Mambo Sons
Encyclopedia
Mambo Sons http://www.modernguitars.com/imagefiles/guerra/interview/blue.gif is an American guitar-based rock and roll indie trio led by guitarist Tom Guerra
and vocalist/bassist Scott Lawson, and rounded out by drummer Joe "the Cat" Lemieux. Taking their name from the old Marc Bolan
song "Mambo Sun", the duo created the band as an avenue to write and perform original rock & roll music.
Friends and musical partners-in-crime for over two decades, Guerra and Lawson first met in 1981 and were united by a goal to perform original rock & roll and blues. Said Tom Guerra
in a recent interview with Modern Guitars magazine, "Scott and I have been close friends since our freshman year of college. He was walking through the courtyard one day on campus, and simply followed the music he heard. I was playing (Paul Kossoff
) Free's 'I'm a Mover' on my Les Paul Junior through an Ampeg V4 stack, at full volume, considerate person that I was. I had my door open, and when I took a break, he popped his head in the door sideways and said, 'I know that tune!'. Over the years we both had our own groups, but we'd frequently sit in with each other and write together. I knew if I was ever given the chance to do my own thing, that I wanted Scott to sing and co-write, so when that happened in 1999, we already had about 15 songs to choose from."
Since forming in 1999, Mambo Sons have released four full length cds in the genre of guitar based rock and roll. Their self-titled debut album "Mambo Sons", released in late 1999, featured guitarist extraordinaire Rick Derringer
and legendary bassist Kenny Aaronson
. The Mambo Sons album was immediately met with positive reviews, resulting in the formation of the group Mambo Sons by Lawson and Guerra. Mambo Sons second disc "Play Some Rock & Roll!" was released in late 2002 and named top indie release of the year by NYRock magazine, and their 2005 "Racket of Three" was called album of the year in Pattaya Thailand by legendary rock and roll author Mott the Dog.
In March 2009, the band was in the studio finishing up tracks for their fourth album, and lead singer Scotty Mambo (Scott Lawson) accepted an invitation from the Wallace Stegner
house in Canada to serve as March '09 artist-in-residence.
On Aug. 1, 2009, Mambo Sons released a 20 song double album entitled "Heavy Days," which will no doubt satisfy their fans and attract legions more. Songs on the two disc set include "The Early Train," "She Just Wants to Ride," "Overend Watts" (about the legendary Mott the Hoople bassist Peter Watts (musician)
). and an energetic live cover of the Jimi Hendrix
classic Stone Free
. Said Modern Guitars Magazine
editor Tom Watson "HEAVY DAYS is a summer night kaleidoscope of classic rock. A great listen. Makes me want to visit Mambo Sons live."
In early 2010, the Cleveland, Ohio based "Rock and Roll Report" said "Mambo Sons 'Heavy Days' is the best straight out rock and roll album of the year!"
All records have been critically acclaimed as the group currently enjoys considerable cult status in the Northeast United States, if not widespread popularity, as well as a substantial fan base throughout Eastern Europe and Asia.
Website is http://www.MamboSons.com
DISCOGRAPHY:
Mambo Sons "Heavy Days" double album (2009)
Mambo Sons "Racket of Three" (2005)
Mambo Sons "Play Some Rock & Roll!" (2002)
Mambo Sons "Mambo Sons" (1999)
Tom Guerra
Tom Guerra of Hartford, Connecticut is an American guitarist.Since the late 1970s, Guerra has been a popular guitarist on the New England club circuit, playing with a host of leading blues, rock n' roll and R&B acts...
and vocalist/bassist Scott Lawson, and rounded out by drummer Joe "the Cat" Lemieux. Taking their name from the old Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
song "Mambo Sun", the duo created the band as an avenue to write and perform original rock & roll music.
