Mondo Topless (band)

Last updated
Mondo Topless
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genres Garage rock
Years active1992–2011
Labels Get Hip Recordings
Associated acts The Three 4 Tens, St. James & The Apostles, The Improbables
Website mondotopless.com

Mondo Topless were an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Contents

History

Mondo Topless formed in 1992 in Philadelphia, and take their name from the 1966 film of the same name. [1] The group's Stooges-inspired garage rock is distinguished by their use of a Vox Continental electric organ. Their debut single was the 1995 7" release, "I Want You To" b/w "Real Gone Girl", with their first full-length following the next year. They followed its release with touring across the United States for two years, until breaking to release their sophomore effort, 1998's Get Ready for Action. [1] Go Fast!, the group's third full-length, appeared in 2002. [2] [3] [4] Further touring around the U.S. followed the album's release. [5] Take it Slow, was released in 2006, and features covers of songs by Paul Revere & the Raiders and Solomon Burke. [6] [7] [8] Their most recent LP, "Freaking Out", is an all covers album, including interpretations of songs by Cream & Camper Van Beethoven among others. After nearly 20 years, leader Steinig retired the Mondo Topless name in early 2011 after the departures of Kris Alutius, Scott Rodgers, and Steve Thrash. The three performed briefly as The Mud Falcons before dissolving. Rodgers continues to play with Philadelphia-based country/roots band Hank's Cadillac, with whom he has performed since 2005.

<i>Mondo Topless</i> 1966 film by Russ Meyer

Mondo Topless is a 1966 pseudo-documentary directed by Russ Meyer, featuring Babette Bardot and Lorna Maitland among others. It was Meyer's first color film following a string of black and white "roughie nudies", including Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! While a straightforward sexploitation film, the film owes some debt to the French New Wave and cinéma vérité traditions, and is known to some under the titles Mondo Girls and Mondo Top.

Garage rock is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced various revivals since then. The style is characterized by basic chord structures played on electric guitars and other instruments, sometimes distorted through a fuzzbox, as well as often unsophisticated and occasionally aggressive lyrics and delivery. Its name derives from the perception that groups were often made up of young amateurs who rehearsed in the family garage, although many were professional.

Vox Continental

The Vox Continental is a transistorized combo organ that was introduced in 1962 by the musical equipment manufacturer Vox. Having a characteristic bright but thin, breathy sound, the "Connie", as it was affectionately known, was designed for touring musicians. It was also intended to replace heavy tonewheel organs, such as the revered Hammond B3.

Steinig formed a new band - The GTVs - in late 2011. The GTVs have an album slated for release in late 2013 on the Italian Label 'Teen Sounds'.

Former members

Discography

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References

  1. 1 2 Mondo Topless at Allmusic
  2. ↑ Review of Go Fast!. Exclaim! , July 2003. Accessed January 26, 2008.
  3. ↑ Review of Go Fast!. In Music We Trust. Accessed January 26, 2008.
  4. ↑ Review of Go Fast!. Pop Matters, May 23, 2003. Accessed January 26, 2008.
  5. ↑ Mondo Topless with The Gentlemen Callers and Tomorrow's Caveman [ permanent dead link ]. Riverfront Times (St. Louis, Missouri), November 19, 2003. Accessed January 26, 2008.
  6. ↑ Review of Take it Slow. Allmusic.
  7. ↑ Mondo Topless. Philadelphia Weekly , June 7, 2006. Accessed January 26, 2008.
  8. ↑ Review of Take it Slow. Tucson Weekly , August 17, 2006. Accessed January 26, 2008.
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