Mixed Business Press Kit (View MB's PDF Presskit)

Mixed Business is what you get when you make a band out of world- travelers, barroom regulars, and classically trained musicians.

Drawing on decades of musical influences, they produce a high-charisma, bring-down-the-house show every time they step on stage. Boasting talented collaborators, a deep appreciation for the history and soul of music, and a setlist that spans all genres dating back to the 1930s, Mixed Business can thrill a room!

The success of Mixed Business is the result of three supremely talented musicians (Brian Forte, Joey Mitchell and Mark O’Dell) coming together with the same goal in mind – to play quality music, have a great time, and share their passion for music with audiences far and wide.

Based in Baltimore and formed in 2007, Mixed Business is rising fast. The band’s original music catalogue grows by each show, and their covers have sold more beer and produced more cheers than just about any other act in Baltimore or Annapolis.

Blending acoustic folk, country & bluegrass with electric rock and blues – the band refuses to fall into any one genre, and by using more-than-a-handful of vintage and modern instruments, M.B. has perfected a deep, smokey sound that most bands don’t even attempt these days. Inspired by the likes of Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Tom Waits, and Muddy Waters (yep, the band has inspired covers from each... and that's just the tip of the iceberg!) Mixed Business throws the kitchen sink at a crowd — delivering skilled playing and tight vocal harmonies.

The recently band took some time to talk to Limlight Artist Spotlight about the one-and-only cover tune on the album, Tom Wait's" Tango 'Till They're Sore." Read the full article here.

Nine original tracks on the bands’s recent self-titled album (released in record stores, iTunes & CD Baby in Feb. 2011) takes you to the American heartland to ponder life and love with country-inspired ballads, “Guns & Gold”, “Seasons In Love”, and “You Think It's Better This Way”...drops you in the deep south to drink whiskey with share-croppers on “The Mule”... plants you firmly in snowbound gypsy campsites and hot back-alley Spanish brothels with “Yuliana” and “Red Room”... then meets you just down the street at your local bar to hoist a pint with soon-to-be-hit-single drinking songs, “Bottles & Bottles of Beer” and “Gun In My Glove Box!” But that‘s not all — by working in sharper rythms, a new melody and bass solo, and even an opening nodd to Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang Bang,” M.B. crafts a brand new version of Tom Waits’ dark New Orleans‘ scene “Tango Till They’re Sore.”

Read an interview with the band in the Annapolis Music Examiner >>

Radio Play & Promotions ...........................................................................

Mixed Business music is currently being played on the following radio stations, on both FM and streaming outlets:

103.1 FM WRNR Annapolis, MD.
88.9 FM WCVF Fredonia / Dunkirk, NY.
90.0 FM WWSP St. Point, WI.

In the winter of 2011 the band was approached by regional boutique, Hats In the Belfry, to work on a promotional campaign by offering a selection of hats based on the music, and stylist tastes of Mixed Business. M.B. is currently sporting some nice gear by Hats In the Belfry and continues to do promotion work with them.

Mixed Business Is...................................................................................

Mixed Business uses an amazing combination of over ten acoustic and electric instruments – from guitars to the upright bass, from piano to drums and percussion, from the mandolin to the banjo, and steel drums to the accordion to produce an ever changing musical experience... which has allowed Mixed Business one of the busiest local music schedules around — with over 30 venues and counting since 2007 — in the Balt. / Annap. / Wash D.C. area and beyond!

Brian Forte sings. He plays the guitar and picks a mean banjo! He also spent 5 years in the U.S. Navy where he learned to navigate open water by the stars at night, drink like there’s no tomorrow, and woo women in at least 25 different countries. While in the Navy, Brian played in the Navy Rock Band throughout Europe and the Middle East – playing sets for sheiks and diplomats alike. Brian has played the tough rooms... After all, nothing’s tougher than playing Thin Lizzy and Wilson Pickett for folks who couldn’t pick Eleanor Rigby or Mrs. Robinson out of a musical lineup.

Bluegrass was the first music that ever graced Mark O’Dell’s ears. Son of Baltimore Bluegrass legend, John O’Dell. Mark takes a jack-of-all-trades approach to each performance — where any given song could have Mark on lead vocals while playing the guitar, mandolin, steel drum, or an obscure percussion instrument you haven’t seen since your days in the middle school band. Music is in his blood. It’s in his mind every waking moment, and it’s in some of the most entertaining original lyrics you’ve ever heard!

Joey Mitchell hails from Kent Island, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. At 25 he’s a MASTER on the 5 string upright bass. His friends and band-mates call him The Machine because he sometimes plays seven gigs a week. Plus, he has classical music training – complete with a degree in music education. But rather than just teach music for a living (though he does have a full schedule of students as well as jazz and classical lessons of his own), Joey spends all his free time immersing himself in jazz, rock, blues, and bluegrass standards. He comes to the stage each night filled with energy, enthusiasm, and the best damn upright chops you've ever seen.

Special Guests .............................................................................................

JAW-DROPPING chops make Dominic Fragman's two-piece kit sound like a drum orchestra! Studying under legendary drummer Paul F. Murphy, Dominic's drumming is creating a stir.  His playing has landed him endorsements with Soultone Cymbals, Kickport, Wicked Chops and Parry Chotipradit's Lucky Bird Productions. He is also beginning to emerge as a drum set clinician in Maryland. After a 10 month stint in a drum show produced by Brother Entertainment & Gaylord National, he moved into a role performing and writing with country artist Courtlyn Carr — producing her Turn Blue EP with Grammy-winning engineer, Jim Robeson. Dom's website >>

Justin Cody, a native of Sauk City, Wisconsin, began his musical studies on piano at age 7, and by middle school, he was composing and performing solo concerts. At age 15 he was commissioned to compose a piece for the vocal jazz group Five by Design and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Justin later earned a Bachelor of Music in composition and piano performance with a jazz emphasis from West Virginia University. He studied composition with John Beall and piano with James Miltenberger. Justin is currently pianist with the US Navy Band Cruisers Ensemble in Washington, D.C.

Equally at home on either side of a mixing console, Brian Bolly's day job -- as Cinema and Live Sound Project Manager for California-based Meyer Sound -- has him sharing the stage with artists such as Chuck Bergeron (Randy Brecker, Buddy Rich Band), Andrew Synowiec (Marc Anthony, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band), and Gabe Dixon (Paul McCartney, Loggins & Messina). As a drummer Brian has studied with Steve Rucker (Gloria Estefan, Jaco Pastorius), local jazz great Frank Russo, and legendary Brazilian percussionist Ney Rosauro.

Andrew Ascosi has been performing with Mixed Business off and on since the band was formed --most notably with in 2008 at the Agora Financial Investment Symposium in Vancouver B.C., CAN. -- where he and Mixed Business member Mark O'Dell debuted their fiscally introspective single, "We Ain't Broke Yet".

"We Ain't Broke Yet" was based on the the New York Times best selling book, Empire of Debt, by Addison Wiggin and Bill Bonner. and was submitted to the producers of the Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary, I.O.U.S.A. to be included on the movie's sound track. Unfortunately the track didn't make the cut, but it does feature some great licks by another very special guest and friend of the band, Mike Auldridge (of the Seldom Scene & Lyle Lovette fame), on Pedal Steel and Dobro. Mike Auldridge also appears on M.B.'s "Guns & Gold" from MB's latest release. Listen to "We Ain't Broke Yet" here... and be sure to check out Mixed Business' latest release here!