The Mowgli's

The Mowgli's May 2014 at the Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, Az

The Mowgli's [sic] are an American alternative rock band from southern California. They are named after a former band member's dog Mowgli, itself named after the character from Rudyard Kipling's novel The Jungle Book.[1] Four of the members are from the Calabasas area of northern Los Angeles County. Singer/Guitarist Colin Dieden is from Kansas City, Guitarist/Singer Josh Hogan is from Oklahoma City, and guitarist Spencer Trent is from Nashville. Their song "San Francisco" reached number 11 on Billboard's alternative chart in 2013.[2]

Members

Past Members

Creation

Di Panni, Vincze, Appelbaum, Trent and Warren all attended Calabasas High School together and Earl was a friend from Elementary and Middle School. In late 2009 Vincze and Dieden (who moved to LA from Kansas City in 2008) met at a party. One of their earliest songs was "The Great Divide" which combined elements of songs that both were working on. Shortly after the two went on an impromptu trip to San Francisco one night, writing the band's first single in an alleyway and cheap motel. Over the next couple months they recruited the other members – at one point the band swelled to 10 members. Hogan (who had moved from Oklahoma City in 2006) was a member of the LA group Panamerica and sat in with the band one night, joining thereafter.

2010

The band released their first recordings in March 2010 for free download through thecollectiveca.com and bandcamp. Of that batch were the demos for "San Francisco", "The Great Divide", "Time", "I've Been Around" & "Waiting For The Dawn". These demos were recorded in a Woodland Hills garage studio known as The Victory House. Through 2010 they headlined an array of 'mini' festival/event concerts called "manifestivals" where all of the bands, artists and friends of the collective would join forces and perform together. Bands would rock back to back on 2 stages with some of The Mowgli's performing in as many as all of the groups on the often up to 8 act line ups. The nights would usually culminate in one massive Mowgli's performance where it was likely that most of the collective and the audience would all join together on stage to sing.

In the Summer of 2010 most of the band rented a house in Venice Beach, CA. They spent those months performing hundreds of shows in the area, sometimes as many as 5 gigs in a day and night, anywhere from cafes to the Venice Boardwalk to art galleries, venues, bars, underground warehouse gatherings, backyards, offices, house parties, hair salons, clothing stores, farmer's markets, airplane hangars, etc.

2011

The Mowgli's spent the better part of 2011 migrating from Venice and gigging throughout the Southwest while recording what would later become their debut LP Sound the Drum. Most of the recording was done in former member and producer Christian James Hand's Hollywood studio, Mid-Bronx Recording. Vocals were also recorded at St. Genevieve's Church in Panorama City and Swinghouse Studios.

Colin Dieden, a fan of Brooklyn singer-songwriter Kevin Devine, approached Devine's management, who began representing the band.

That summer the band launched a Kickstarter campaign, informing fans that "they had been kidnapped by a record producing kangaroo who was known simply as "Kevin"." Kevin held The Mowgli's and their LP hostage until their campaign goal was met and his ransom could be paid.

In October 2011 the band participated in the Occupy Movement, performing a number of concerts at the Los Angeles City Hall encampment and raising awareness through social media. They had crowds of activists chanting "love's not dead!" and "we are free if we wake up!" and performed with John Densmore, NOFX, Tom Morello, Danny Glover, The Makepeace Brothers, The Luminaries, Parker Ainsworth, Matthew Schildkret, Eduardo Manilla, Peter Joseph & Marianne Williamson.

2012

On May 1 they independently released their debut LP Sound the Drum. The single "San Francisco" was sent to College Radio where it peaked only at #91 on the CMJ charts, however the record came to the attention of Mike Marquis at Paradigm who began booking the band almost immediately, sight-unseen. On October 5, 2012, The Mowgli's signed to Photo Finish Records, a joint venture with Island-DefJam.

Spencer Trent was replaced on drums by Andy Warren. Trent became the band's percussionist & second keyboard player, eventually gravitating to guitar.

In mid-October The San Francisco Giants began playing the song "San Francisco" during their games and using it in some of their team videos. The Giants went on to make the song a part of their theme as they took the 2012 World Series in a 4-0 sweep against the Detroit Tigers.

