Tequila Mockingbird: (noun) 1. Music house in Austin, TX. 2. An alcoholic beverage containing lemon juice, crème de menthe, and tequila. 3. A cover band from Saint Joseph, MO.

While all three definitions are correct, clearly the most exciting of these is the latter. Five local guys, wild crowds and loud music: what’s not to love about this scene? If you add instruments to this, the picture is nearly unbeatable.

(Left to Right) Luke Akers, bass guitarist Steven Justin, Myles Antle, drummer Aaron Seiter, and guitarist Tom Mayfield SUMBITTED POTO

Tequila Mockingbird pumps up their crowds by playing an array of styles. Their favorites include songs from 90’s bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sublime, all the way down the spectrum to Eminem and Tom Petty.

Band members include singers Luke Akers and Myles Antle, bass guitarist Steven Justin, drummer Aaron Seiter and guitarist Tom Mayfield. The guys have been playing together since last February, only once changing members for a new guitarist when the previous one got married and moved away.

Myles Antle says their band performance can be a good time for everyone because everyone in the crowd will know most of, if not all, the material.

“My favorite stuff to play is Sublime,” Antle said. “As far as I’m concerned the 90’s was one of the best generations of music.”

Eric Anderson, bartender at Room 107 where the band performs, is also a big fan of the band.

“Luke Akers is one of the most charismatic singers I’ve seen in St. Joseph much less for the few shows they have done,” Anderson said. “When he’s up there, it looks like he’s having fun and it makes everyone else in the whole place have fun.”

The cover band has been more than embraced by a variety of fans from St. Joseph. Lucas King, Tequila Mockingbird’s self proclaimed biggest fan, loves the energy the band puts off.

“The best part is their goofiness,” King said. “They’re all pretty wild anyways, so when you get them on stage it’s always a good time. You never know what they’ll do next.”

Some of the local favorite spots to play include bars like Room 107, First Ward and other downtown clubs. Anderson and the other bartenders always enjoy the nights Tequila Mockingbird plays there.

“It takes most bands years to build the kind of following they have got in just a few months,” Anderson said. “And at the rate they are going, they will be one of the biggest drawing bands in St. Joseph before you know it. “

Antle and the other members all enjoy performing for friends and other fans but want to eventually experiment with other places like Kansas City and Columbia. They’ve also played with the idea of writing their own music for performances. But as of now, the band is still getting used to their spot in the lime light.

Antle wants people who haven’t experienced Tequila Mockingbird to give their sound a chance and see how fun it can be.

“Just come out and see us,” Antle said. “We’re pretty good to be honest, and I guarantee, at the very least, we’re a good time.”