Friends and musical partners-in-crime for over two decades, Guerra and Lawson first met in 1981 and were united by a goal to perform original rock & roll and blues. Said Tom Guerra
Tom Guerra
Tom Guerra of Hartford, Connecticut is an American guitarist.Since the late 1970s, Guerra has been a popular guitarist on the New England club circuit, playing with a host of leading blues, rock n' roll and R&B acts...
in a recent interview with Modern Guitars magazine, "Scott and I have been close friends since our freshman year of college. He was walking through the courtyard one day on campus, and simply followed the music he heard. I was playing (Paul Kossoff
Paul Kossoff
Paul Francis Kossoff was an English rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Free.Kossoff was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" -Early days:...
) Free's 'I'm a Mover' on my Les Paul Junior through an Ampeg V4 stack, at full volume, considerate person that I was. I had my door open, and when I took a break, he popped his head in the door sideways and said, 'I know that tune!'. Over the years we both had our own groups, but we'd frequently sit in with each other and write together. I knew if I was ever given the chance to do my own thing, that I wanted Scott to sing and co-write, so when that happened in 1999, we already had about 15 songs to choose from."
Since forming in 1999, Mambo Sons have released four full length cds in the genre of guitar based rock and roll. Their self-titled debut album "Mambo Sons", released in late 1999, featured guitarist extraordinaire Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
and legendary bassist Kenny Aaronson
Kenny Aaronson
Kenny Aaronson is an American bass guitar player.- Early life and career :He started playing drums at the age of eleven, following in his older brother's footsteps. Kenny switched to electric bass at the age 14 after becoming enamored by the bass on Motown records and was strongly influenced by...
. The Mambo Sons album was immediately met with positive reviews, resulting in the formation of the group Mambo Sons by Lawson and Guerra. Mambo Sons second disc "Play Some Rock & Roll!" was released in late 2002 and named top indie release of the year by NYRock magazine, and their 2005 "Racket of Three" was called album of the year in Pattaya Thailand by legendary rock and roll author Mott the Dog.
In March 2009, the band was in the studio finishing up tracks for their fourth album, and lead singer Scotty Mambo (Scott Lawson) accepted an invitation from the Wallace Stegner
Wallace Stegner
Wallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist, often called "The Dean of Western Writers"...
house in Canada to serve as March '09 artist-in-residence.
On Aug. 1, 2009, Mambo Sons released a 20 song double album entitled "Heavy Days," which will no doubt satisfy their fans and attract legions more. Songs on the two disc set include "The Early Train," "She Just Wants to Ride," "Overend Watts" (about the legendary Mott the Hoople bassist Peter Watts (musician)
Peter Watts (musician)
Peter Overend Watts is a bass guitar player and founding member of 1970s rock band, Mott the Hoople....
). and an energetic live cover of the Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
classic Stone Free
Stone Free
"Stone Free" is a song by Jimi Hendrix, the first song he wrote. The Jimi Hendrix Experience first released it in December 1966 as the B-side of Hendrix's first single "Hey Joe." In December 1969 "Stone Free" was released as a single in the US, backed with "If 6 Was 9."The song is one of the few...
. Said Modern Guitars Magazine
Modern Guitars Magazine
Modern Guitars Magazine is a free online publication providing news and information about everything related to guitars, from technical information to guitar-related lifestyle stories.-MG Magazine Columns:*"Tech Talk" by Scott VanderWall...
editor Tom Watson "HEAVY DAYS is a summer night kaleidoscope of classic rock. A great listen. Makes me want to visit Mambo Sons live."
In early 2010, the Cleveland, Ohio based "Rock and Roll Report" said "Mambo Sons 'Heavy Days' is the best straight out rock and roll album of the year!"
All records have been critically acclaimed as the group currently enjoys considerable cult status in the Northeast United States, if not widespread popularity, as well as a substantial fan base throughout Eastern Europe and Asia.
Website is http://www.MamboSons.com
DISCOGRAPHY:
Mambo Sons "Heavy Days" double album (2009)
Mambo Sons "Racket of Three" (2005)
Mambo Sons "Play Some Rock & Roll!" (2002)
Mambo Sons "Mambo Sons" (1999)