14 TRACKS FOR ABOUT 60 MINUTES!!!

If you can't see us, and want our CD you can mail $12 ($10 for CD + $2 shipping) to

MIKE KOLESAR

PO BOX 11294
Pittsburgh, PA 15238

and we'll send y'all a CD

Here is a review of the CD: From "In Pittsburgh"

MON GUMBO MISSISSIPPI TAKES FOREVER S e l f - r e l e a s e d THE MOST TERRIFIC thing about living in a Polish town is, if you look, you'll find people who play the most underrated rock 'n' roll instrument there is: the accordion. The most annoying thing about living in a Polish town is, most of the accordion players are your grandfather's age and have a repertoire that focuses real heavily on polkas. Thank the Lord, Pittsburgh has Mon Gumbo. This seven-piece zydeco and blues-rock band, fronted by Post-Gazette humorist Tim Menees, brings a most welcome dash of Louisiana spice to the Iron City music scene. The Buckwheat Zydeco-influenced outfit rocks out on its new disc, Mississippi Takes Forever, with some original Creole-style gems like "Big Orange Moon" as well as covers of some Mississippi Delta classics--Mon Gumbo's rendition of "Iko Iko" is the best since the Rain Man soundtrack 10 years ago. The sweet tones of the squeezebox have seldom sounded sweeter in these parts. No doubt Max the Fax Dog would bark in agreement if he were here. * * * STEPHEN H. SEGAL

OTHER REVIEWS:

"...expect Cajun and Creole, from the lovely original ballad "Streets in the Rain" to a gutsy reading of CLifton Chenier's "Louisiana Blues" seasoned with big squeeze-box tone from singer and chief scribe Tim Menees. Good Stuff."

"...these Pittsburgh folks all have day jobs far from blues, but they never let their occupations get in the way of their New Orleans fixation. They deal a high-energy live program...."

"...they sure know Louisiana music and absorb different music styles such as Zydeco, Cajun, Blues and Rock ('n Roll) into their breed of hot musical Gumbo. Tim Menees... does a great job on the 88 keys. And for my taste the piano really adds a lot to the music. ...just right for most of you Louisiana roots rock fans and 14 songs (58 minutes) is a decent value too".

"The band rocks and bops with vigor. Highlights of the disc are the wistful and polished take of the traditional "Flames of Hell", featuring some punchy accordion, tight harmonies and crisp acoustic picking. Almost as compelling are the excellent original title cut and the upbeat [original] stomper "Eight Ball Blues". If you like good time music with a Cajun and Zydeco spice, you'ld do well to check out this band".

Blues & Co.

Quel ne fut pas mon etonnement, de recevoir cet album directement de pittsburg, fier de ce groupe americain. Mon Gumo s'offre leur ler CD, qui n'est pas destribue en France, et c'est bien dommage, car je peux vous affirmer que la musique que distille nos amis vous donnera certainement des fourmis dans les jambes. Tradition originale New-Orleans savamment dosee de Rythm/blues, blues, zydeco et cajun. Le ban est forme de sept musiciens qui ont le swing dans le sang. Ca roule, ca carure tres fort entre compositions personnelles "Bon ton blues", "Eight ball blues" et reprises "Zydeco sont pas sale", "Lousiana blues"...

Laser op scherp

Zydeco uit Pittsburgh, ja u leest het goed, Pittsburgh. Niet echt het bruisende middelpunt van de zydeco cultuur zult u denken.

Mon Gumbo is dan ook van origine geen zydocoband, de bandleden zijn eigenlijk altijd actief geweest in de rockscene totdat ze op een dag een optreden van Buckwheat Zydeco bijwoonden. Compleet gegrepen door de muziek besloten ze zich in de zydeco-historie te verdiepen en het zelf ta gaan splelen.

Traditional Pittsburgh-Cajun noemen ze hun zelf ontwikkelde en geperfectioneerde stijl, ietwat afwijkend van het traditionele cajun/zydeco-repertoire. De zevenkoppige band speelt een mix van New Orleans rhythm & blues, zydeco & cajun. Mississippi Takes Forever bevat een aantal, hoofdzakelijk door keyboardspeler Tim Menees geschreven, eigen nummers. Uiteraard ontbreken klassiekers zoals Iko Iko niet, terwijl Mon Gumbo ook twee kerr Clifton Chenier covert. Luke plaat.

a view of albey road studios looking at where Tim would sit