| The Mustangs | |
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Picture taken by Alan Kemp (July 2009) |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | South East England |
| Genres | Blues, Rock, Rhythm 'n' blues |
| Years active | 2001– Present |
| Labels | Trapeze Music |
| Website | http://www.themustangs.co.uk/ |
| Members | |
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The Mustangs are a British blues rock band that formed in Hampshire in 2001. Signed to the Trapeze Music label, they have recorded six albums, including Split Decision, which reached number 5 on the iTunes blues chart. They are unusual on the blues rock circuit as their albums are made of entirely original material.The Mustangs have been nominated for Best Band at the 2010 British Blues Awards
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The Mustangs were formed by Adam Norsworthy and Derek Kingaby after an impromptu jam session in the Fountain Pub in Rowland's Castle, Hampshire in 2001, the Mustangs first came to national prominence after winning the Eel Pie Club's Search for New Blues Talent competition in 2004.[1]
The Mustangs have played and headlined a wide variety of gigs and blues festivals across the UK and Europe including Colne, Maryport, Newark, Swanage[2], Skegness, Hyde Park, Goodwood, Zinc Paris, Gosport and Southsea. Their concerts showcase singer Adam Norsworthy's dynamic energy, and often he runs and jumps about the stage throughout each concert, whilst maintaining a visible camaraderie with the other band members. Musician Magazine, September 2006 has called them "compulsory for British blues rock fans". Record Collector Magazine said of them "musical depth, sheer balls and plenty of heart and soul".[3]
Alongside their own material, in concert the group often plays some blues standards, although reinterprets the arrangement radically to suit the band's "truly storming... ferocious" sound. Rock 'n' Reel, July/August 2008 These include Leadbelly's "Hands Off", Troyce Keane's "Annie Maybe" and Cyril Davis's "Countryline Special".
Chiefly influenced by the British blues rock bands of the 60s such as Led Zeppelin and Fleetwood Mac, as well as Dr. Feelgood; the Mustangs also draw on more traditional blues influences such as Muddy Waters, Elmore James and Robert Johnson. The band's use of blues harp, played by blues veteran Derek Kingaby, further adds to an authentic, traditional blues sound.
The band's Six albums to date have been well received. Blues In Britain Magazine selected Nothing Stays the Same as one of its 20 albums of the year.[4] Blues Matters Magazine, Dave Stone, May/June 2008 said of the same record "this outfit has the potential to change how British blues is perceived and received". Rock'n'Reel magazine called Split Decision "the very definition of blues rock".
The majority of the songwriting is done by singer Adam Norsworthy, but all four members of the band have contributed songs to the albums.[5]
The band's fifth album, Cut Loose received a 5 star review in the May 2010 issue of R2 magazine, with reviewer Brian Smith commenting "Cut Loose is a real treat...it drips with musicianship..it is infectiously funky...and downright beautiful". In the same year, as well as being nominated for best band at the British Blues Awards Ben Mckeown and Jon Bartley have been nominated for an award in their own instrument categories, Mckeown for Best Bass Guitarist and Bartley for Best Drummer.
The band's sixth album, Shaman & the Monkey was released in October 2011. The band supported the release with a number of shows at high profile blues festivals across the UK including Maryport, Cambridge, Swanage, Newark and the Isle of Wight. The Mustangs then left Cross Border later in 2011 and signed to the Trapeze Music label, who subsequently took over the release of the Shaman & the Monkey album, as well taking over the distribution of the band's entire back catalogue.
| Title | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Let It Roll | 2003 | Raging Horse |
| Rocking Horse | 2004 | Raging Horse |
| Split Decision | 2006 | Blues Matters |
| Nothing Stays The Same | 2008 | Blues Matters |
| Cut Loose | 2010 | Cross Border |
| Shaman & the Monkey | 2011 | Trapeze Music |