Every band wants a unique style and the Mowgli’s have one: love rock, a genre as much about its message as its music.
The members of the rising, young band from Los Angeles, who had been so often asked to describe their sound, came up with the name while riding in their van.
“Everything could be classified as so many things but our message is clearly love,” said singer and percussionist Katie Jayne Earl. “At the end of the day, we’re a rock and roll band. Whether you slice it indie or pop or folk or whatever you want to call it, we’re guitar-heavy rock and roll. So love rock just seemed appropriate.”
The band’s music resonated at the Los Angeles city hall during the 2011 Occupy movement, which called for economic and social equality and called out corporations for their insidious machinations. The movement heightened awareness and raised questions.
“It planted the seeds to find those answers,” Earl said. “Humanity will speak louder than any corporation will,” Earl said.
While the Mowgli’s are part of the socioeconomic 99 percent, it is among the 1 percent of bands to break through with mainstream popularity and have a hit song. “San Francisco,” VIDEO uses the lyric “collectively and consciously composed” to define a way to approach life. The song struck a chord with like-minded listeners
“The human race is growing and our brains are growing and hopefully our hearts grow with that,” Earl said. “I think really positive things are on the horizon for mankind. I hope so anyway. We’re going out there and meeting people who feel the same way and it’s really great.”
The core of the band grew up together in the San Fernando Valley. Colin Louis Dieden and Josh Hogan moved to Los Angeles to pursue music from, respectively, Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
“San Francisco” was co-written by Dieden and Michael Vincze, who recently left the band, which now has seven members.
“Being on a big major label is not for everybody,” Earl said. “Michael is doing his own thing and we support him and wish him the best.”
The Mowgli’s debut Saturday, March 8 in Harrah’s Lake Tahoe South Shore Room. Most seats will be removed for the general admission show, which doubtless will be lively.
“It feels like we are all front men,” Earl said. “We are all hammy, outgoing people. Everybody has a microphone onstage. We pass the spotlight to each and every one of us. It’s fun to see everyone shine in this group.”
Earl offered advice for local bands who want to reach the next level: tour.
“We realized there is no better way to connect with people than by getting out there and meeting them and sharing the experience of a live show,” she said. “The best way to express yourself as an artist is to hit the ground running. Quit your job and go tour.”
The Mowgli’s
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8
Where: Harrah’s Lake Tahoe South Shore Room
Tickets: $33, general admission
Purchase: www.southshoreroom.com
