I want to thank Aphoristic Album Reviews for featuring this band in his Nuggets series. I loved the song he posted so I found a few more that I like from this band. I am guilty of having too much trivia in my head, but I never heard of this band, not in reading about obscure bands or their music. I like their music and the sound of their lead singer. I would have liked them no matter what just because of that name.
Mouse and the Traps is an American garage rock band from Tyler, Texas, active mainly during the 1960s. They gained a cult following for their gritty sound that represented garage rock well. The band is best known for their 1966 hit single, A Public Execution, which is really Dylanesque plus some Byrds thrown in.
They began their career releasing “A Public Execution” under the name of Mouse. That was the nickname of their lead singer Ronnie “Mouse” Weiss. Their second single in 1966 was called Maid of Sugar-Maid of Spice and they added “And the Traps.” They have had different members through the years but a constant from their original lineup is Ronnie Weiss, Dave Stanley, and Ken (Nardo) Murray.
Much like Phil from Notes From The Cactus Patch did in the 1960s…Mouse and the Traps toured around Texas, especially Dallas. They toured around the state feverishly, playing clubs, colleges, parties, and even proms. There were occasional touring dates out of Texas, but, for the most part, they remained a very popular regional band.
They have released a bunch of singles and a few collection albums that were released in 1982, 1995, 1997, and 2009. They finally released an album in 2020 called Walking In Dylan’s Shoes. In 1972 they were added to Lenny Kayes Nuggets compilation album of different garage bands.
Graham from Aphoristic Album Reviews wrote: Mouse and the Traps surely hold the record for the longest gap between a debut single and a debut album. ‘A Public Execution’ was released in 1966 (although it was credited solely to their frontman). Their debut album, Walking in Dylan’s Shoes, was released in December 2020.
I’ve listened to their 2020 Dylan cover album Walking In Dylan’s Shoes and I have to admit…it’s really good!
The song I picked, You’re Gonna Miss Me, is off of their Lost Sessions Album released in 2009. I’m not sure which era it’s from although because of the quality…I would guess the 80s or 90s. They were together off and on in the 1960s – 2020. I’m also posting the song that Graham did with Maid of Sugar-Maid of Spice (1966) along with You’re Gonna Miss Me (?).
I’m also going to post Mouse and the Traps Lost Sessions album…give a listen to a few of them…they are awesome! Hit The Bricks and Bottom Line got my attention right away.
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New to me Max. I like their sound. It just goes to show that it’s a thin line, lots of talent but they never got widely known.
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Yea I don’t think anyone today will know this band unless they lived in Texas during that time…but they do sound good.
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Great idea to revisit this cool band, Max. I remember when Graham posted about them in connection with his “Nuggets” series. I liked “A Public Execution” right away. “You’re Gonna Miss Me” and “Maid of Sugar, Maid of Spice” sound great as well. I think it’s a pity they released much of their music piecemeal.
I’ll be spending some time driving this afternoon and might pop in “The Lost Sessions.”
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Yea man they are really something else and soemthing just drew me into them…of course it’s the music and I’m so happy Graham posted them…I mean how could you not like them?
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This is my first time hearing of Mouse and the Traps, but I did enjoy the songs that you featured.
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Yea me also when I read Grahams post…I like these no name bands at times…it’s a challenge writing because there is not much info.
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For Song Lyric Sunday on January 19, 2025, the theme will be to find a song from a forgotten band, and this would have worked well for that.
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Ok…mark me down Jim…thank you!
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Good go-ahead garagey feel. ‘A Public Execution’ IS the bastard child of mid 60’s Dylan and the Byrds, slightly more amplified and amphetaminised.
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amphetaminised…I will have to remember that in a review!
Yea something struck me about them that I really liked.
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I just listened to “A Public Execution” for the first time. I don’t remember hearing it when it charted in ’66. If it were Weird Al Yankovic, I’d call it a brilliant Dylan parody. Since it was apparently not a parody, it is either a great homage or I’d say “there is already a Bob Dylan, try being someone else – like maybe yourself”. The other songs show some promise.
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I had never heard of them either…but yea it does sound like Highway 61 as Graham said on his post. Their sound changed and then they finally did an album in 2020 of Dylan covers…which sounded really good.
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I wonder if Phil knew them? Gonna give a listen to those videos…
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I emailed Phil and asked him but he hasn’t replied yet. I bet he did
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Thats a crazy run from the 60s to Covid lol…man to stick it out that saying something!
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Determined…. lol
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That is some dedication to rock n roll. I love that they finally got an album out, fifty years later!
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Sorry so late with a reply, yes, I did know them a bit. They were popular all over the state and into Oklahoma. Toward the end of their run, a famous gunslinger guitarist from Dallas named Bugs Henderson played with them, and I knew Bugs from running into him from time to time. I did see Mouse and The Traps at the famous LuAnns nightclub in Dallas, and then another club later on. Bugs has passed on, and not sure about Ronnie and the others. The musical coterie in Dallas Fort Worth in the 60s was small and close knit, even though a lot of the bands went national with their records and live performances. My friend from elementary school, David Bullock played with Space Opera, a band out of Fort Worth Texas. He’s still playing today, doing recordings and one-man gigs. Another famous band out of Oklahoma, but based themselves in Dallas was The Five Americans, and Jon and Robbin and The Blue Notes and Sam the Sham and The Pharos. Great pick, Max..you sure know how to dig dig dig.
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No problem…I appreciate your reply Phil. I’m going to have to check out those other bands as well….I liked the sound of yours and the others I’ve found. I’m a garage band junkie…or a rock band junkie.
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Thanks for the shout out. They seem like one of the Nuggets bands most likely to have broken out – the singer has charisma and the songs are good.
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One of my blogger friends (Phil) was in a band in Texas at the same time. I’m going to cover his band soon…but yea…he knew them personally and the “Bugs” guy died in 2017 or so. He said they were really good.
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That’s so cool.
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