"Don't Tread on the Soundman"
Jay Allen Sanford
SD Reader - March 22nd, 2007

"I knew the sound guy's stress level was rising [after] one of us said a microphone should go on one side of the stage and then we changed our mind," says Matt Rhea of Manganista, which played L.A.'s Viper Room on March 10.

"The head honcho sound guy started yelling at people left and right -- I mean really yelling, to get everything either on the stage or out of the venue. I couldn't figure out what the big deal was. He said, 'We're opening in two minutes. Move, move, move,' like a drill sergeant. Everything was kind of a blur and then, right before they opened the [club] doors, they closed this curtain around the stage and we had to work behind the curtain. They have some rule that the band can't be seen setting up....

"There were a couple more outbursts from the head honcho sound guy, mainly riding the sound guy who was working directly with us," continues Rhea. "Despite their military-like tactics, they were pretty damn efficient when everything was said and done. I'll take a little getting yelled at any day in exchange for a decent-sounding set." Manganista appears April 7 at the Ken Club.

"Big Score"
Ken Leighton
SD Reader - November 22nd, 2006

Kyle Ponterio says he is one of about 30 professional marimba players in San Diego and the only player in a local rock band.

"I was teaching percussion at a local school," says the classically trained Ponterio. "They were getting rid of old drums that were not to be used again because of missing parts. The marimba was broken down in one of the cabinets. I told the band director, 'If you ever want to get rid of it, just let me know.' She said, 'Okay, just don't tell anybody.' "

Ponterio says he spent about $500 to repair broken keys on the 60-year-old instrument. A new marimba costs between $2000 and $17,000.

"The material they use to make new marimbas is not as good. They used to be made of rosewood, but rosewood is becoming scarce. You can't import rosewood into the U.S. anymore." He says new marimbas often use a lesser wood or synthetic material.

When Ponterio joined Manganista last year, it was the only band he'd been in outside of a school or marching band. He took over the complex parts that had already been written for a synthesized marimba by singer/songwriter Matt Rhea, who admits his six-man band may not be appreciated by mainstream music fans. He uses Danny Elfman as a point of reference.

"Anybody who doesn't appreciate or at least respect Oingo Boingo knows nothing about music. There are countless guitar bands out there. What would be the point of contributing new music to that category?"

Manganista appears Saturday at Pete's Place in La Mesa and December 9 at Squid Joe's in Carlsbad.

"Manganista takes 2nd place at the San Diego
Song Writers Guild song writing contest"
San Diego Songwriters Guild - September 2006

The Nate Donnis Trio was judged the Overall Contest Winner, with its songs "No Other Place" and "Tip of the Tongue" combining to tip the scales in the band's favor. Led by Nate himself on guitar and vocals, the band laid down a soulful acoustic funk with deep grooves and insightful, introspective lyrics. The band was loose, but its performances were solid and inspired... clearly a winner here. We expect to hear much more from Nate in the future.

Manganista ran a close second on this night of uniformly excellent but individually unique performances, with its exciting blend of electronic and acoustic elements combining into a sound that had everyone who saw their set transfixed. When was the last time you saw a mallet player on stage with a rock ensemble? If you caught Manganista, you know how exciting an ample infusion of this percussive element can make a band.

"You say Scaramanga, I say Manganista – tomato, tomahto ... " Written by our friend and all-around curmudgeon Buddy Blue
San Diego Union Tribune's Nite and Day - January 12, 2006

...Speaking of idiosyncratic/acquired tastes, I've duly noted that local ska/reggae/new wave/funk/something-or-other oddball group Scaramanga, which changed its name to Manganista a few months ago, has developed a large and loyal legion in lovely La Mesa.

Musically, the group can conjure pure hellfire; I'm particularly enamored of the rhythm section, which includes guitarist Ryan McMullen, a rare master of the covert Curtis Mayfield wah-wah weavage method; bassist Drew Kent, who seems to have taken several blood transfusions from Aston Barrett; and drummer Dusty Norberg, who detonates layered polyrhythms that sound like he's got four arms working at once.

That said, I can only scratch my curmudgeonly cabeza at the franticly adenoidal, dweeb-chic vocals of Matthew Rhea and Travis Wingo, both of whom would seem more at home as "Daily Show" correspondents than as rock 'n' roll frontmen, despite the fact that they seem to be the main draw among Mangaheads.

Go figure.

Hey, I managed to enjoy some of what apparent Manganista-mentors Oingo Boingo and Talking Heads were laying down despite the "God, please take me now" vocal "styles" of Danny Elfman and David Byrne; if you're inclined toward those groups (with a dose of English Beat evident as well), check out Manganista Wednesday night at the Casbah (which continues to bill the group as "Scaramanga").