Mandalyn & The Hunters - Coffee (2026)

This is the debut release from this five piece band from Indiana. Mandalyn Papaenagelou fronts the band on vocals, Wes Rettinger is on guitar and B/V’s, Jim Johnson keys and B/V’s, Michael Boyle on bass and Maurice ‘Moe’ Taylor on drums. The experienced rhythm section has credits with Byther Smith, Son Seals, John Primer and Ronnie Baker Brooks and Moe was the drummer on Eddy ‘The Chief’ Clearwater’s late career album, 2008’s West Side Strut on Alligator. Originally a quartet, Jim joined the band after seeing them live in 2023, after which they came in third in the IBC in 2024. This debut album is all original music, credited to the entire band.

The album opens in strange fashion, sounding as if it was recorded in a pre-gig sound check, but then builds up well with a powerful bass riff as Mandalyn suggests that they should “Meet In The Middle”, Wes pulling out a powerful solo and Jim adding some swirling organ towards the end of the song. It is immediately obvious that Mandalyn’s voice is the band’s trump card and she goes on to demonstrate her prowess across all the songs. Her strong, passionate vocals are great on “Give It Away” which has a chugging guitar riff with exciting slide flourishes overdubbed. The title cut “Coffee” is a slower tune, Jim switching to piano and Wes showing a delicate side to his playing, Mandalyn offering a more restrained vocal as she sings of needing coffee in the morning, wine later in the day.

“Please Baby” bounces along well but is rather repetitive while “Finesse” belies its title with heavy wah-wah and funk. Things look up with the next song, an uptempo shuffle but more melodic with the keys to the fore as Mandalyn reproaches someone as she asks “Who You Think You Talkin’ To with a tone like that?”. Mandalyn sounds sultry on “Come On Easy”, the whole band catching the mood with guitar, piano and rhythm section locked in perfectly. It is hard to stay still to the strong bass line on “Dance” before what may be the key track here, “Witness”. This is a slow burn tune, Jim’s elegant piano bringing in Mandalyn with a powerful vocal that uses some of the lyrics to “Can I Get A Witness”, Wes’s slide further raising the stakes. The tune runs to six minutes, the final minute or so a gospel rave-up. The final track is another longer cut, a soulful ballad entitled “Standing Outside Your House”; Mandalyn again sounds terrific on this one, her voice strong but full of emotion too.

This is an enjoyable debut with four particularly good songs delivered by a strong vocalist backed by a solid band – check it out.