Mistress and the Misters are like every other band - that is, if every other band went through an alternate-universe wormsnake. Erupting from the sandy shoes of Spokane, WA, they quickly fled in search of paydirt. Uncontrollable and completely obedient, they strive to understand simple arithmetic and basic sentence structure. The number-ghosts and gods seems to think there are four earthly beings inhabiting the band.
Chris Henderson (guitar) is a human male who specializes in playing guitar while
growing facial hair. When not moonlighting as a toilet orderly, he takes particular joy in devastating any and all concert-goers with his unique stage abominations.
Shane ‘The Shank’ Taylor (bass) crash landed on Earth 15 minutes from now. His
whereabouts are unknown at this time, but it is safe to say that he can't be stopped. Since his untimely demise, he has been playing a piece of wood with 4 strings.
Joe Varela (drums) is commonly known as the inventor of the Bin of Balls--
found in children’s play areas worldwide. He crafts rhythms by hitting circles with
his inane feet and morose arms.
Seth Swift (voice) is a meat eater. Yet, he's desperately in love with a vegan chef. They both think it's beautiful.
Separately they are a farce, but together they form the most other-worldly Rock
Forest this side of Satan. If you are blessed enough to find yourself at a show, be
prepared for a fresh Salad of Showmanship.
All seriousness aside, Mistress and the Misters are currently touring in support of their latest release, the Emic EP. They are known as a dance-inspiring indie band influenced by the likes of The Hives, The Clash, Minutemen, and the Gossip. Since forming in 2002, their energetic and theatrical live show has earned them fans across the Western United States. While supporting their two recent releases their goal is clear: pound every stage like a screen door in a hurricane and leave the audience begging for mom.
Emic EP now available from CD Baby!
Here's what some people say about us. Not all of it is true:
"It's remarkable... Emic only really begins to unfold itself after a few spins." --Luke Baumgarten, The Inlander 6/7/07
"The tracks... express a new frustrated passion blowing out of the awesome synergy between these four startling Misters... they are without a doubt the most crazy ass motherf%$ers you'll ever see owning a stage." --Julia Lipscomb, The Sidekick 5/31/07
"Say hello to Spokane's strangest band. They're about to rock your face off." --Luke Baumgarten, The Inlander "Buzzworthy Band" Issue 5/24/07
"These four guys perform with a frantic energy that most venues can't contain. Each song is a massive attack of frenzied vocals, intense guitars and a charisma that screams for your undivided attention." -- A.W. Rowse, The Sidekick, 2/7/07
Buy Conflagration here!
"Catchy dance-pop meets rock. The pop funk of Red Hot Chili Peppers meets Giant Drag... with a few twists and turns here and there with lots of notes jumping up and dancing around and on top of an overwhelminly large, but spontaneously fun conflagration of burning coals." --J. Doodle Lipscomb, The Lab International, 2/07
[Conflagration] is pure guitar rock forged deep in the bowels of garageland. Mistress & The Misters... aren't using any gimmicks or trickery, [and] the songs are kept at punk rock shortness. I can imagine if you walked into a bar as these guys were pounding the stage you'd stumble upon a floor of bouncing heads. It's fast... it's heavy... and it's fun."--Sean @ PNWMS, 1/07
"I had no idea [Conflagration] was going to be this good.... It's like some sort of Southern Rock-Funk-Hillbilly hybrid band with a firecracker shot up its bum."
--Ashley Graham, Out There, 1/07
"You always have a place to play in Seattle as long as I'm working here." --JJ, The Blue Moon Tavern, 11/26/06
"'Conflagration' is filthy. The album cuts a swath right through the middle of punk, grunge and classic rock... [and] the album's tempo is turned up considerably... like an inferno."
--Luke Baumgarten, The Inlander, 10/18/06
"Very few albums blow me away, but... I knew I was going to like this disc after the first note on the first song. [It] harnesses the frantic energy of Mistress and the misters [who have] a stellar live reputation."
--A.W. Rowse, The Sidekick, 10/18/06, "Conflagration" review
Here's a video of us taken by a fan in Olympia, WA:
shh!
