The Mammals
The Mammals play Woodstock
Background information
Born	Formed 2001
Genre(s)	folk, folk-rock, old time
Instrument(s)	banjo, fiddle, guitar, drums
Label(s)	Signature Sounds
Associated acts	Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion Jay Ungar Pete Seeger The Duhks Crooked Still
Website	[1]
Members
Michael Merenda, Ruth Ungar, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Chris Merenda, Jacob Silver

The Mammals are a modern folk-rock band based in Hudson Valley, NY, USA. The current band members are Michael Merenda Jr., Chris Merenda, Ruth Ungar, Jacob Silver and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger. Tao is the grandson of Pete Seeger and Ruth is the daughter of fiddler and singer Jay Ungar and Lyn Hardy, folk singer and well known luthier. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and for the common people. ... Folk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... Old-time music, a traditional style of American music, has roots in Irish, Scottish and African folk music. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A four-string banjo For other uses, see Banjo (disambiguation) The banjo is a stringed instrument of African American origin. ... The term fiddle refers to a violin when used in folk music. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Parts of the guitar. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Signature Sounds Recordings is an independent record label specializing in singer-songwriter, Americana, and modern folk music. ... Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion began performing together as an acoustic duo in the fall of 2000. ... Jay Ungar is an American musician and composer. ... Pete Seeger (1955) Peter Seeger (born May 3, 1919) almost universally known as Pete Seeger, is a folk singer and political activist. ... The Duhks (pronounced like ducks) are a 5-member Canadian folk rock group. ... Crooked Still is a self-styled alternative bluegrass band consisting of vocalist Aoife ODonovan, cellist Rushad Eggleston, banjo player Dr. Gregory Liszt, and bassist Corey DiMario. ... It has been suggested that Mid-Hudson Region be merged into this article or section. ... Pete Seeger (1955) Peter Seeger (born May 3, 1919) almost universally known as Pete Seeger, is a folk singer and political activist. ... Jay Ungar is an American musician and composer. ... An engravers impression of Antonio Stradivari examining an instrument. ...

The Mammals were formed in 2001 by Mike, Tao, Ruth and Alicia Jo Rabins. Other band members have been Pierce Woodward, Dan Rose and Ken Mauri. The Mammals often include guests in their live shows, such as Rosie Newton; [Peter Siegel]; Tao's sister, Penny Blossom Seeger; and Pete Seeger. Aoife O'Donovan performs backing vocals on their CDs.

Band Members

Mike Merenda is the band's main songwriter and plays vocals, guitar, banjo, ukelele and percussion. His songs are often on the topics of war, the environment, government upheaval, and presidential catastrophe. Mike's song The Bush Boys has caused The Mammals to be censored at some festival venues. His songs often tell stories drawing on personal events, such as the songs Haircut Money and 69 Pleasant Street. He has three solo albums, Trapped in the Valley (2000), Election Day (2004) and Quiver (2006).

Chris Merenda is the Mammals drummer and the younger brother of Mike. In addition to percussion he plays the guitar, banjo, Piano and vocals. He occasionally plays the ukulele. Chris is a great songwriter and has released two solo records titled The Regimen (2003) and Hello Freedom (2005). He also fronts an indie rock band by the name of Chewy.

Nicaraguan born Tao Rodriguez-Seeger sings and plays guitar, banjo, and harmonica. Tao comes from a long line of famous musicians and activists. He sings both Spanish and American favorites such as Chan Chan by Compay Segundo and John Henry. In 2006 he recorded an album, "Que Vaya Bien", with Puerto Rican folk singer Roy Brown Ramirez and Tito Auger, frontman for Puerto Rican rock group Fiel A La Vega. UK Single Cover for Chan Chan from Buena Vista Social Club. ... Segundo saying goodbye to a standing ovation at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana. ... John Henry is an African-American folk hero, who has been the subject of numerous songs, stories, plays, and novels. ... Roy Brown Ramírez (born 1950 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a composer, singer and a fervent believer in the cause for the independence of Puerto Rico. ... ... Fiel a la Vega is a Rock en Español band from Puerto Rico. ...

Jacob Silver, who plays electric and upright bass, is also in the bands Wild Band of Snee and Throwing Stars.

Ruth Ungar performs on vocals, fiddle, and ukelele. She is a songwriter for the Mammals, and her songs center on themes of fair trade and the environment. In addition to the Mammals, she performs in Sometimes Why, an all female group with a Celtic sea faring sound, and the group Wayfaring Strangers. She has released a solo album, Jukebox (2002), and Her song "Four Blue Walls", inspired by the play Danny and the Deep Blue Sea was featured on an album by Canadian band The Duhks. Certified Fair trade quinoa producers in Ecuador. ... The Duhks (pronounced like ducks) are a 5-member Canadian folk rock group. ...

Ruth and Mike married in October 2006 and perform together as the duo group FloraFauna and with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason in the Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band.

Tao and Jacob also perform together in The Anarchist Orchestra with Laura Cortese and Robin McMillan.

Musical Style

The Mammals play a style heavily influenced by traditional Appalachian folk music and their own motto is "Trad is Rad". Appalachian folk music is a distinctive genre of folk music originating in the Appalachia region of the United States of America. ...

Performances

In 2007 the Mammals toured Australia.

Every year the Mammals tour the USA on their "Western Migration Tour", visiting cities on the West coast and in the Midwest and southern US. The Mammals also tour Canada and celebrated New Year 2006 in Australia. During the summer months they play at many folk festivals.

In 2005 they toured with Arlo Guthrie for Alice's Restaurant 40th Anniversary Masacree Tour. A press photo of Arlo Guthrie. ... The former church where Alice and Ray lived and where the story begins; the restaurant itself is roughly six miles north in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. ...

They often play with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason as part of the Family Band and have graced the stage with Pete Seeger.

The Mammals frequently pair up with the Duhks to form Platypus. The Duhks (pronounced like ducks) are a 5-member Canadian folk rock group. ...

Discography

They have released four albums, and one EP. The most recent two albums have been released on Signature Sounds: Signature Sounds Recordings is an independent record label specializing in singer-songwriter, Americana, and modern folk music. ...

• Born Live (2001)
• Evolver (2002)
• Migration (EP)(2004)
• Rock That Babe (2004)
• Departure (2006)

External links

• http://www.themammals.net
• Chewy, Chris Merenda's other band
• Mike Merenda's personal page
• Jacob Silver's personal page
• Ruth Ungar's personal page
• The Mammals collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
• Peter Siegel's page