BIO
We weren’t even a band yet when someone suggested that “Mahajibee” is our name. We never realized that we would have to explain it but within the last few years we’ve had a lot of explaining to do! Simply put, it is a slang term used when the word you want to use doesn’t come to mind. What originated as a group of guys playing for the love of the blues has become one the Tri-States most entertaining live music acts. Despite their playful laid back attitude this band is a hot five-piece Blues band that will get the folks out of their seats with a rough and tough sweaty blues of their own.
“Mahajibee is a tight band and this CD shows that. See them live, too. You will not be disappointed. Jim Weber, President of The Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania
They have hosted with an assortment of professional oldies, rock and blues artists, performed at some of the largest Tri-State Festivals, Blues Festivals, Community Festivals, and Summertime Concert Series’. Mahajibee is honored to have participated in fundraisers and benefits which include local charities.
“Mahajibee Blues, described by the members of the Pittsburgh band as “not your mama’s blues” definitely got the fans out of its seats Saturday at the 15th annual River City Ohio Blues Competition" Diana DeCola - The Marietta Times (Feb 19, 2007)
The band has also been playing several prominent festivals such as The 23rd Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival (better known as “The King Biscuit Blues Festival”) in Historic Helena, Arkansas, and they were asked to showcase on the Main Stage with BB King at The Trib Total Media Amphitheatre, Pittsburgh, PA
“Steel City Mojo band, besides holding down the bluesbeat in the Three Rivers area of Pennsylvania have with the release of Mahajibee, their first original CD, have begun traveling down the blues highway. Open The Door. ' Robert Jr Whitall - Big City Blues Magazine
“Mahajibee Blues played numerous times during the festival (The HERITAGEMUSIC BLUESFEST, Wheeling, West Virginia) and at the after jam. These kats know how to lay down a groove- check them out." Stoli Lazz -www.barkingdogblues.com
Mahajibee Blues - CD
“Play my numbers” was selected to air on the Blues Breaker segment of the House Of Blues “Mahajibee is a nonsense word. It’s a word you use when the word you want to use just isn’t coming to mind. It’s also the name of a no-nonsense blues band out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have been bringing their brand of hard working blues since 2000. Two lead guitars, my friends. Songs about love and money. What more do you want? Oh. They look real good in black.” Dan Aykroyd, aka Ellwod Blues’ introduction of the tune, “Play My Numbers" The House of Blues Radio Hour, 5-8-2010.
In 2002 and 2004 the band released CD’s from their Live shows but it wasn’t until 2007 that they released their first studio CD with 12 songs, 9 original tunes. “Little Man” and “Blue Guitar” from the CD were included on CD Compilations created by The Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania. "Little Man" was included on the Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine CD Sampler #5 "Crossed Roads". It was #1 on CASHBOX MAGAZINE'S R&B / HIPHOP TOP TEN PICKS Charts from 8/24/2008 to 2/8/2009 and is still in the top ten! This song placed second in The KIAC Best of 2009 Open Songs Competition, Rhythm and Blues/Soul Category. Mahajibee will be releasing another “Live” recording later in 2010.
Mahajibee songs are receiving airplay on HD radio, local and regional blues radio stations as well as in Europe, Canada and Australia.
2010 has been another great year for Mahajibee Blues. The have donated performances to Ovarian Cancer Research, Fallen Police Officers, and the Pittsburgh Food Bank. The Band has also hit the big stage with BB King, The Pittsburgh Regatta, and The Pittsburgh Blues Festival with Tinsley Ellis, Larry McCray, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
They are looking forward to playing The Ribs on The River Festival, The 3rd Annual Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania Picnic, hitting the road for The Grange Encampment and Fair Centre Hall , Pennsylvania, The Taste of Hudson Festival, Hudson , Ohio, The West Virginia Road Kill Cook-off, Marlinton, West Virginia and Club Café in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
All professional photos were taken by:
DustyBlues
"Big Tim" Ambrass - bass guitar, vocals
BLUES FESTIVALS
The Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival, (The King Biscuit Blues Festival), Helena, Arkansas ('08)
The Heritage Music Festival BluesFest, Wheeling, West Virginia ('04, '07, 09)
The Pittsburgh Blues Festival, Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh,PA, ('06, '10)
The Charlie West Blues Fest, Charleston, WV ('09)
The Spot Bar Blues Festival, Steubenville, Ohio, ('04, 05, '06, '07, '09)
The Endless Mountains Blues Festival, Scranton, PA, ('07, '08)
The Blues, Brews, and BBQ Festival, Snowshoe, West Virginia ('08, '09)
The Summertime Blues Festival, Havre De Grace, Maryland ('08)
Carnegie Festival's "Blues on Main Street!", Carnegie, PA ('05, '06, '07, '09)
Olde Pickerington Jazz & Blues Ribfest, Pickerington, Ohio ('09)
Ed & Tobi's Old Fashioned House Rent Party, Freeland, MD ('10)
Roadworthy Weekend of Blues Festival, West Liberty, West Virginia ('09)
Blues Fest North, 2003 Benefit, Pittsburgh, PA
The Delta Cultural Center
We noticed this on the wall of The Delta Cultural Center when we visited the legendary "Sunshine" Sonny Payne host of the award-winning King Biscuit Time Radio Show.
