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the Mimsies
 
Style(s): Modern Rock
Location: LA, CA
Label: trash and rock & roll records
Manager: none
Booking: 818-694-2167
A supernova of sex, sweat and rock-n-roll: How else to describe the Oklahoma-bred Mimsies’ explosion on the L.A. music scene? Actually, there are quite a few other ways. The L.A. Weekly, no small potatoes there, hails them as “Siouxsie & the Banshees meets Motley Crue,” and calls lead songstress Casey Shelton an “in-the-moment and only-in-your-dreams glitter punk diva equal parts Gwen Stefani and Pat Benatar.” Rival publication New Times Los Angeles, in a rare concurrence, praises the “glittery trash-glam quartet” as the best thing since waffles and fried chicken, and advises readers to “get your autograph, piece of clothing, or roll-in-the-sack before the Mimsies blow up like a jumbo-sized vinyl love doll.” Hel-lo, people: There are a gazillion bands in La-la Land, humpin’ those mean Hollywood streets lookin’ for a good review, a kind word, a quarter – whatever. But when it comes to the Mimsies, the vaunted Fourth Estate is reduced to a pack of tongue-wagging basset hounds. And they’re not the only ones. Club owners, label reps, assorted industry types and, most importantly, an ever-expanding base of devoted fans see the Mimsies as a talent-laden threesome destined for greatness, or even better, their own segment on MTV’s “Cribs.” You see, the word is out, and the playa-hatas better step to the curb, the Mimsies are on the rise. But who are the Mimsies and what does that friggin’ name mean? Last query first: "mimsy" is a portmanteau word (get your dictionary out) from Lewis Carroll meaning both miserable and flimsy. The group itself is neither miserable nor flimsy, so go figure. But that name’s way cool, so they’re keeping it. The group's first guitarist came up with it back inthe day when the Mimsies, with a different lineup, were playing in and around Norman, Oklahoma. With a couple of lineup changes, the group evolved like early man rising from the primordial swamp into its current Guns-n-Roses-esque, rockstar-god-and-goddess status. On the roster, there’s the well-tattooed Bryan Showalter on bass. Equally comfortable with bass, guitar or drums, Bryan's the Mimsy most likely to be caught doing tai chi in the parking lot before a gig. Guitar hero duties fall to the incredibly versatile Jerod Vance. The blonde boy-toy surfer hunk is so laid back, he could’ve been born in SoCal and has been known to answer to "Spicoli". Last but certainly not least is that stage-diving, bar-dancing ball-o-fire brunette vocalist Casey Shelton, about whom it has been said, " she looks like Natalie Wood, sings like Janis Joplin and performs like Iggy Pop." Before the Mimsies did their “Road Rules” bit and headed west, where legend has it the boulevards are paved with platinum records, they were the hottest band in Oklahoma. (They still are whenever they’re back home.) They won just about everything they could win, save for the blue ribbon at the state fair for pickled onions, and you can bet Casey was workin’ on her recipe. They triumphed at the 1998 Oklahoma Talent Showcase, were voted Best of Oklahoma 2000 on Mp3’s American Top 50, and on and on. But crikey, their mantelpiece was plum full! So soon they were all singin’ “California, Here We Come.” Now they’re an L.A. band, with their first CD on tap, the aptly titled “Trash and Rock and Roll,” but don’t be fooled by their good looks and come-hither stares. These kiddies got the goods – pure “glam-bam-thank-you-ma’am” tail-rippin’ rock that’ll make you holler at the moon just like you swallowed a fistful of magic mushrooms and chased them down with a quart of J.D. Singles like “Cherry Cordial” and the title song of “Trash and Rock & Roll” make you pine for the days when rockers spat fire, trashed hotel rooms and seduced farm daughters right out of their jammies. But don’t dwell on what was folks, the Mimsies are coming to a club near you soon, and they’ll make it feel like the first time all over again. Come on down, and give it up to the Mimsies, ‘cause if you don’t, you’ll wish you had. |