Culling five songs from "Sound the Drum", Photo Finish released the EP Love's Not Dead, with iTunes making the song "San Francisco" the single of the week. The record was released during the week of Hurricane Sandy.

The band performed "San Francisco" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on November 17. They contributed music for various indie movies, TV and video games including recording a version of "San Francisco" in "Simlish" for The Sims.

2013

The Mowgli's co-headlined a US tour with Family of the Year, stopping at SXSW2013 along the way.

On April 27, 2013 "San Francisco" hit #1 on the Sirius Alt 18 Countdown and shortly afterwards held the #1 spot on Alt Nation for 2 weeks running. It also reached high playlist positions on numerous local radio stations including those in Denver, Kansas City, Seattle, Albany, Rochester, Nashville, Austin, Madison, Milwaukee and Indianapolis. The song peaked at #11 on the Alternative Radio Charts and #4 on the AAA charts, where it was #9 overall for the year. The video for "San Francisco" was directed by Justin Baldoni.

They performed "San Francisco" live on February 21 at Jimmy Kimmel Live and on Conan on May 23.

The band toured the country 3 more times during 2013, playing at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Bunberry Festival, Summerfest, Center of the Universe, Hangout Festival, Bumbershoot, Loufest, Cultivate Chicago, Taste of Chicago Festival, Music Midtown Atlanta and Austin City Limits. During the 2nd weekend of ACL, the festival was cancelled due to rain, and the band performed an impromptu free show at the Austin Front Steps Homeless Shelter generating the most single-day donations that the shelter had seen.

The full length debut for Photo Finish, Waiting For The Dawn, was released June 18, 2013. Comprising the songs from Love's Not Dead, several other tracks from Sound The Drum and 4 newly recorded tracks, the LP charted at #4 on Billboards Heatseekers Chart. The band debuted the second single "The Great Divide" on Leno again on June 20, 2013.

They embarked on a support tour with Walk the Moon in October, transitioning into a headline tour of the country with support from American Authors, Royal Teeth, The Rocketboys, X-Ambassadors, Blondfire, Kopecky Family Band, Hunter Hunted).

2014

The Mowgli's performing at Guthrie Green in downtown Tulsa, OK on September 7, 2014

The band recorded a new song "Your Friend" for the Relativity movie Earth to Echo. The song "Say It, Just Say It" was used in a trailer and as the end titles for the Adam Sandler movie Blended. A video for "Say It, Just Say It" which featured Bill Nye as the DJ was shot but never finished or released.

In February Michael Vincze announced that he had left the band as of the beginning of 2014 to pursue solo endeavors. Spencer Trent moved to guitar & vocals.

The band began a nationwide headlining tour in March 2014, beginning with a San Francisco show and another stint at SXSW. Over the summer they began recording for their 2nd Photo Finish record with producer Tony Hoffer (Silversun Pickups, Fitz & The Tantrums).

In addition to appearing at Wakarusa, Firefly, Riverfest and Osheaga, the band also headlined 2 sold out shows at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in July and performed the National Anthem at AT&T Park in San Francisco before a SF Giants/Diamondbacks game. In August they supported Manchester Orchestra (whom they met at a series of college shows earlier in the year) on a brief tour. Finishing up recording for the new LP, the band embarked on the 7 week Honda Civic nationwide tour with American Authors, Echosmith and Oh Honey.

Returning to LA, the band recorded an additional couple of songs with Hoffer, as well as working with former collaborators Captain Cuts and Matt Radosevich. During a visit to Kansas City's 96.5 The Buzz, Dieden announced that the new LP would be titled Kids in Love and play the first song "Through The Dark" on air. The song was subsequently added to rotation on The Buzz, Sirius XM's AltNation and a handful of other stations.

"Through The Dark" was the first single released off of Kids in Love. After airing on the radio and a select few social media outlets, the song was officially released on iTunes December 15th, 2014.[3]

2015

The Mowgli's released another single off Kids in Love titled "I'm Good" on February 3rd, 2015. The single made it onto the Sirius XM Top Alt 18 List. Filming for the "I'm Good" music video took place near Joshua Tree National Park in the California desert. [4] A date for the release of this music video has yet to be announced.