The Delta Cultural Center
LOCAL & NATIONAL ACTS
BB King, Trib Total Media Amphitheatre at Station Square, Pgh., PA - '10
Lukas Nelson & The Promised Land, Trib Total Media Amphitheatre at Station Square, Pgh., PA - '10
Devon Allman's Honeytribe, Painesville Party in the Park, Painesville, OH – ‘09
Albert Castiglia, Charlie West Blues Fest Charleston, WV - '09
Jason Ricci, Charlie West Blues Fest Charleston, WV - '09
Bernard Allison, Port Erie Concert Series, Erie, PA - '08
The Kelly Bell Band, Summertime Blues Festival Havre de Grace, Maryland - '08
Wallace Coleman, The Brews, Blues, and BBQ Festival Snowshoe, West Virginia - '08
Magic Slim & The Teardrops, Moondog's, Pgh., PA - '08
Billy Price, The Syria Shrine Center, Pittsburgh, PA - '08 Jefferson Hills - '08
Shirley King, The Hard Rock Café, Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA - '06
The Pat Travers Band, JugHead's in the Strip, Pittsburgh, PA - '05
Deep Purple, Main Stage - Rib America Food & Music Festival, Chevrolet Amp, Pittsburgh, PA-05
Kim Wilson's Blues Review, The Heritage Music Festival Wheeling, West Virginia - '04
Michael Burks, The Heritage Music Festival Wheeling, West Virginia - '04
Renee Austin, The Heritage Music Festival 2004, Wheeling, West Virginia - '04
Kim Wilson's Blues Review, The Hard Rock Café, Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA - '04
Robert Bradley's Black Water Surprise, The Hard Rock Café, Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA - '04
Barbara Blue, Rosebud Café - '02, The Hard Rock Café, Pittsburgh, PA - '04, '05, '06
The King Bees, Snowshoe Mt Ski Resort Blues, Brews, & BBQ '09
Willie Pooch and the Upsetters, The Spot Bar Blues Festival '07
Jill West & Blues Attack, The Spot Bar Blues Fest '04, 05, '06, '07 The Berkman Amp '09 Steubenville, Ohio
Johnny Angel and the Halos, North Side Summer Celebration Pittsburgh, PA - '01, '03, '06, '09
Brent "Junior" McConnell - Drums
FESTIVALS
North Side Summer Celebration, Pittsburgh, PA, ('01, '03, '06, '07, '09)
Mt. Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival, Mt. Pleasant, PA, ('01, '03, '04)
Rib America Food & Music Festival, Chevrolet Amp, Pgh, PA, ('04, '05, '09)
The Scottdale Fall Festival, Scottdale, PA, ('05, '08)
The Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Fest, Greensburg, PA, ('07, '08, '09)
Masterpieces on Main Art & Wine Festival, Kent, Ohio ('10)
The Washington Arts & Heritage Festival, Wasington, PA, ('07)
McKeesport's 6th & 7th Annual BBQ Cook Off, McKeesport, PA, ('07, '08)
Fort Ligonier Days, Ligoiner, PA, ('07)
Barley's & Hop's Octoberfest, Bethel Park, PA ('09)
Lonny "Lick" Holbdy - guitar, bass guitar
SUMMERTIME CONCERT SERIES / SPECIAL EVENTS
Avonworth Community Park Concert Series, Pgh, PA ('04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10)
Greensburg Community Days, Greensburg, PA, ('08, '09, '10)
Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA ('02,'03,'06, '07, ‘08)
USX Tower Summer Concert Series, Pittsburgh, PA ('04, '05, "09, '10)
The 32nd & 33rd Pittsburgh EQT Three Rivers Regatta ('09, ‘10)
Mellon Square Lunchtime Concert Series, Pittsburgh, PA ('04, '05, '06)
The Berkman Amphitheater Summer Concert Series, Steubenville, Ohio ('08, '09)
4th of July Celebration! Steubenville Marina, Ohio ('08, '09)
Masterpieces on Main Art & Wine Festival, Kent, Ohio ('10)
Town Square Entertainment Series SouthSide Works, Pgh, PA ('06, '07)
The Hard Rock Cafe 3rd Anniversary Party 2005, Pittsburgh, PA
Toe Tappin' Tuesdays, Warwood Amphitheater , Wheeling WV ('10)
Party In The Park - Blues and Brews Friday night, Painesville, Ohio ('09)
Legion Keener Park Summer Concert Seires, Latrobe, PA ('09)
Thursdays in the Park Concert Series, Cranberry Township, PA ('09)
Port Erie Summer Concert Seires, Erie PA ('08)
Station Square Street Jam, Blues Night, Pittsburgh PA ('08)
Jefferson Hills Summer Concert Seires, ('08)
Stars at Riverview Jazz Series, CitiParks of Pittsburgh, ('07)
SouthSide Exposed, Town Square, Pgh,PA ('07)
Twin Lakes Park Summer Concert Series, Greensburg, PA ('06)
Northmoreland Park Summer Concert Series, Apollo, PA ('06)
The Allegheny County Courthouse Concert Series, Downtown, Pittsburgh ('07)
Heinz Field, West Main Concourse, Steeler Game ('06)
Patrick Tevis - vocals, harp, keys
