The Mammals
Folk rock band from New York with political and environmental themes.
The Mammals are a contemporary folk rock band from New York’s Hudson Valley. The group tours internationally and is anchored by founding members and primary songwriters Mike Merenda (guitar, banjo) and Ruth Ungar (fiddle, guitar), along with drummer Konrad Meissner and a rotating lineup of musicians on bass, organ, and pedal steel. Their sound draws heavily from traditional folk, soul, old-time, blues, Cajun, Celtic, and rock and roll, and their lyrics frequently tackle political and environmental themes such as war, social justice, and sustainability. Ungar is the daughter of fiddler and composer Jay Ungar, best known for “Ashokan Farewell,” a piece the band also performs.
The band formed in 2001 with Merenda, Ungar, and Tao Rodríguez-Seeger. After an early quartet lineup that included fiddler Alicia Jo Rabins, they settled into a trio with Ungar as the sole fiddler. By 2004, they expanded to a quintet with drummer Ken Maiuri and bassist Pierce Woodward; later that year, Mike’s brother Chris Merenda replaced Maiuri on drums. Woodward left in 2005, succeeded by Dango Rose and then Jacob Silver on bass. In 2002 and 2005, they performed at Arlo Guthrie’s annual Carnegie Hall holiday concert. In 2005, their song “The Bush Boys” led to censorship at a festival venue in Lafayette, Louisiana. Between 2001 and 2007, they shared stages with peers like Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Crooked Still, Foghorn Stringband, Uncle Earl, Nickel Creek, and The Duhks, as well as mentors Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Odetta, and Utah Phillips. The Mammals went on hiatus in 2008 to pursue other projects.
The band re-emerged in 2017 with the video “On My Way Home” (February) and the single “Culture War” (March). That October, they began crowdfunding through Patreon. In April 2018, they released the full album *Sunshiner*, recorded at their home studio Humble Abode Music with co-producer Adam Armstrong. The title track, a nod to alternative energy, was named to the Americana Music Association’s “Top 100 Albums and Songs for 2018” and nominated for the International Folk Music Awards’ “2018 Song of the Year.” The album also included the environmentally themed a cappella ballad “My Baby Drinks Water.” In December 2018, they released five new singles, donating all download proceeds to causes tied to each song.
The Mammals have performed acro
- formed
- 2001
- origin
- Hudson Valley, New York, United States
- genre
- Folk rock
- field
- Music
- known_for
- Political and environmental lyrics, blend of folk and rock, hiatus and re-emergence in 2017
Quick Facts
- Background
- group_or_band
- Genre
- Folk, folk rock, old-time, Americana, roots music
- Instrument
- banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass, drums
- Years Active
- 2001–2008; 2017–present
- Label
- Signature Sounds, Thirty Tigers, Humble Abode Music
- Website
- [http: · www.themammals.love/ Official Website]
- Current Members
- Mike Merenda / Ruth Ungar / Konrad Meissner / Jacob Silver / Ken Maiuri / Will Bryant / Brandon Morrison / Charlie Rose / Rob Stein
- Past Members
- Tao Rodríguez-Seeger / Chris Merenda / Alicia Jo Rabins / Pierce Woodward / Dango Rose
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Mammals were founded in 2001 by Mike Merenda, Ruth Ungar, and Tao Rodríguez-Seeger. Initially a quartet with Alicia Jo Rabins on fiddle, they quickly became a trio with Ungar as the sole fiddler. By 2004, they expanded to a quintet with drummer Ken Maiuri and bassist Pierce Woodward, later replaced by Chris Merenda and Dango Rose, then Jacob Silver. The band performed at Arlo Guthrie's annual holiday concert at Carnegie Hall in 2002 and 2005. In 2005, their song 'The Bush Boys' was censored at a festival venue in Lafayette, LA. Between 2001 and 2007, they collaborated on stage with peers such as Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Crooked Still, and Nickel Creek, and with mentors including Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie. In 2008, the band took a hiatus to pursue other musical endeavors. They re-emerged in 2017 with the video 'On My Way Home' and the single 'Culture War.' In October 2017, they began crowdfunding on Patreon. In April 2018, they released the album 'Sunshiner,' recorded at their home studio Humble Abode Music with co-producer Adam Armstrong. The title track was named to the Americana Music Association's 'Top 100 Albums and Songs for 2018' and nominated by the International Folk Music Awards for '2018 Song of the Year.' The album also included the environmentally themed a cappella ballad 'My Baby Drinks Water.' In December 2018, they announced five new singles with proceeds donated to causes related to each song.
Reader's Guide
The Mammals are significant for their fusion of traditional folk styles with contemporary rock and their consistent focus on social and environmental issues. Their 2005 censorship incident highlights the political edge of their music. The band's hiatus from 2008 to 2017 and subsequent re-emergence via crowdfunding and independent releases reflects a modern approach to sustaining a career in folk music. Their album 'Sunshiner' received recognition from the Americana Music Association and the International Folk Music Awards, indicating their impact within the folk and Americana scenes. The band's regular performances at festivals like Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and Clearwater Festival, as well as their own bi-annual Winter Hoot and Summer Hoot festivals at the Ashokan Center, demonstrate their role in community-building and festival culture. Side projects by members, such as Mike + Ruthy and Tao Rodríguez-Seeger's collaborations, further extend their influence. The Mammals' legacy lies in their ability to blend traditional sounds with modern activism, maintaining relevance through independent production and direct fan support.
Did You Know?
- The Mammals were censored in 2005 at a Lafayette, LA festival venue for their song 'The Bush Boys.'
- Ruth Ungar is the daughter of fiddler and composer Jay Ungar, best known for 'Ashokan Farewell,' which the band performs.
- The band's 2018 album 'Sunshiner' was recorded at their home studio Humble Abode Music.
- In December 2018, they released five singles with 100% of download proceeds donated to causes related to each song.
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