A supernova of sex, sweat and rock-n-roll: How else to describe the Oklahoma-bred Mimsies' explosion on the L.A. music scene?
Actually, there are quite a few other ways. The L.A. Weekly, no small potatoes there, hails them as "Siouxsie & the Banshees meets Motley Crue," and calls lead songstress Casey Shelton an "in-the-moment and only-in-your-dreams glitter punk diva equal parts Gwen Stefani and Pat Benatar."
Rival publication New Times Los Angeles, in a rare concurrence, praises the "glittery trash-glam quartet" as the best thing since waffles and fried chicken, and advises readers to "get your autograph, piece of clothing, or roll-in-the-sack before the Mimsies blow up like a jumbo-sized vinyl love doll."
Hel-lo, people: There are a gazillion bands in La-la Land, humpin' those mean Hollywood streets lookin' for a good review, a kind word, a quarter - whatever. But when it comes to the Mimsies, the vaunted Fourth Estate is reduced to a pack of tongue-wagging basset hounds. And they're not the only ones. Club owners, label reps, assorted industry types and, most importantly, an ever-expanding base of devoted fans see the Mimsies as a talent-laden threesome destined for greatness, or even better, their own segment on MTV's "Cribs."
You see, the word is out, and the playa-hatas better step to the curb, the Mimsies are on the rise.
But who are the Mimsies and what does that friggin' name mean? Last query first: "mimsy" is a portmanteau word (get your dictionary out) from Lewis Carroll meaning both miserable and flimsy. The group itself is neither miserable nor flimsy, so go figure. But that name's way cool, so they're keeping it. The group's first guitarist came up with it back in the day when the Mimsies, with a different lineup, were playing in and around Norman, Oklahoma. With a couple of lineup changes, the group evolved like early man rising from the primordial swamp into its current Guns-n-Roses-esque, rockstar-god-and-goddess status.
On the roster, there's the well-tattooed Bryan Showalter on bass. Equally comfortable with bass, guitar or drums, Bryan's the Mimsy most likely to be caught doing tai chi in the parking lot before a gig.
Guitar hero duties fall to the incredibly versatile Jerod Vance. The blonde boy-toy surfer hunk is so laid back, he could've been born in SoCal and has been known to answer to "Spicoli".
Last but certainly not least is that stage-diving, bar-dancing ball-o-fire brunette vocalist Casey Shelton, about whom it has been said, " she looks like Natalie Wood, sings like Janis Joplin and performs like Iggy Pop."
Before the Mimsies did their "Road Rules" bit and headed west, where legend has it the boulevards are paved with platinum records, they were the hottest band in Oklahoma. (They still are whenever they're back home.) They won just about everything they could win, save for the blue ribbon at the state fair for pickled onions, and you can bet Casey was workin' on her recipe. They triumphed at the 1998 Oklahoma Talent Showcase, were voted Best of Oklahoma 2000 on Mp3's American Top 50, and on and on. But crikey, their mantelpiece was plum full!
So soon they were all singin' "California, Here We Come." Now they're an L.A. band, with their first CD on tap, the aptly titled "Trash and Rock and Roll," but don't be fooled by their good looks and come-hither stares. These kiddies got the goods - pure "glam-bam-thank-you-ma'am" tail-rippin' rock that'll make you holler at the moon just like you swallowed a fistful of magic mushrooms and chased them down with a quart of J.D. Singles like "Cherry Cordial" and the title song of "Trash and Rock & Roll" make you pine for the days when rockers spat fire, trashed hotel rooms and seduced farm daughters right out of their jammies. But don't dwell on what was folks, the Mimsies are coming to a club near you soon, and they'll make it feel like the first time all over again. Come on down, and give it up to the Mimsies, 'cause if you don't, you'll wish you had.
Tennessee
The Mimsies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you came inside
A godsend in headlights all (edit: on?) last night
I'm still startled by what I came to believe in Tennessee, yeah.
But I compromised,
Oh yeah I compromised,
I shouldn't have compromised,
I wish times
Why don't you light my way,
And I rode all night wishing I could have stayed.
And I realized last time I closed my eyes was in Tennessee, yeah.
But I compromised,
Oh yeah I compromised,
I shouldn't have compromised, now that I'm compromised.
Then I blink for a minute just to see that you were gone,
Replaced by something I think I saw all along.
