BIOGRAPHY:
Mandarin Dynasty is a band formed by Mike Sherk in late 2003 and is based out of the Southern California cities of Encinitas and Long Beach. He is often joined in the recording studio and at So-Cal shows by Kevin Ferguson (Friendship Hurricane) and Taryn Popplewell (Ironic Pancakes). Katy Davidson (Dear Nora) has also been joining in at local shows as of late.
The band regularly toured for more six months per year between 2005-2007, but live shows have recently become less frequent. The live touring act generally consists of Mike Sherk and the occasional special guest - for example John McCauley (Deer Tick) and Hugh J. & The Picnic. Mandarin Dynasty has been lucky enough to share stages with Why?, The One AM Radio, Dear Nora, Mount Eerie, The Blow, BARR, French Quarter, Viking Moses and countless other amazing bands.
To date, the band has released two EPs (Ave Pico and I Am Ready For the Winter Again), one full-length album (Sea Legs) and one split record (Pinq is the New Blaq with Actual Birds). A new record is in the process of being recorded and will hopefully be released by the end of 2008.
PRESS:
Named one of the best things about 2005 by The Ann Arbor Paper.
"Mandarin Dynasty's new EP 'I Am Ready For The Winter Again' is superb - five tracks of fuzzy post-grunge singer-songwriter shenanigans - more bleary eyes than Bright Eyes - kind of like a less-pretentious, more-downbeat version of Pavement. Kind of. Hugh [J. Noble, head of ActionPop! Records] says: 'I'm not sure we can still see each other unless you buy it.' I'm inclined to agree." - VOICES FROM DOWNTRODDENDOM
"The last time something came in from Mandarin Dynasty back in March, the 'Ave Pico' EP seemed to show that this San Diego trio was moving steadily away from rock; here, they've almost fully rejected it (save the melancholic 'La Quinta Vs. Kelley') in favor of acoustic-oriented numbers with a tasteful touch of electricity that in a short time have already shown melodic growth, surely the best part of this CD... the maturity shown in song construction and development means the group are still a long way from their best. Don't misread that, though: This is their best yet." - PAT MASTERSON, STATION DIRECTOR WUSC-FM
MANDARIN DYNASTY: BIO/PRESS