89 Mojo: Band/Individual Bios
89 Mojo
Ever since forming in 1999, 89 Mojo has been one of the area's favorite rock 'n roll party bands, earning them praise as "the perfect festival band." Their years of consistent gigging will soon be heard on their upcoming live recording (their 6th cd release), due out in fall 2007. Being both a DIY indie band as well as a hard-working cover band has provided the group it's successful niche. It's what works for both the band and any fan of melody-driven rock and pop music.
89 Mojo's fun, energetic live show, coupled with their recordings, has built them a great fanbase. With an ever-growing catalog of over 50 original songs and another 50 covers, each show is unique and entertaining. The band has also found success on many online music-related sites, including having a couple songs being named the "Power Pop track of the week" at Garageband.com and another chosen as "Editor's Pick" on RollingStone magazine's website.
Performance history:
Milwaukee Summerfest, Racine Harborfest, Vernon Hills Summer Celebration, Kenosha's Weekend at the Lake, McAuliffe's (Racine), Dry Bean (Madison), On Cue (Grayslake, IL), Vnuk's (Cudahy, WI), Pitcher's Mound (Beloit), Brat Stop (Kenosha), Cubby Bear (Lincolnshire, IL), Bobby Rockets (Lyons, WI)and many others...
Opened for:
Grand Funk Railroad, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, Great White, Will Hoge, Sister Hazel, Night Ranger, Fingertight, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Firehouse, and more...
"...well-written, well-played music.....89 Mojo are practically a Kenosha institution. Lots of melody, lots of talent, and lots of energy..." - Matt Specht (Action Magazine, Jan. 06)
Simply stated, 89 Mojo are having a blast, which is evident by their smiles, jumps, and comraderie - as well as their longevity.
Al Schroeder - Lead vocals
Instrument/Role: Lead Vocals/Dirty Tambourine/Diddy's Punching
Bag and Porn Expert (don’t ask….I know them all)
About me: As far back as my limited memory allows, my first memories are of listening to The Beatles on the old school 45’s with my brother’s headphones and singing into the plastic end of a jump rope. Yes, my family has the pictures to prove it. I’ve always loved music. Especially singing and finding those fun little harmonies (must be those damn Beatle albums). I started out with Ernie, Grant, Dom and Gene back in high school. I ran sound and sang backgrounds from the board. Way too scared to sing up front. If not for Paul Geasland, I would have never made the step from listener to singer. I will always be thankful to him for pushing me up there. My only other true passion is my beautiful daughter Mckayla who just turned 2. She’s changed my life in every aspect and I love her more than I ever knew I could love anyone. She’s definitely Daddy’s girl and I couldn’t be any prouder!
Favorite Bands/Biggest Influences: Butch Walker (my personal Jesus), Ben Folds, John
Lennon, Bradley Nowell, Jack Johnson and Ben Harper.
Currently Listening to: G. Love and Special Sauce, All-American Rejects,
Butch Walker (always), Maroon 5 and Jack Johnson.
Favorite Original: "Goin' Under" - written by Paul Geasland, the original
singer of Mojo. I give it up for this tune every show. A close second is just about anything written by my co-writer (secret agent) Grant June. His overall talents never seizes to amazes me!
Favorite Cover: anything except The frickin’ Doobie Brothers. I’d prefer a pencil in both ears.
Favorite Vocalists: Marc Broussard, Edwin McCain, Will Hoge, G. Love, Jack Johnson (great delivery) and (I know this will be a shock) Butch Walker.
Last Thoughts: On a personal note. I really hope everyone enjoys our shows
as much as we like to perform them. Mojo fans are great ones! Whether they are our die hards or the new ones we've found along the way. Hope everyone likes the new “Live” disc we have coming out, as well as, the new tunes we’re currently working on. Thank all of you. As Dom would say, “Drive safe, have safe sex and do all the right things. We’re 89 Mojo”.
Al a.k.a Alvis
Grant June - Guitar, Vocals
Instrument/Role: Guitar, backing vocals. obsessive music collector/geek
I really love music. My parents bought me a guitar because they'd had enough of all the fake Kiss concerts we would put on in our basement. I actually quit college to play music full time. Wow, that was incredibly stupid. But in the end it all worked out for the best as it's taken me down a wonderfully crazy path that has lead to where I'm at now. That sounds a little sappy...sorry 'bout that.
Some random thoughts -
Will Ferrel is the greatest actor ever.
I like Matchbox 20, and don't feel guilty about it.
1 in 10 guys lose their hair. I took the fall for the guys in the band. Besides them, 6 more dudes owe me a thank you.
I can't say Dogma is my favorite movie, but it's one of the few that I will watch more than once. Same goes for Anchorman.
I once got busy in a Burger King bathroom.
