Showing posts with label Mike & The Mellotones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mike & The Mellotones. Show all posts

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Mike & The Mellotones - Wild Live Action

Year: 2002
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:01
Size: 167,9 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Front, sleeve, tray

1. No Cavalry Behind (w. Geoff Achison) (4:44)
2. Don't Raise Their Kids No More (w. Mike Morgan) (9:46)
3. Anything At All (w. Mike Morgan) (5:42)
4. Jungle (w. Geoff Achison) (8:12)
5. Wedding From Hell (w. Geoff Achison) (7:08)
6. Money, Politics & Religion (w. Geoff Achison) (11:08)
7. Let That Man Thing Be Strong (w. Mike Morgan) (10:34)
8. Showdown (w. Gary Primich) (3:55)
9. The Devil Is A Woman (w. Geoff Achison) (11:49)

This band was founded in 1993 by singer/guitarist Mike ‘The Kid’ Donkers and bass player Jules ‘Lord Julius’ van Brakel. Both Mike and Jules were dissatisfied with the band they were playing in and decided to get together one Sunday afternoon. Mike had a love for Texas blues, particularly Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Anson Funderburgh, and Jules was crazy about Ronnie Earl and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

It didn’t take long for them to decide they should form a new band together. “But where are we going to find a drummer?”, Mike asked. Jules said he knew just the guy. This turned out to be Jules’s rhythm partner, Guido ‘El Guido’ Willemsen. Mike and Jules decided right there and then they would quit their bands and form a Texas Blues trio. One morning soon after that Mike literally woke up with a name for the band – Mike & the Mellotones. This was, of course, based on such names as Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets.

When Mike & the Mellotones came on the Dutch blues scene, there was no other band like them. It seemed like everybody was trying to copy the Chicago blues sound and they all sported hats, shades, beards, and Gibson guitars. Along came Mike & the Mellotones with greased-back hairdos, Fender Stratocasters and sharp suits, introducng Dutch blues audiences (and soon international blues enthusiasts) to their particular brand of Texas blues. They took the blues scene by storm, often playing long sets for wild crowds.

Wild Live Action mc
Wild Live Action zippy

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Mike & The Mellotones (Feat. Monster Mike Welch) - Mike & The Mellotones

Year: 1997
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:24
Size: 162,5 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. Don't Raise Their Kids No More (4:28)
2. How Long (5:40)
3. Things I'd Do For You (3:43)
4. Sen-Sa-Shun (3:23)
5. Don't Put Me On Hold (5:19)
6. Cold Hands (4:55)
7. Mellotone Groove (4:18)
8. Things That Might Have Been (4:38)
9. Snobound (6:19)
10. Too Much Too Fast (3:40)
11. Blues Is My Religion (10:44)
12. Leave Well Enough Alone (5:41)
13. Honest I Do (3:18)
14. Nicky (4:13)

This band was founded in 1993 by singer/guitarist Mike ‘The Kid’ Donkers and bass player Jules ‘Lord Julius’ van Brakel. Both Mike and Jules were dissatisfied with the band they were playing in and decided to get together one Sunday afternoon. Mike had a love for Texas blues, particularly Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Anson Funderburgh, and Jules was crazy about Ronnie Earl and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

It didn’t take long for them to decide they should form a new band together. “But where are we going to find a drummer?”, Mike asked. Jules said he knew just the guy. This turned out to be Jules’s rhythm partner, Guido ‘El Guido’ Willemsen. Mike and Jules decided right there and then they would quit their bands and form a Texas Blues trio. One morning soon after that Mike literally woke up with a name for the band – Mike & the Mellotones. This was, of course, based on such names as Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets.

When Mike & the Mellotones came on the Dutch blues scene, there was no other band like them. It seemed like everybody was trying to copy the Chicago blues sound and they all sported hats, shades, beards, and Gibson guitars. Along came Mike & the Mellotones with greased-back hairdos, Fender Stratocasters and sharp suits, introducng Dutch blues audiences (and soon international blues enthusiasts) to their particular brand of Texas blues. They took the blues scene by storm, often playing long sets for wild crowds.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Mike & The Mellotones mc
Mike & The Mellotones zippy

Monday, December 22, 2014

Mike & The Mellotones - 1+1=3

Released: 2012
Size: 94.2 MB
Time: 41:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Styles: Electric, Rockin' Blues
Art: Front

1. 1 + 1 = 3 [3:15]
2. Just A Dream [4:13]
3. He's Gonna Step On You Again [3:57]
4. Stand Tall! [4:47]
5. W-O-R-R-Y [5:02]
6. Moan And Groan [2:35]
7. Ready Freddy! [3:02]
8. Blue Chase [3:17]
9. I Declare [3:09]
10. No Sympathy [4:14]
11. Encore Enrico! [3:29]

With their album “1+1=3” these guys prove once again they belong to the top of their craft. An excellent album by a band that has earned its spurs , but does not rest on its laurels and continues to evolve.
The band has reinvented itself, the songs are catchy, stylish and add something new. “1+1=3” is proof that Mike & the Mellotones still count after almost 20 years and belong to the top, and this new musical calling card will be eagerly received by many a blues/roots enthusiast.
In my view, Mike Donkers is somewhat underestimated as a guitarist by the public. With Enrico Crivellaro as a benchmark, however, he definitely holds his own here. It has taken a while, but “1+1=3” was well worth the wait.


1 + 1 = 3