Now you're just what I expected,
But refused to believe In Tennessee.
In Tennessee.
In Tennessee.
And I'm home but i can't sleep, no.
You're no star, least, least not in my sky
It's unintelligent the way I keep begging why
Didn't you have enough toys to play with in Tennessee
Did you have to play with me?
Then I blink for a minute just to see that you were gone,
Replaced by something I think I saw all along.
And now you're just what I expected, but refused to believe,
Oh yeah, you're just what I expected but refused to believe, yeah
You're just what I expected but refused to believe,
In Tennessee.
In Tennessee.
The Mimsies's song Tennessee is a contemplative and introspective piece about a person who arrives in Tennessee and has their world shaken by the experience. They speak of someone who came into their life and made a profound impact, likening them to a "godsend in headlights". Despite their initial disbelief at the situation, they eventually accepted it and may have compromised some of their beliefs or values to make it work. The singer desperately wishes to go back to that time, but they know they cannot. They feel uneasy about the end of the experience and the person's departure, realizing that they were replaced with something that was glaringly obvious all along. They are left obsessively questioning why this happened to them and wonder if they were just a mere toy to this person from Tennessee.
Line by Line Meaning
What you were
The Mimsies are addressing someone or something, questioning their character or true identity.
When you came inside
This refers to the entry of this person or thing into the lives of The Mimsies, maybe as a result of either a romantic or work relationship.
A godsend in headlights all on last night
The Mimsies must have regarded this person or thing with absolute wonder or amazement, probably like how one would react to seeing something illuminated with headlights in pitch darkness.
I'm still startled by what I came to believe in Tennessee, yeah.
The Mimsies are likely referring to Tennessee as a location, and they came to either have hope or something of a negative experience there. This moment is significant to them because it had a major impact on their perception of this person or thing they are talking about.
But I compromised,
The Mimsies realize that they had to make compromises concerning this person or thing that they were interested in or invested in.
Oh yeah I compromised,
The repetition of the previous statement highlights the gravity of the compromise and how it affected their perception.
I shouldn't have compromised,
The Mimsies think that the compromise they made was a wrong move or an error in judgment and that they should have acted differently.
Now that I've compromised.
This statement is an admission that things have gone beyond The Mimsies' control and that they have to live with the consequences of their decisions.
I wish times
The Mimsies have several regrets concerning this person or thing they are addressing.
Why don't you light my way,
This means that they wish things would work out better or that they could see more clearly.
And I rode all night wishing I could have stayed.
This statement implies that the Mimsies would have preferred to avoid the consequences of their choices and run away or hide, but circumstances will not permit it.
And I realized last time I closed my eyes was in Tennessee, yeah.
The Mimsies must have come to an epiphany the last time they visited or thought about Tennessee, and this clarity is causing them some level of distress.
Then I blink for a minute just to see that you were gone,
This statement implies that the Mimsies perceive the sudden absence of this person or thing they are addressing. It also implies that they are questioning their interpretation of the situation because they had missed something about this entity's true identity all along.
Replaced by something I think I saw all along.
The Mimsies never admitted to themselves what they knew all along and are now appalled by this realization.
Now you're just what I expected, but refused to believe In Tennessee.
This statement encapsulates what the Mimsies have come to know about this person, thing, or situation, and how they have evolved in their understanding of it. It also brings back the initial imagery of Tennessee, which played a huge part in shaping their perceptions.
In Tennessee.
This line repeats, probably to emphasize the importance that this location has had on the Mimsies.
And I'm home but i can't sleep, no.
This line shows that the Mimsies have never gotten over this experience and cannot rest, as it is still haunting them to this day.
You're no star, least, least not in my sky
This line implies that the Mimsies' view of this person or situation has changed significantly. They no longer view this enigma as significant, as they once thought they did.
It's unintelligent the way I keep begging why
The Mimsies are aware of their failure to let go of this experience and understand that they are foolish for continuing to dwell on the matter.
Didn't you have enough toys to play with in Tennessee
The Mimsies question if Tennessee wasn't enough for this enigma and that it needed to come into their lives to play with them.
Did you have to play with me?
This is a mischievous statement, almost implying that they were toyed with for sheer amusement. It also implies a sense of regret about getting involved with this person or thing.
Contributed by Evelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.