Artist Spotlight: Mixed Business

Based out of Baltimore and formed in 2007, Mixed Business is serious about living-up to their name by drawing from a diverse set of influences like Tom Waits, The Beatles, Muddy Waters, and Tony Bennett. Inspired by “backyard bluegrass jam sessions and all-night music parties,” the band took some time to talk about their cover of Tom Waits’ Tango ’til They’re Sore.

Band Name: Mixed Business

Hometown: Baltimore

Influences: Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, The Band, Muddy Waters

Cover Song Licensed: Tango ’til They’re Sore — Tom Waits

Story Behind The Cover: Tom Waits has a very unique sound and he is my (Brian Forte– Guitarist & Vocalist) favorite lyricist/musician of all time.  When you listen to the original, it sounds like a drunk guy in New Orleans playing his own funeral march.  I heard different things in it.  I think that the idea of song is still the guy thinking he is going to die.  I heard sharper rhythms and a different melody.  During the guitar solo I sorta bring back the original melody of the verses.  I wonder what Tom Waits would think of our version…. even the slight nod to Nancy Sinatra’s Bang Bang in the intro.

We started out playing lots of cover tunes and getting used to the way we played.  We covered lots of musical territory by playing everything from Frank Sinatra to Nine Inch Nails, Bob Dylan to Natalie Merchant.  We had all of these diverse influences, but the one song we kept coming back to was Tango Till They’re Sore.  When I was in the Navy, one of my friends was really into recording and used me to practice his skills.  I didn’t have a huge solo guitar/voice repertoire at the time, but I did this very different version of that song on acoustic which was sharper and had a different melody.  I’ve listened to that early recording recently and I cringe at how young and amateur my voice sounded on that early recording.  I brought that early version to Mark when we formed Mixed Business, Tango came with us and all of our fans constantly say that it’s our best cover.  We agree.

To listen to music from Mixed Businesses’ eponymous album or to find out more, visit their website here. Also check an interview with the band from examiner.com.