Mumpsy

Mumpsy is an American indie pop band formed in 2005 in Orlando, Florida by singer/lyricist/guitarist Jeff Ilgenfritz. Since their 2005 debut album, The Exuberance of Peachtree, their line-up has centered around Ilgenfritz and multi-instrumentalist Chris Rae (formerly of The Heathens). Drummer Waylon Thornton joined the group in November 2007. Bassist Al Ruiz joined the group in April 2009 after bassist Phil Longo separated ways to focus on his lead project Basements of Florida.
The band has accrued moderate underground success since first being signed to Orlando's Post Records in 2005. They have since left the label and pursued independent success. Elements of Mumpsy's early sound have been likened to or inspired by that of Neutral Milk Hotel, Bishop Allen, Sam Cooke and numerous other indie rock, folk, soul and powerpop bands. Their name is derived from the 1945 children's book by Louise Lawrence Devine, Mumpsy Goes To Kindergarten.
History
Origins
In 2005, Jeff Ilgenfritz, Chris Rae, and a few other local Orlando area musicians recorded Mumpsy's debut LP, Exuberance of Peachtree, at Ilgenfritz's original Brighton Conservatory Studio and Rae's Studio 219 in downtown Orlando. Ilgenfritz played almost every instrument on Exuberance except for a couple touches here and there by close friends. As the single Sir Lancelot was breaking out upon the Exuberance release, Mumpsy was put on hold due to an alt-country project, The Heathens, that Rae and Ilgenfritz were members of until it went defunct before the band's departure to SXSW in 2007. The Heathens had significant regional success in a very short time as they were constantly compared in local press to another Orlandoan Graham Parsons. Since Mumpsy's inception every one of their tours has included stops at DIY/punk venues and they have booked them independent of an agent or manager.
Al Ruiz became bassist of Mumpsy in 2009 as he had a former connection with the drummer Waylon Thornton. They formerly played in the Orlando based Vox Palma.
==Post*Records==
The Exuberance of Peachtree
Formerly a project primarily managed and operated by singer/songwriter Jeff Ilgenfritz, other members joined in December 2006 for a national tour in support of their second EP, 3 People, which was released in April 2007. Embarking on an East Coast tour of the US that was billed as "Three Bands in One Van," Mumpsy joined Post Records labelmates Dodger and Sean Moore in a May 2007 outing. Mumpsy also played at the annual Las Vegas Cinevegas at the Stratosphere Hotel on June 11, 2007 as per an Ocean's 13 after-party.
3 People
Cat & Canary
Since the October show Ilgenfritz worked on a new LP, named after the opening track "Cat and Canary", which was released in April 2008. He wrote, recorded, and produced the entire album and as with previous albums, enlisted a host of local Orlando musicians to contribute on many of the tracks.
Independent Success
Mumpsy Sings Those Golden Hits From The Misfits
On Halloween 2007, Mumpsy released an album of 13 cover songs by the Misfits titled, Mumpsy Sings Those Golden Hits From The Misfits as part of a fundraiser for the Autism Society of Greater Orlando. The event was held at a local community bar, the Copper Rocket, wherein the proceeds from the performance were donated to the organization, as well as money collected from monetary contributions and from a silent auction on the original artwork. The album artwork was made entirely from felt fabrics, created by Ilgenfritz, which featured the famous Misfits Crimson Ghost logo. However, it was stolen moments before a silent auction could be held.
The album has since been made unavailable as Mumpsy never obtained any of the licensing rights to release it. It is still the finest and closest Misfits replica ever released.
Mortgaging Our Future For Right Now
After Mumpsy left Post*Records in mid-2008 they began recording and re-working a series of incomplete tracks and demos that would become the appropriately titled, Mortgaging Our Future For Right Now.
===Posturing 7" EP===
Fatelifter
Music Videos
Homemade
Jon Jones
DIY Ethic
Members
;Current
*Jeff Ilgenfritz - lead vocals, guitars, piano, harmonica, drums (2005-present)
*Chris Rae - vocals, guitar, keys, percussion, banjo, bells, piano, trumpet, melodica (2005-present)
*Waylon Thornton- drums, vocals, guitar (2007-present)
*Al Ruiz - bass, vocals (2009-present)
;Former
*Phil Longo - bass (2007-2009)
*Kristen Andre - keys, vocals (2006-2007)
*Matt Kamm - guitars, vocals (2006)
*Sean Moore - violin, vocals, trumpet, guitar (2006-2008)
*Dunx - bass (2006)
Discography
Studio albums
*The Exuberance of Peachtree (2005)
*Mumpsy Sings Those Golden Hits From The Misfits (2007)
*Cat & Canary (2008)
*Mortgaging Our Future For Right Now (2009)
*Fatelifter (2010)
EPs
*3 People (2007)
*' (2009)

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See Also

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