The Soul Mites

The Soul Mites are putting the finishing touches on their third cd, working with Dean Felber, bassist for Hootie and the Blowfish, and The Jam Room in Columbia, S.C. Awaiting a final master from The Kitchen in Raleigh, N.C., this summer, they're gearing up for a breakout with the new album!

The Soul Mites can't be pigeon-holed into one tiny genre. Perhaps Kevin Oliver of Columbia, S.C.'s The Free Times said it best recently: "Elder statesmen of the local music scene ... [The Soul Mites] have been mashing up rock, funk and soul long before anyone called the practice a mash-up.... The Mites are simply one of those bands you have to hear live to truly appreciate."

The band has been rocking the Southeast for more than a decade. They are a staple at all the festivals and music showcases in their hometown of Columbia, blowing up sets at everything from the annual St. Patrick's Day Festival and 3 Rivers Music Festival to headlining the annual Colossal Music Crawl, which features dozens of the regions best bands.

The Soul Mites rock the live show! Their high-energy sets never let down a crowd. Guitarist extraordinaire Frank Robinson rips through sets. Lead singer Tim Davis commands your attention with his booming, raspy, soulful voice. Drummer Andy Dumiak is an animal and a machine on the drums. And bassist Thom Harman's fat lines combine with Andy's rhythms to head straight for your libido, while both complement Tim with strong, clean second and third harmonies. They really leave it all on the stage. Whether they're playing for a young college crowd or an all ages show, they will win you over.

The Soul Mites are mainstream enough to fit in with radio bands, and fresh enough to fit in with indie bands, reggae, and even hip hop. Ever heard a Ben Harper cover with Public Enemy thrown into the middle? Not many bands can go so easily from Marvin Gaye to Radiohead to AC/DC to N.E.R.D. to The Dead Milkmen! But they still like playing originals more than anything.

The guys have played with a long list of bands like 311, George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, Cameo, Hootie and the Blowfish, Our Lady Peace, Edwin McCain, Danielle Howle and the Tantrums, Crossfade, Sister Hazel, The Marvelous 3, Vanilla Ice (yes, Ice!), and A Flock of Seagulls, as well as up-and-comers in the region like Handgun Sonata and The Movement. The band has played all over the East Coast, from Florida to NYC and lots of places in between. They've even jammed in Costa Rica, Amsterdam, and Paris.