Mondo Drag - S/T (Oakland US 2015 on CD)

The highly anticipated second album by Oakland's finest heavy-psych-rockers MONDO DRAG contains seven analogue recorded tracks.

Under the spiritual guidance of the forefathers of heavy psych, prog, and proto-
metal, Mondo Drag has created an amalgamation of sounds the likes of which have not resounded through the atmosphere for decades. The band's unique sound, and rare cohesion probably stem from the fact that core members John Gamino, Nolan Girard, and Jake Sheley actually grew up within a one mile radius from each other, attended the same schools, were a part of the same scene, and have played music with each other for 15 years. 

The album was recorded in the Winter of 2011/2012 at Future Appletree Studios Too with Patrick Stolley and features the rhythm section of Cory Berry and Zack Anderson (Radio Moscow, Blues Pills). 

The album's cover art was designed by talented and far-out artist, Robert Beatty. His unique style and surreal, other-worldly landscapes were perfect for this album.

Produced, engineered & mixed by Mondo Drag and Patrick Stolley. Mastered by Jim Brick. Buy the album at: Mondo Drag CD

01. Zephyr 2:34 
02. Crystal Visions Open Eyes 4:36 
03. The Dawn 3:04 
04. Plumajilla 6:40 
05. Shifting Sands 5:24 
06. Pillars Of The Sky 6:45 
07. Snakeskin 6:10

BIOGRAPHY

Under the spiritual guidance of the forefathers of heavy psych, prog, and proto-metal, Mondo Drag has created an amalgamation of sounds the likes of which have not resounded through the atmosphere for decades.  The bands unique sound, and rare cohesion probably stem from the fact that core members John Gamino, Nolan Girard, and Jake Sheley actually grew up within a one mile radius from each other, attended the same schools, were a part of the same scene, and have played music with each other for 15 years.

The band’s stellar live performances have become a thing of wonder and have seen the band share stages with contemporary artists such as Nik Turner's Hawkwind, Kadavar, Dead Meadow, Witchcraft, Pentagram, Black Mountain, Wooden Shjips, and The Black Keys to name a few. 

The release of New Rituals (Alive Records), saw the band touring the US extensively, appearing at many high-profile fests around the country including several official showcases at SXSW (and a dozen more unofficial ones) and headlining slots at both the Chicago Pysch Fest and the Cincy Psych Fest.  You can also find them on the Austin Psych Fest 3 DVD (w/ The Black Angels, The Warlocks, Warpaint, et al.). 

The band caravanned across the country last year, settling in Oakland, CA.  They will be releasing their 2nd LP on January 16th, 2015 on Kozmik Artifactz, which features the rhythm section of fast-rising Swedish-American rock band Blues Pills (Nuclear Blast).

Mondo Drag - Holy Spirit CD 2008 Auto-Production Records

01. Holy Spirit

02. Autumn Sun

03. Light as a Feather

04. Through the Eyes of Serpents

05. Deathrattles

06. Blackriver

07. My, Oh My

08. Cosmic Blues9. Into the Hollows

10. We Are Echoes

11. Bardo Cycle

12. Apple

Mondo Drag - New Rituals Alive Naturalsound Records 2010

Personnel: Johnnie Cluney (vocals, drums); Nolan Girard, Bambi Suits (vocals); Jake Sheley (guitar); Skye Merkle-Carrasco (violin); John Gamino (saxophone, keyboards).Additional personnel: Sean Moeller, Ryan Ruebling, Nicole Gregus, Nick Nielke, Melissa Gravert, Lindsay Schrloum, Joe Slonecker, Jen Lang, Jay Gamble, Hannah Harris, Dylan Moeller, Conza Borders, Chad Gooch, Andrew Knock, Amy Cronkleton, Troy Gooch, Stephanie Norden.Audio Mixers: Mondo Drag; Pat Stolley.Recording information: Future Appletree Studio Too (09/2009-10/2009).

It sounds like the five members of Iowa rock band Mondo Drag have spent a lot of time flipping through old LPs in local record stores, fishing out vinyl from late-`60s performers like the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Blue Cheer, then investigating how to replicate the guitar effects on those records. They may have worn out copies of the original Nuggets collection, too. The result on their debut album, New Rituals, is a set of tracks with the heavy feel of the hard rock of 1968. 

True to the eclecticism of that era, Mondo Drag throw in slower tempos here and there and even break out acoustic guitars for songs like "Come Through" and "Black River." But they don't necessarily stay with one tempo or set of chords throughout an entire track, sometimes shifting abruptly to something else, as when the slow closer "Tallest Tales" suddenly changes gears for a faster, harder coda to end the disc. One big difference between Mondo Drag's influences and their own performances is that the band de-emphasizes vocals, which, when they are there at all, are low in the mix and distorted. Large sections of New Rituals are instrumental, making this a psychedelic experience given over to guitar textures and spacy soundscapes.

01. New Rituals

02. Light as a Feather

03. Love Me (Like a Stranger)

04. Come Through

05. Fade Out

06. Serpent Snake

07. True Visions

08. Apple

09. Black River

10. Oh My My

11. Tallest Tales

Mondo Drag - Holy Spirit Sessions CD, Released date : March 2011 - Deep Cuts Records

Since the early 2010 release of their debut album New Rituals on Alive Records, the band has been touring coast to coast blowing back audiences’ hair with an unrivaled raw live sound. After making big splashes at SXSW and Austin Psych Fest 3 last Spring, the band looks forward to returning to Texas with an even bigger and more progressive sound than before."The fact is HOLY SPIRIT should be sought out by all lovers of anything groove based and heavy. Are you into guitar based heavy rock of the early 70’s? Well then buy this f**king album you will not regret it! People need to hear this album and realize that there are bands playing today that have taken this idiom a step further. HOLY SPIRIT is a heady mix that takes the listener on a trip into the stratosphere. It is a fantastic album that the world should hear!"

01. Holy Spirit

02. Autumn Sun

03. The Living Blues

04. Into the Hollows

05. We Are Echoes

06. Bardo Cycle

07. Apple (Extended Version)

Austin Psych Fest DVD 2010

The Austin Psych Fest 3 DVD features highlight performances from the 2010 festival. Bands in the film include The Raveonettes, The Black Angels, Silver Apples, Warpaint, Spindrift, The Warlocks, Pink Mountaintops, Headdress, Mondo Drag and more. Produced and directed by Oswald James with live audio recorded and mixed by The Pirate Studio.