Mimicking Mars

Following a fantastic showing at Crater just two weekends prior, indie rock quintet Mimicking Mars came out with a fantastic groove-driven indie rock sound complimentary of the moody instrumental opener “Rustica”, which prepared the crowd for the entrancing vibes ahead. Once their performances kicked into gear, vocalist Jeremy Lanuti provided the yelping delivery reminiscent of the better sides of the 2000s garage rock revival, allowing for the oblique vocal harmonies on cuts like “Lyrics” to punch so effectively. The bass work courtesy of Robert Wilhelm was an immediate draw for the night, perfectly providing the counter-balance for James Dawson’s melodic riffs. The band’s knack for seamless transitions was essential to maintaining the energy across their entire setlist, with tracks flowing effortlessly together, keeping the audience in their trance.

In regards to their song selections, the band ran with entirely original material, barring a fantastically groovy rendition of the Beatles’ classic “Eleanor Rigby”, where the bass picked up a thicker texture reminiscent of 2000s progressive metal.

Despite the risks that come with getting over unfamiliar choruses to disaffected collegiates, the crowd was engaged throughout, always willing to bob their heads as the band ripped through their discography. The fantastic bridge breakdowns in “Squirrels In a Hurry” by drummer Josh Leviseur set the stage for an ambitious extended jam section that kept the pit invested. While the sole Beatles cover unsurprisingly garnered the greatest audience participation, the original melodies definitely resonated with the crowd, and backup singing significantly increased as choruses were repeated throughout the song.

The patrons of Redgate were treated to two of MM’s currently unreleased tracks, the first of which being “Zachary Thompson” (or simply ZT). ZT is an enjoyable poppy tune most notable for its seamless keyboard integration building to Grant Harding’s well-earned solo and its remarkably smooth bridge crescendo, making for easily the band’s most jazz-inspired moment of the whole performance. The new tune went over so well with the crowd that the foot-thumping bounce of “She Likes” garnered some considerable motion within the pit. The second original track came with the closer, “$4.75”, a track driven by a snider vocal melody that wouldn’t be out of place in modern Midwestern emo. The rest of the composition stays closer to their common sound, which is to say sufficiently funky and infectious, barring the spiky guitar flourish seen across the pre-chorus, sending the band out on another fantastic note. - 20 Watts Magazine

On a warm, summer afternoon, James Dawson, Josh LeViseur, and Jeremy Lanuti sit on the couch in their living room. It has been a week since their band, Mimicking Mars, has released their debut album, Janky Jones & the Blackjack Blues, an eight track album culminating some of their work since 2020 to now. Here, they share the ins and outs of the band and their journey to their first ever full-length album.
Mimicking Mars formed during their high school years after a school-wide virtual talent show. There, Lanuti met Dawson and became friends because of their shared drive for music. This passion was seen in LeViseur, the co-captain of the school’s drumline, and they soon formed Mimicking Mars. Lanuti took on the roles of lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter; Dawson took lead guitar and backup vocals, and LeViseur stuck with the drums, sang backup vocals, and explored other forms of percussion such as piano, synth, and, of course, triangle. While they have been creating music since 2020, Janky Jones & the Blackjack Blues is their biggest project released to date.
Janky Jones & the Blackjack Blues is made up of eight tracks – two of which are their singles “Jessica” and “Lyrics,” which were both released in 2023. Inspired by artists such as Rush, Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, and John Mayer, this album explores genres such as psychedelic rock, funk, and folk. “You don’t have to be as married to a genre as you used to be, there’s a crowd for everything,” Lanuti states. When writing music, he asks himself, “What’s the song that I wish I could listen to right now that does not exist?” From there, Lanuti writes about anything and everything, working with the band to create songs their listeners will enjoy.
While the band believes most songs on Janky Jones & the Blackjack Blues don’t have any set meaning, they acknowledge that everyone finds different meanings in their music. Sharing more about this, Lanuti comments:
“One of my proudest moments as an artist was when we played a small student run festival back in the spring and someone came up to me afterward (and this was after we released our single, ‘Jessica’) and she said. ‘I love Jessica! I’ve shown it to all my friends and sat down with them and dissected the lyrics and what everything means…’ and she’s telling me her interpretation of this thing I wrote and it’s like 'Damn, I knew I put that much thought into it, I didn’t know anyone else even cared'.”
Listeners find meaning in the songs released by Mimicking Mars, but the band also associates their own memories with the songs on Janky Jones & the Blackjack Blues. Many of their songs focus on deeper themes, while “Fallin’ Easy” is more lighthearted. This sort of goofiness connects the band and allows them to truly express themselves. A fan favorite, “Janky Jones,” is inspired by the short story The Yellow Wallpaper, focusing on how it’s easier than ever to isolate yourself with the modern popularity of technology. However, the fictional band of Janky Jones and the Blackjack Blues is a sort of escape from this loneliness. This fictional band represents Mimicking Mars themselves, with each member being represented by a gnome on the album cover.
The personal meaning behind these songs to both fans and the band alike have transformed their live performances. As a band, some of their favorite songs to perform live are “Rustica,” “Janky Jones,” and “Lyrics.” According to Dawson, playing live gives “a rush of adrenaline that’s unlike anything else,” and LeViseur described this feeling as “a drug of its own.” There is a sense of accomplishment that comes with it as well. Having a “wall of sound” echoing back your original songs during live performances shows your music is a success. “Having people tell you that they enjoy your music has you remember why you write original music and not just do covers,” states Lanuti. Mimicking Mars enjoys performing their music live for their listeners and hope to continue to do so on campus.
As for the future of Mimicking Mars, they hope to give the fans what they want: more live performances and merchandise. LeViseur loves the experience of playing house shows such as Dazed and is excited for their next performance. Exclusive merchandise is also in the works. From Mimicking Mars hats and shirts, to Janky Jones & the Blackjack Blues vinyls and CDs, Mimicking Mars will have just what you need to keep up with the band. So get ready for more basement shows and wear your favorite Mimicking Mars tee, because this band is ready for their time to shine. - Abstract Archive

