Artist description A breath of fresh air in a tiredly formulaic music scene, Mondoz builds upon the efforts of some of the world's most innovative bands. Mondoz is influenced by the cerebrality of lyrics and technicality of performance of Rush, by the emotive and psychedelic and epic aspects of Pink Floyd, and by the controlled aggression and complex arrangements and dark mood of Tool. But there exists a fine line between being influenced by other bands and merely plagiarizing them. Mondoz certainly is no group of copycats--the members shape their disparate influences into a backdrop on which to apply their own considerable talent, creativity, and energy, and the resulting output will surely help to foment the next rock revolution. Today's music listener has lost (or has never acquired) the ability and patience needed to appreciate the lengthy and epic suites of early Yes and early Rush. Tool, fortunately, is paving the way for mainstream commercial viability of innovative, heavy rock music that requires an attention span of its listeners. Which is not to imply that Mondoz does not write and perform many short epic songs which possess instant appeal and will become radio hits. Mondoz certainly does. The Mondoz stage show is simultaneously a personal and arena-type experience, and is in some aspects an alt-rock show and in other aspects a metal show. Rock stage aesthetics cannot be reduced to a one-size-fits-all formula--what works for Fugazi would not be appropriate if utilized by the Smashing Pumpkins--and Mondoz's stage aesthetic is a shifting stylistic hybrid, one commensurate to the mood of each song. Bryan Wofford's drumming provides the solid foundation for complex arrangements, and the elegance of Kimberly Gann's bass playing and persona imparts a touch of civility to what are quite heavy, quite in-your-face, aggressive performances by the other members. Dustin Dichoso is a front man whose baritone voice easily handles the tenor range while he effortlessly plays technically demanding guitar parts, and Dean Dichoso melds the best of jrock and '80s guitar solo styles with a modern, slightly death-infused metal sound, all while implementing a myriad of guitar effects to create ambient and moody sonic textures. And with over 20 years of rock stage experience between them, Dean and Dustin successfully and in an unselfconscious fashion help Mondoz deliver epic rock shows in any sized venue to any type of audience. The members of Mondoz are prolific composers of epic, arena-filling rock songs, and as time passes, both their musicianship and songwriting will continue to evolve and to push the envelope of artistry. And if properly supported, Mondoz will sell millions upon millions of units.

Music Style Alternative Metal

Musical Influences Soundgarden, Tool, Helmet, A Perfect Circle

Similar Artists Quicksand, Tool, Helmet, Soundgarden, A Perfect Circle, Handsome

Artist History DISCOGRAPHY - "From Here to Dystopia" (Circumference Records copyright 2000) - "The Lunar Sessions" - Promotional EP (Circumference Records copyright 2001) – “The Lunar Session 2.0” (Circumference Records 2002).

Group Members Dustin Dichoso, Dean Dichoso, Kimberly Gann, Bryan Wofford

Instruments Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Drums, Synth, Synth Percussion

Albums From Here To Dystopia (Circumference Records copyright 2000),

Press Reviews -===(PRESS REVIEW 1)===- There's something to be said for accessibility; it certainly can pay off in terms of exposure and radio airplay. Such is the case with Mondoz, a local four-piece metal outfit whose commercial sound has helped it land tunes on various TV and film projects (MTV's T&A tease, Undressed, for example). The Debut Album "From Here to Dystopia" (Circumference Records 2000) finds the quartet in decent form, producing well-sculpted slabs of hard rock. The sound is comparable to such arena heavyweights as Creed, with Dustin Dichoso's deep voice bellowing over thick cuts of disciplined fuzztones. Time changes are abundant, and the group vacillates between mid-tempo riff showcases and pulse-pounding moshers. 1/25/2001 - Houston Press___________________________________ -===(PRESS REVIEW 2)===- To say that the members of Mondoz are serious about their band would be an understatement. With an official Web site under construction, plans for some extensive touring and the official release of a CD on their own label, its obvious that for the members of Mondoz music is more than just a hobby.To anyone aware of the long history of the group, formed in the summer of 1993, this display of professionalism should come as no surprise. Comprised of University of Texas sophomore Dean Dichoso on guitar, his older brother Dustin on vocals and guitar, UT alum Brian Wofford on drums and UT freshman Kimberly Gann on bass, the band has already built a small following in Houston and hopes to extend their fanbase to California by the end of the summer.Like many people these days, the members of Mondoz feel that the current popular music scene has become too commercial and that the quality of music being released has declined significantly in recent years. Unlike many people however, Mondoz plans on actually doing something about it. "I wanted [our music] to be fresh from a different world and still appeal to the lowest common denominator [while] retaining much of the substance that rock once lost," Dean Dichoso said.While these goals are ambitious ones, the band has already received some very encouraging signs from a number of mainstream sources. On a tip over the Internet, Dustin Dichoso made a trip to Los Angeles to see if he could land a deal with Mastersource, a publication company. The risk was worth it, as Dichoso secured a deal which has since then put Mondoz songs "Scream" and "Dying to Live" in some attention-grabbing spots for MTV's Undressed and CBS (during promos for The Promised Land). This was also a big accomplishment considering the competition the band faced to score the deal."There were hundreds of tapes and they only took ours," Dean said.To complement their hard-hitting and intricate sound, brother Dustin has created lyrics dealing with personal issues influenced by both his own experiences and his studies in philosophical writers which the band hopes will help reach out to its audience. "[Dustin] believes there's a common thread in every human being that basically deals with the dark side of life for each individual, and that's where he writes from," Dean said.On May 23, the band will release From Here to Dystopia, the band's first full-length CD on its own label, Circumference. It will be available in chain stores across western America, and can be ordered from CDNow, CD Universe and Tower Records Online. While there are no definite dates set, be sure to watch out for the band."Soon we'll be hitting Austin venues like mad, and there will be shows upon shows," Dean said, citing their Web site (www.mondoz.com) for more information.When the band performed at the recent Jester Jamfest, it was apparent that all the trials and years of hard work have not been in vain. Catchy songs like "Scream" and "Revelate" permeated Jester Center. Their sound, while very heavy, retained a sense of melody throughout the performance and was entirely enthralling. "They definitely had a lot of energy. They got everyone involved," undeclared freshman Neil Davis proclaimed.Dustin's vocal efforts were nothing short of passionate. His exclamation of "Are you listening?" during the song "Listening" was a pointed call to the entire audience. Yes, Mondoz, we are listening, and we hope to hear more. - 04/26/2000 Local group tries to save rock music -Stephen Palkot Daily Texan Staff

Location Austin, Tx. - USA

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