feeling a little disappointed.

Show #3: This was a private show that we played in Cayce, SC. It happened to fall on the same day as show #4 (which I'll discuss later) and we thought that it would be a good warm-up. It was. After a short but blistering set by Damitol (another local favorite), We opened with our rendition of "Ohio" by CSN&Y and then burned through three originals, "Mrs. Hatchell", "There's Nothing More Evil (Than That Rock n' Roll)", and "Potato Canon". Overall, it was a great show and it really primed us up for the next show later that night.

Show #4: By far the best show we've played yet (well, at least until show #8). We opened with a medley between "Mrs. Hatchell" and "There's Nothing More Evil", plowed through "Potato Canon" and closed with a very different but equally impressive version of "Ohio." This show is notable because Bone Krusher passed out bibles during the second verse of "There's Nothing More Evil" to a somewhat confused crowd. Also, it set the standard for shows to come.

Show #5: This was a show with Kinoeye at the Art Bar. It was kind of a last minute thing but we managed to pull it all together. We played a short set that started with a nice slow and building improv, segued into a version of "Theme from Time Expired" (the soundtrack music that we did), and closed with more improv. It was a very ambient show. We all felt good about it afterwards and gave away a few ORPHEUS CD's. Interesting notes: this was our first show without Bone Krusher (he was taking over China at the time) and "Funny-Drunken-Redneck-Guy" did an interpretive dance for us.

Show #6: This was our second show with Kinoeye and our first with LARb. The show started a little late but the turnout was great. We opened with another slow-building improv and segued into a song that we are tentatively calling "Sacraments." We then worked our way into more improv and ended with "Theme form Time Expired." We all felt very good about this one as well. Interesting notes: Bone Krusher made his triumphant return for this show; "Funny-Drunken-Redneck-Guy" unfortunately didn't show up this time; jesus made a special guest appearance; we had alot of technical difficulties (and depending on who you ask, this may have been a good thing).

Show #7: This show was in Myrtle Beach, SC with Damitol and Glitch, and it sucked on many different levels. First of all, we received word upon entering the venue that some guy had died a week before and there was going to be a benefit concert held that same night. Unfortunately for us that meant that everyone who was going to attend our show would be there instead. So we basically played for Glitch, Damitol, and our friends that travelled with us. Secondly, we didn't play very well. There were some nice moments but overall we have been much stronger. We played pretty much the same set as show #4 with a few nods to some of our favorite bands and a new song called "Porcupine." Interesting notes: Bone Krusher forgot his mask, so we taped a t-shirt around his head; this was Mandible's first out-of-town show.

Show #8: This show was opening up for Shipping News and Man or Astroman? As far as group dynamics, audience participation, and musical execution is concerned, I would have to say that this was the best show that we've yet to play. Basically, we played the same set as show #7 but we decided to approach it a little differently. As usual, we had technical difficulties but that's almost becoming expected as part of our live show. We made the best of it and pulled off one of the best shows of Mandible's career. Interesting notes: Someone stole the jesus statue before the show so Bone Krusher had to regulate; Spence accidentally unplugged himself during his solo in "Porcupine," so the song turned into the extended dance mix until he could figure out what happened; John did not show us the bracelet; Bone Krusher forgot the bibles.
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INTERESTING NEWS:

FLASH!!! New Mandible site is up! Go check it out by clicking the link below.

MORE MANDIBLE THAN YOU CAN HANDIBLE

MANDIBLE IS THE ANSWER