PERFORMANCES DONATED TO CHARITY & FUNDRAISERS
Blues Fest North 2003, Pittsburgh, PA local charities
"United We Cruise" 911, Cranberry, PA 911 Benefit
The Red Star Tavern, Pittsburgh, PA Katrina victims
Music for the Miners, Morgantown, West Virginia Victims families
The Pittsburgh Blues Festival, Community Food Bank, Pgh, PA Bye-Week Blues Benefit, Greater Pgh. Community Food Bank, Pgh, PA Food/Toy Drive Greater Pgh. Community Food Bank, Pittsburgh, PA 4th Annual Bye-Week Blues Benefit, Greater Pgh. Community Food Bank, Pgh, PA
IRS Blues Benefit, Blues Society of Western PA, Pgh., PA "Bread for Fred" , The Freddy Sykes Benefit, Pittsburgh, PA
Fundraiser for Pittsburgh Police Officers who had been laid-off.
With The Lon Alan Band, Jimmy Adler & Blu Razor.
The Endless Mountains Blues Festival, Scranton, PA, St.Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
The Endless Mountains Blues Festival, Scranton, PA,
Disabled American Veterans
Washington Cruisers Super Cruise, The Ronald McDonald House
Pittsburgh Conroy Educational Center, Public - Grades: PK-12,
Students with Special Needs.
To raise funds for the West Virginia National Guard and its Family Relief Fund. Sponsored by The West Virginia Blues Society
Circle C Youth and Family Services Fundraiser.
Father's Day Tribute to Fallen Officers
Hartwood Acres, Hartwood Amphitheater
Benefit for Ovarian Cancer Reseach
"Fallen Not Forgotten 2" Trib Amp, Station Square,
Pittsburgh, PA Police Fundraiser
Top of Page
What's in a name?
We’re always asked, go figure, what in the heck is a “Mahajibee” or what does it mean? Simply put, it is a slang term used when the word you want to use doesn’t come to mind. When you have a brain freeze and you can’t find the word, it was mahajibee. We weren’t even a band yet when someone suggested that “Mahajibee” is our name. Lately it has become the name of a band that never realized that it would have to explain it.
Our Lucky Mojo-Lizard
The lizard has been Mahajibee's "lucky mojo" symbol from day one. It was printed on the back of our very first tee shirt and is seen on most of our advertisements and posters. Some of the band members will wear a sterling silver necklace during the shows as a good luck charm. The lizard has taken on a variety of symbolic meaning throughout history. Here are some of those meanings. Within the human collective consciousness lizards are archetypes of: • Adaptation • Variation • Flexibility • Shrewdness • Quickness• Introversion • They are flexible and adaptive to their environment, and the human psyche translates this as being symbolic of going with the flow and overcoming adverse external conditions. Due to their scurrying natures, quick pace and lightning reaction times, the lizard is considered the consummate escape artist. This makes them symbolic of our ability to recognize danger and remove ourselves from harm's way when the situation calls for it. Furthermore, most lizards are gifted with various forms of camouflage, and trickery to allude predators (like detaching their tails of caught by a hungry predator so that the lizard can escape to live another day). These gifts of illusion are symbolic messages to us that within us (as children of nature ourselves) we have impressive gifts we may utilize for our well-being. The lizard comes with a message about our responsibility to recognize these hidden gifts and skills so that we may avoid harm, and live freely and happily as we are designed to live. Not only in Egypt but also throughout the entire continent of Africa the lizard recurs again and again as a motif in popular culture. The Dogon tribe of West Africa carves lizards on their house and granary doors to invoke protective spirits. On the Grasslands of the Cameroon the lizard is a potent fertility symbol among the Bamum, whilst for the Babanki a lizard represents household tranquility. Taken alone on its own merits the lizard is said to represent "contemplative ecstasy". This is thought to arise from the fondness of these creatures for basking motionless in the sun for hours on end. St. Gregory "the Great" observed that the lizard might symbolize "the soul that humbly seeks enlightenment"
LIZARD: Its "sun-seeking habit symbolizes the soul's search for awareness”.