Mimicking Mars returned to Redgate with a surprise cover of “Murder on the Dance Floor”, giving it their own college/alternative rock spin. The on-the-rise band played their fan favorite and original song “Jessica”. The grove rock band consists of Jeremy Lanuti on lead vocals and guitar, James Dawson on rhythm guitar and vocals, Josh LeViseur on drums, Robert Wilhelm on bass, and Grant Harding on keys. Mimicking Mars got the crowd engaged as they played with all of their heart and talent, showcasing themselves as musicians who play with their hearts on their sleeves and give it their all. - 20 Watts Magazine

If you haven’t developed true feelings for a situationship before, then you’re lying. In a time where being casual is the norm, the realization that the feelings you have are real can be terrifying. The internal weighing the scales: to tell or not to tell? Do they feel the same? Will you lose them forever? God forbid you seem uncool. You turn to overthinking every interaction to read the deeper meanings. On December 8th, Mimicking Mars released “Jessica,” a power pop-inspired retelling of this age-old phenomenon.

At first, “Jessica” seems like just another song about pining, but upon further listening, it’s so much more. The track takes the listener on a journey of realizing these feelings for a friend and trying to see if they want you as much as you want them. The soundscape is full of angsty guitar licks and intense drums. With a seamless combination of melodic guitar and upbeat vocals, “Jessica” feels like a track that could have come from the catalog of Declan McKenna or the Backseat Lovers.

The lyrics of the song describe different moments in the relationship and the singer’s thoughts after catching the plague of love. It starts with the two lying in bed together and talking about their day, but all that he can think about is how he “longs for something more.” Slowly, the couple grows closer and closer, until the song’s bridge hits and explodes, portraying the singer’s feelings: bottled up until there is nowhere else for them to go. He resigns himself to silence, however, and waits for her to make a move.

Although Mimicking Mars has been making music since 2021, the band has truly emerged as one of the most exciting acts at SU after introducing themselves to SU’s DIY scene earlier this year. Pairing candid and emotional storytelling with upbeat, power-pop-inspired instrumentals, “Jessica” is another example of the unyielding potential shown by Mimicking Mars. - 20 Watts Magazine

The first act of the night was Mimicking Mars, who performed a set of their energetic original music. “Oh wow, he’s good,” shouted one audience member as Jeremy Lanuti, the lead singer, first started to sing. As their set went on, the crowd became more and more electrified. The band’s high-energy music mixed with their sumptuous stage presence practically forced the audience to dance and jump around.

These songs were not just fun – they were also brutally honest stories from the artists’ lives. In fact, as one song started Lanuti told the audience that it was written about one of them.

Being at a venue where so many legendary acts have played is certainly a jump-up for most student bands, who play most of their shows in people’s basements. Syracuse sophomore Josh LeViseur, the drummer of Mimicking Mars, explained, “There’s always pressure to put on a good show, but I feel like we thrive under it. Playing for crowds like that is awesome, especially when you get to do it on a stage where some of your biggest influences have played as well. And hopefully one day, we’ll be in the conversation of those famous artists that have played at The Lost Horizon before.” - 20 Watts Magazine

Shortly after, veteran SU student band Mimicking Mars took the stage to headline the show. They kicked off their set with their original song “She Likes,” which emphasized the band’s quippy lyrics and captivating stage presence.

The band also performed unreleased songs “$4.75,’’ “Squirrels (in A hurry),” and “Janky Jones & the Blackjack Blues,” whose titles exemplify the playful and witty spirit of Mimicking Mars. As they ripped through their set of originals, Mimicking Mars proved again and again that they know how to rock out like it’s the turn of the century. - University Union