OMG! Here Come The Mummies!

[ernstinen]

Hey All!

"Here Come The Mummies" is one of the best bands I've ever seen in a live concert! The band is from Nashville, and my sister turned me on to them by sending me a DVD. Here's what my sis told me: They're approximately an 11-piece band consisting of Nashville studio cats, with a few college professors thrown in. Since most of them are well-known musicians, they dress up like mummies, and tear the house down with their blend of funky rock and Zappa-like chops and vocals. I think they ALL sing, and the songs are send-ups of many styles, which are fairly risque in lyrical content. --- What they seem like to me is a bunch of pissed-off superb studio musicians who are getting "too old" to make a lot of $$ like "American Idol" singers playing live concerts, so they banded together and got this schtick working.

From what I hear, they are pretty regional to the Midwest, because they have to go back to their "straight jobs" on a tour bus. Shows are coming up in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne soon. From what I've seen on the DVD, if you like funky rock and a "stick-it-to-the-man" attitude, this is the band for you! Incredible players, singers, dancers, stage show etc. I thought it was going to be just a passing fancy for the "Mummies," but obviously they are SERIOUS about not being serious LOL! Trust me, these guys/gals (?) are a real hoot, and are some of the best players I've ever seen!

Your Reporter,

Ern

[robbylane]

Ern, I am sooooooo glad you posted about 'the Mummies. I had never heard of them, but after reading your post, I looked them up on Youtube and found several live performances! They are goofy and hilarious, yet tight!!! There are NO weak links in that band! Their songs are NOT predictable in structure. Tons of tasty stops and fills are added. My next pursuit is to find and purchase their DVD. I hope that other Taxi members will check them out! Watch and listen. You will likely find yourself "movin & groovin" in your computer chair, as I was.

Robby

[ernstinen]

Ern, I am sooooooo glad you posted about 'the Mummies. I had never heard of them, but after reading your post, I looked them up on Youtube and found several live performances! They are goofy and hilarious, yet tight!!! There are NO weak links in that band! Their songs are NOT predictable in structure. Tons of tasty stops and fills are added. My next pursuit is to find and purchase their DVD. I hope that other Taxi members will check them out! Watch and listen. You will likely find yourself "movin & groovin" in your computer chair, as I was.

Yeah, Robby, that's the Mummies, alright. BTW, the DVD my sister sent me is called "Here Come The Mummies: Undead Live!" It's really professionally done --- They must have spent a ton of Mummy Money to make it LOL! The horn section is tenor, bari, and two trumpets, and they all are excellent players, and play a LOT. The lead guitarist/singer is fantastic, the bassist has tone to kill for, the drummer is the best, and on and on. Can't say enough about 'em! The BG vocals are right on, and the high parts sound like there are female mummies singing, but it's hard to tell since they're all, er, mummies. They are a multi-racial band, too, but except for one horn player with mummy dreadlocks, that's also hard to tell LOL!

Ern

[mojobone]

I'll have to go dig 'em up, heh. Probably taking a cue from Unknown Hinson, purportedly a 400-year old vampire who looks a lot like a sixty year old human with a widow's peak, sideburns and a very authentic southern accent. (authentic enough to be the voice of Early Cuyler on Squidbillies) It's a shame and a sin that such talented people have to resort to schtick to get across such great music-you'd think only young and beautiful people could make any music at all, if you paid much attention to the mainstream. Unknown is also one hell of a guitar player and a super nice guy, btw, my band opened a show for him a couple years ago.

[robbylane]

Ern... I have to agree with everything you said about the Mummies. I watched a lot of their clips on Youtube...both the high-quality songs and also the lower-fi audience cam shots. What I love MOST about their sound is the bass guitar. Not only is the tone smooth and full, but the bass REALLY carries the melody and gives life to every tune. There are various GREAT songs in music history where the bass played such a vital role in "making the song" yet, it is so often overlooked.
Some of the most AWESOME bass can be heard on the first 3 Boston albums. Try learning THAT stuff, accurately!!!!
With the Mummies, I love how their are having such a great time individually, and acting zany NOT unlike Frank Zappa's band. For those of you who rent from Netflix, I strongly encourage you to rent (or purchase) Frank Zappa Live at The Pier in New York. He and his band were silly and entertaining with KILLER musicianship!!!
So, I have to thank you once again, Ern, for posting the Mummies info. Were it not for you, I might never have heard them!

Robby

[ernstinen]

Ern... I have to agree with everything you said about the Mummies. I watched a lot of their clips on Youtube...both the high-quality songs and also the lower-fi audience cam shots. What I love MOST about their sound is the bass guitar. Not only is the tone smooth and full, but the bass REALLY carries the melody and gives life to every tune. There are various GREAT songs in music history where the bass played such a vital role in "making the song" yet, it is so often overlooked.

I'll have to say "yup" again in my northern accent! I just LOVE good funk/rock, and I agree about the bass parts. One song is a take-off on James Brown, and I love to play funky guitar chords with a great bass player. --- Another song is a take-off from the late 70's songs like "Rollercoaster Of Love" (?) (been a long time since I played that style). But it seems all these Mummies HAVE played these styles, over and over, so it's like riding a bicycle for them! AND, the horn players have really complex parts, yet are NOT reading charts. Amazing! A lot of rehearsal went into this band, so it's not just a whim, as I previously said. Good stuff!

Ern

[drew]

What a lot of fun! We could do that, Ern, I even know the perfect gimmick.

My wife and I were watching TV one night when they played one of those funny viking credit card commercials, I said "Wow, those guys are repulsive", my sweet wife said "Yes, you could be one of them". Von could be our bass player, he'd fit right in too.

The Vikings, maybe we could get Favre to play with us.

[ernstinen]

What a lot of fun! We could do that, Ern, I even know the perfect gimmick.

My wife and I were watching TV one night when they played one of those funny viking credit card commercials, I said "Wow, those guys are repulsive", my sweet wife said "Yes, you could be one of them". Von could be our bass player, he'd fit right in too.

The Vikings, maybe we could get Favre to play with us.

LOL! Drew, yea, that would work! I'd even play rhythm guitar if I could sing lead. Or visa versa! Since I'm 1/2 Viking, I could get into character really easily. Favre would have to be the rapper, though, but that would fire up the crowd. I'd say let's go for it!

Ern

[jonathanm]

Favre would have to be the rapper, though, but that would fire up the crowd.

First single: "Pants On The Ground"

[ernstinen]

NEWSFLASH!!! .... In this biz, you never know, but supposedly "Here Come The Mummies" are going to open the show at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. for the "Pollstar Awards" on Wednesday, February 17th. It's a big break for the Mummies, even a bigger break than their rotten old bones!

http://herecomethemummies.com/index.php?p=113

Get Funky!

Ern