We as journalists are supposed to take an objective view of whatever we cover. Whether it’s sports, politics or pop culture, we try to keep our personal thoughts and opinions out of our work.
However, it’d be silly not to acknowledge when someone you’ve covered for over a decade keeps getting better and better, smashing through levels of showmanship and becoming a tight, must-see act.
Waiting on Mongo is one of those bands. The band started out roughly a decade ago in the Asbury Park music scene and they are (and continue to be) one hell of a fun band. But yet if you listen to their stuff — especially tracks of their most recent album From the Top — you hear just how good this band has got, and that they’re ready to break out onto a much bigger scene.
Recently, we caught up with Mike Susino (guitar/vocals) and Anders Carlson (saxophones) to discuss the band’s plans for new music, their Wonder Bar show on Friday April 11, performing at Sea.Hear.Now and their thoughts on the Asbury Park music scene.
From The Top is your latest record — how do you feel this album stands out from the rest of your catalog both in terms of songwriting and musicianship?
FTT is an amalgamation of 10 years worth of growth. All the inspiration we had coming into this project and all since gained from touring and playing shows. Really what we wanted to accomplish (w/FTT) was to create something with a positive driving force that allows the listener a moment of escape from reality. Dancey. Vibey. Psychedelic. We wanted our first full length release to showcase our growth since our maiden release back in 2017.
Which songs from this album have really connected with your live audiences?
“Sick of the Woods” is one of our hardest hitting songs on the album. It has so much room to build it up live. Ripping guitar, wailing organ, rolling bass, and horn lines that help bolster every moment. It has one of the most powerful hooks in any of our songs. We make some truly epic moments with this one, the fans really get a chance to rage.
Speaking of the live Mongo experience, which song has allows for the most live improvisation?
A tough one, we allow for ample opportunity to jam out. Even with our most rehearsed planned set, you never know where improv will take us. “The Flyer” may be the one we have the most room to improv in. We’re always looking for opportunities to tease a cover or create something new on the spot for the live experience.
While From the Top dropped nearly a year ago, we gotta ask — is there new music on the horizon and will we hear any at The Wonder Bar coming up?
We’ve been hard at work in our studio brewing up the next batch of WOM funk and a big part of that process is taking them to the stage to test out on the crowd. You never know when you’ll be hearing the next new mongo track live right in front of you. We record our sets for that exact reason, and will be recording on the 11th if that is any indication for you.
In 2023, you performed at Sea.Hear.Now — can you talk about the experience of performing at a festival in your hometown in front of thousands of people?
SHN was one for the books. The fans and our beloved NJ community showed so much love and support. It positively was an emotional moment for us, which we took very seriously. A well planned and rehearsed set. Pulled out all the stops, Mongo had just gotten a Hammond A1 organ, and we had a three-piece horn line for the first time in years. We wanted to give everyone the best we could possibly offer. We are still riding of the inspiration from that high.
Speaking of Asbury, Waiting on Mongo has been in the scene since 2012. How do you feel the music scene has changed for the better and for the worse since you first started out?
The biggest thing I can say about the AP music scene is that it is resilient, defiant, hungry, and always will be. Asbury Parked changed so much before we got to it, and has changed a lot in the past 10+ years. Venues have come and gone, and we’ve suffered the loss of The Saint, a legendary venue responsible for giving many bands their first chances at getting their foot through the door. Fortunately, there will always be support for live music in AP. It’s a strong community of artists, musicians, and supporters of the arts that are dedicated to keep it that way.
What do you love about being in Waiting for Mongo?
WOM is an escape for us all. No matter what is going on in our lives at least we have Mongo, the band, each other, the opportunity to freely express ourselves and a bit of catharsis from the frustrations of the everyday. We’re a family, and aren’t always pretty, but you learn a lot about yourself from being in a band. Compromise, coordination, the value of time. A loaded answer for a quick question, but there’s a lot to love here in the band.
What are five things the band is looking forward to in 2025?
- Finishing and releasing our next project.
- Growing our following in our regional market.
- Breaking into new scenes and building lasting relationships with the bands we collaborate with.
- Growing the WOM brand and giving our fans new opportunities to interact with us through social media.
- Ensuring that our 2026 season is as booked as possible.