Dom and I are not gay, but have been accused of snuggling.
I consider myself more of a "song" guy than a lead guitarist, but I do have some favorite players. Here are 10 of them, in no specific order. Except for #1 - he rules.
10. Butch Walker (Marvelous 3, solo artist, producer)
9. Brian May (Queen)
8. Ryan Newell (Sister Hazel)
7. Keith Urban
6. Eddie VanHalen
5. John Mayer
4. Brad Paisley
3. Brad Gillis (Night Ranger)
2. Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)
1. Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, solo artist)
Thank you so much for coming to see us, and especially for checking out our music. Please say hi at a show or send a message to us anytime. Here's to your health and happiness. Take care,
Grant
Dom Pedicone - Bass, Vocals
Instrument/Role: Bass / "Vice Grip to the sack" background vocals, tour bus driver, cord plugger inner, counselor.
About me: I really enjoy having a good time. Whether it's hanging with my family, rockin' like Dokken, or just drinkin' with the boys, I like being around 'good times' !
Favorite bands/biggest influences: Metal: Iron Maiden
80's rock: Night Ranger makes me weep, Tesla, and Sammy Van Halen.
Rap: Dre, Snoop, Eminem, Lil' Jon (WHAT!!).
Now: Green Day, Kelly Clarkson, Will and Butch.
Currently listening to: The 'Dennys Den' jukebox. Fall out Boy, Nelly,
Green Day, Gretchen Wilson.... everything!
Favorite original: Get
Favorite cover: My Own Worst Enemy - Lit or Small Things -Blink 182
Favorite bassists: Jon Ianni - my mentor. No one should be able to consume that much and still play like that. I'm mearly an understudy.
Jack Blades wasn't 'all that' on the bass, but he sure is cool! Melvin
Brannon II (Dan Reed Network).
Top ten cities to drink in:
10. Dubuque, Iowa
9. Southern California area
8. Beloit
7. Kenosha
6. Vegas
5. St. Louis
4. Milwaukee (Summerfest)
3. New Orleans
2. Chicago (Wrigleyville!)
1. Tampa Bay
Last thoughts: I'm only doing this band thing to get free drinks when we
play, look down girls low cut tops from a higher elevation (the stage),
and a few hours away from the doldrums of changing poopy diapers till my
solo career takes off. Kidding..... I love this band and everything and everyone that go along with it
Brian Otwaska ("Diddy") - Drums
I believe it was Dom who gave me the Diddy nickname
and it just seemed to stick. As for me I've played the
drums for close to 35 years now. I was given my first
drum kit when I was 4, but didn't take a lesson until
I was 7. My drum instructor was Joe Pulice Sr. who
taught me until after High school, when I had to quit
so I could start working. I was in and out of crappy
bands until 1989 when I helped form Tangent, (not
quite as crappy as the rest back then, but pretty
crappy when I look back at it now) we played together
until 1991. I then played in Moon Stevens off and on
until 1996 when I joined up with Dom and Grant. A few
years later Al joined the band and here it is nearly
11 years later. Holy Crap!! My favorite band of all
time is RUSH and my favorite drummer is Neil Peart. I
like Captian Morgan and Coke and lots of it (as Al has
seen) and an occasional Miller Lite. I have been
married for nearly 11 years to my my wife Misty and we
have 2 boys, Dallas and Cody. Dallas plays a mean game
of baseball and Cody has started playing the drums. I
am a huge Brewers fan and my favorite Brewer of all
time is Robin Yount. That's about it for me, hope to
see you all at a show sometime.
Peace,
Brian
Dominic Perone Jr. aka Dommer - Soundman / Merchandise
Instrument/Role: Sound Guy/Merch Dude/Chauffeur/Security/Refreshment Guy/Lemon Bringer/Stuntman/Pot Stirrer/Cut Man and 90 King
About Me: I met Dominic and Grant in the fall of 1990. I started running with Sahara Jack in January of 94'. I went through the transformation from S.J. to Epstein's Mother, to the present line up of 89 Mojo. I've been running sound since 2000'. I've attended a shit load of concerts, music festivals, conferences, etc. across our great country. I somehow seem to manage to be in the right place at the right time. If this isn't good enough check my myspace, or stop by the soundboard and say "Hi!"
Random Thoughts:
BMW Motorcycles kick ass.
I like to do 90's!
I'm one of only like 5 people to ever see the Briggs Blaster.
I like girls.
It's not wise to drink 3 or more Specialty Drinks from The Rondevous in an hour and then go run sound.
I think the sky is blue.
Just because I'm not smiling doesn't mean I'm not happy.
Dominic itches his feet.
The capital of Kentucky is Frankfurt.
Seriously - stop by the board, I'm usually good for a couple of laughs.