Mongo

Artist Information

Biography

Mongo is a power-pop jamband from Miami, Florida, consisting of former members of the Goods (Universal Music) and Crease (Roadrunner Records). Since solidifying their line-up as a five-piece in 2008, Mongo have been filling South Florida clubs from Coral Gables to Jupiter. The band's live show features a slew of danceable, singable originals and covers from their 500-plus song list, performed full-tilt and with a willingness to improvise. When you see Mongo play live, you can bet your sweet patootey that you’re in for an awesome time!! Members of the band have performed on stages across the country, from the Roxy and the Viper Room in LA, to the Mercury Lounge and the late CBGB’s in NY, as well as similar venues in Canada, Mexico and throughout South America. They have had music on rock radio stations, in video games, on HBO and in several films, including “Tom Dowd: The Language of Music,” and have been featured on MTV and VH1. Mongo is recording the follow-up to their critically acclaimed CD, The Revenge of Mongo, which they plan to release in the Spring of 2009.

Instrumentation

Prick Livingston the 5th Vocals and Keyboards
O’Brickishaw Lipshitz Vocals and Guitar
Chix Diggit Guitar and Vocals
Baron Von Mofo Bass and Vocals
Bono Fonzarelli Drums

Discography

The Revenge of Mongo-2005

Links

• Mongo on FACEBOOK
• Mongo at ReverbNation
• VIDEO-Bi-Polar Girlfriend
• VIDEO-Paper the Cracks (live-acoustic)

Audio

• Don't Believe Your Boyfriend
  Listen  
• Scarlett Johansson
  Listen  
• Bi-Polar Girlfriend
  Listen  
• Paper The Cracks
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Bi-Polar Girlfriend
• Scarlett Johansson
• Paper the Cracks

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Homegrown: North Miami-based Mongo [+ Show ]
  

  Cerebral lyrics have helped turn Mongo into South Florida's thinking man's band. "We're clown pri...Cerebral lyrics have helped turn Mongo into South Florida's thinking man's band.
  
  "We're clown princes, drinking from the cup of Socrates," said Prick Livingston the 5th, who does double duty on lead vocals and keyboards. "We strive to combine poignancy with absurdity."
  
  Mongo's built its reputation with spirited stage names, and party-heavy live shows.
  
  Their latest, Bipolar Girlfriend, is on the Three for Free EP.
  
  Girlfriend is expected to be added to an upcoming CD, due to drop this spring.
  
  This lineup has been together two years. Livingston leads the irreverent outlook on life alongside drummer Bono Fonzarelli, rhythm guitarist O'Brickishaw Lipshitz, lead guitarist Chix Diggit and bassist Baron Von Mofo.
  
  The band also pulls from their past, performing with national recording acts. Livingston was co-founder of the Goods. Fonzarelli and Diggit played with Crease.
  
  "All together, we're a bunch of cerebral, book-reading, beach-going, jellyfish-avoiding Florida boys," Livingston said.
  
  Mongo kicks off a series of gigs 10 p.m. Thursday at Original Fat Cats, 320 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale (954-713-8500). They'll also be playing Feb. 21 at Luna Star Cafe, 775 NE 125th St., North Miami (lunastarcafe.com or 305-799-7123) and Feb. 28 at Treasure Trove, 2933 SE Fifth St., Fort Lauderdale (954-522-8385).
  
  For more information, go to myspace.com/mymongo

• Band Profile [+ Show ]
  

  PRICK LIVINGSTON, WE PRESUME With a name like Mongo, the Miami fourpiece probably gets its share ...PRICK LIVINGSTON, WE PRESUME
  
  With a name like Mongo, the Miami fourpiece probably gets its share of "What's that mean? and "That's the guy from 'Blazing Saddles,' right?" The real question, of course, concerns the indie-rock's take on its chosen genre, which runs the gamut from mid-tempo, Guided by Voices-like rock to rootsier, soul-filled tunes, a`la Elvis Costello or Graham Parker. But back to the original matter. Perhaps frontman Prick Livingston the 5th can share some light on Mongo's etymology. "The name's for 'big dumb rock,'" he says, adding that it's "also the 'Blazing Saddles' guy who punches the horse out. [And] there is a Biblical verse, something about 'Anyone who would seek to be wise should become a fool' or something like that. Or, as the groups fans would argue, Mongo's the name on the 11-song disc "The Revenge of Mongo," which pays homage to a "Bi-Polar Girlfriend," Bookish Thugz," and '80s pop culture. Spicolli rules, bra.
  
  -Jason Budjinski

• CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  After the initial, off-key, psuedo-inian vocals of the opener, "Dalai Lama Air Rifle," Mongo somehow...After the initial, off-key, psuedo-inian vocals of the opener, "Dalai Lama Air Rifle," Mongo somehow manages to infuse a serious questioning of God and the efficacy of prayer and meditation into otherwise-nonsensical lyrics in the context of a bubblegum pop song. What follows is an onslaught of pure pop gems, each outfitted with similarly quirky lyrics that, if you let them, tell a deeper story than initially appears. Check out Miami anthem "Magic City," as well as "Bi-Polar Girlfriend" and "Str8 2 the 80s."
  
  -Dan Sweeny

Setlist

Right now, our original show is about 75 minutes long. We can also play the odd three-set cover gig, as well. Our cover list is extensive: close to 1,000 songs.

Basic Requirements

Calendar