Mal Mapes
I'm Mal Mapes. The whole band part is a bit exaggerated. I'm a simple four-chord salesman armed with a guitar, and generally I just play with a drummer. I've lived here in the Cleveland area nearly my entire life, and it's rewarded me with plenty of ideas (and exaggerations) for songs, poetry, and life in general...
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Mal Mapes (guitar) - 2002-present
Elliot Mapes (drums) - Whenever.
Pat Ryan (bass) - Whenever I was in the studio.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I love to play live. I've been through two bands as a bass player, and there's nothing like going up to play and knowing that there's people who came to see you are there, and hopefully you can turn the heads of the others....get em hooked.
Your musical influences
My influences include Bob Dylan, Neil Young, a great group of local musicians (Charlie Mosbrook, Alan Grandy, Garmonbozia, The Cantankerous Dingos), Soul Coughing/M. Doughty, The Black Keys, different punk groups......It's a big list.
What equipment do you use?
I have 2 guitars I regularly use these days: an Oscar Schmidt acoustic-electric (Molly, my girlfriend), and an AXL Badwater Les Paul clone. I also own a '71 Yamaha FG-260 12-string acoustic (my wife), shite Strat clone, and an old Mitchell. At one point, I had a Fender DG-11 acoustic-electric (may it rest in pieces).
Anything else?
Banana?