The entire Kids in Love album was released on iTunes on April 14th, 2015.

Mission

The self-proclaimed spirit and mission of The Mowgli's is to spread love and kindness to others. The band created the "Be A Mowgli" website to encourage fans to do good deeds and be kind to those around them. Later, an instagram account was also created to further this effort. The Mowgli's have also supported various local and national charities including:

Recordings

Sound the Drum

The band's first album was the self-released Sound the Drum in 2012. It charted at #91 on the CMJ College Radio Charts. Steven Spoerl of PopMatters gave the album seven out of 10, calling their music a "delightful blend of summer coastal powerpop and hints of folk-rock" but commenting that the album started to "slow down at the end" and that the band's music might benefit from shorter releases.[5]

  1. "Hi Hey There Hello" – 3:25
  2. "San Francisco" – 2:52
  3. "Waiting for the Dawn" – 3:30
  4. "Slowly, Slowly" – 4:04
  5. "Time" – 3:29
  6. "Gambler's Hall" – 3:14
  7. "The Great Divide" – 3:05
  8. "Ca$h" – 2:43
  9. "Carry Your Will" – 4:12
  10. "See I'm Alive" – 4:46
  11. "I've Been Around" – 3:35
  12. "Colin's Song" – 3:20
  13. "Together (We Are One)" – 2:21
  14. "We Are Free" – 6:29

Love's Not Dead

After signing with Photo Finish Records, the group's second release was the extended play Love's Not Dead in October 2012. The record's release coincided with an iTunes Single of the Week for the single "San Francisco" but also with Hurricane Sandy. The band performed the song on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on November 17, 2012. "San Francisco" charted at #11 on the Alternative Music Chart and reached #3 on the AAA Charts. The song was also the 2012 theme for the San Francisco Giants World Series-winning run. The band also performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live on February 21, 2013, and on Conan on May 24, 2013.

  1. "San Francisco" – 4:03
  2. "The Great Divide" – 2:43
  3. "Time" – 3:22
  4. "Slowly, Slowly" – 3:06
  5. "Carry Your Will" – 2:54

Waiting for the Dawn

The major label debut from The Mowgli's was released through Photo Finish Records/Island Records on June 18, 2013. At the 11th hour, the band returned to the studio to re-record several songs for the record. They returned to The Tonight Show on June 20 to perform the second single, "The Great Divide".

  1. "San Francisco" – 2:52
  2. "Slowly, Slowly" – 4:06
  3. "Waiting for the Dawn" – 3:34
  4. "Love Is Easy" – 4:08
  5. "Clean Light" – 3:11
  6. "Time" – 3:32
  7. "Emily" – 3:33
  8. "The Great Divide" – 3:06
  9. "Say It, Just Say It" – 3:22
  10. "Leave It Up to Me" – 3:27
  11. "Carry Your Will" – 4:19
  12. "Hi, Hey There, Hello" – 3:27
  13. "We Are Free" – 6:29

Kids in Love

The second major label album from The Mowgli's was released through Photo Finish Records/Island Records on April 14th 2015.

  1. "You're Not Alone" – 3:21
  2. "I'm Good" –2:46
  3. "Bad Dream" – 3:07
  4. "What's Going On" – 4:15
  5. "Through the Dark" – 3:04
  6. "Whatever Forever" – 3:13
  7. "Make It Right" – 3:44
  8. "Love Me Anyway" – 3:19
  9. "Shake Me Up" – 3:29
  10. "Home To You" – 3:13
  11. "Kids In Love" – 3:12
  12. "Sunlight" – 4:52

References

  1. ↑ Lopez, Karina (2013-05-31). "On the Verge: Success Shines on Indie Rockers Mowgli's". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  2. ↑ "The Mowgli's from Billboard". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  3. ↑ Orr, Dacey (2014-12-12). "Song Premiere: The Mowgli's - "Through the Dark"". Paste Media Group. Retrieved 2015-03-29.
  4. ↑ Warren, Andy (2015-03-10). "#imgood music video shoot with my buddy Joshua". Instagram. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  5. ↑ Spoerl, Steven (2012-07-17). "The Mowgli's: Sound the Drum". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-06-02.

External links