Matador Red was formed in the summer of 2002 with the convergence of unexpected musical backgrounds and the urge to do something musically diverse and different, yet within a poppish setting.
Shannon Mims grew up in Florida singing and playing gospel music on Sundays and picking out cool Rock-n-Roll riffs on the piano the rest of the week. He studied classical French horn and received his degree in music, but his musical tastes continued to vary from Big Band to Herb Alpert to Western Swing. After a chance encounter with a $2.00 trumpet and an old accordion, and several years playing with Out of the Fire, The Micah Gilbert Band, and Cyclone Mack, he brings a wide variety of experiences to Matador Red.
Anje Seufert started her musical journey dancing in her crib as an infant, influenced by the music her father played. Singing throughout most of her life and performing across several genres of art - music is her passion. She studied piano, clarinet and guitar. She also performs as a singer/songwriter and brings an appealing and effervescent songcrafting skill to Matador Red.
Greg Pancake started music at a young age beginning with piano lessons and church choir. After a stint during his junior year in college performing at a coffeehouse on piano AND gourd shaker at the same time, it was suggested he take up drumming and the rest, as they say, is history. He is a Vermont native and wonders why we don't make our own maple syrup down south (no kidding! his name IS Pancake!) Percussion and character impersonations round out the talents he brings to Matador Red.
Thomas Hendley is a prolific songwriter. He performed in many a coffeehouse while studying for his music degree, but in the end, decided to pursue dentistry as a profession. He couldn't forget his love of song, though, and has continued to perform as a singer/songwriter, now joining Matador Red on guitar and keyboards. His approach is both studied and spontaneous, which produces bright flashes of sound color to the Matador Red palette.

It is this eclectic mix that fuels the Matador Red sound. Everyone contributes to songwriting and arranging. One descriptive term that has been coined is Retro-Progressive. Rock, Folk, Jazz and Pop music are all present, and then some.
It's original, it's unique and it's constantly evolving.

Anje Seufert
I have been playing music and performing most of my life in various settings, from magic shows performed in my backyard for the neighborhood as a child, to dance recitals, to theatre/drama & vocal performances sprinkled throughout the years. I am also athletic, teaching yoga and competing in a number of events including triathlons… I try to pursue the edge of life and strive to never have that lingering question, ‘what if i’d tried that?” My father’s & Grandmother’s musical talent was all around me growing up and in my family we listened to everything from r&b, funk, shag/beach and rock’n’roll. I studied piano for years and occasionally play keys in the band. Guitar is a new passion and I love writing songs! What inspires me most is spontaneous 'art', diversity, the wisdom of nature, animals, the paradox that exists in every part of life, Kurt & Caiden, dark chocolate and the simple things that touch the spirit.

Shannon Mims
My mom and dad made me play French Horn beginning at age 9, and they still won't let me quit. Now I've ended up with a Horn Performance degree. But it goes deeper than that. My mother, grandmother, and great grandmother all played "Pentecostal piano" in church--that is, a sort of stride style mixed with honky-tonk--which forms my musical roots. In the meantime, my dad was playing records at home that varied from jazz to Herb Alpert to western swing to classical. Plus, living in Florida, I used to dial in to Cuban AM radio stations, and in between the propaganda, heard lots of great sounds. And of course all kinds of rock and pop. When a previous bandmate handed me an accordion and a trumpet some years ago and said, "Here, can you play these?", what came out was, I suppose, some conglomeration of the above. When I play trumpet though, I feel like I play a different style and a different part than what I might play on the Horn, and the same applies to the accordion and piano. Makes playing more fun.

I collect records (about 10,000 now and counting) and I think there's nothing better than to pull out something I've never heard before and plop it on the turntable. Not only is it fun to listen, but it gives me fresh musical ideas.
 

Thomas Hendley
Thomas Hendley has been around.. he's seen things. But he's not willing to tell you about it. Lately he's been seen holding a guitar.
Thomas has been involved in music most of his life. He is primarily a songwriter but also plays piano and guitar. He accidentally majored in music while living in Charleston, SC and was seen in a lot of the local bars: occasionally playing an instrument. In addition to playing with Matador Red he continues his solo writing and performing. His future plans are to develop a good set of goals and hopefully catch a nap.

Greg Pancake
I grew up in Vermont starting out with piano lessons and then trombone lessons. I wanted to play drums but the parents weren’t about to listen to that. I played trombone through concert and marching band through high school. I got tired of playing classical music in piano around 8th grade, so I quit and starting making stuff up. This carried on until college when I played piano in a coffeehouse while shaking a gourd between my toes to keep time. Someone later came up to me and said I should play drums because of my percussive piano style and ability to use all 4 limbs. I thought hey! What a great idea, no parents to bother now, only a dorm! I took some drum lessons in college and played in a few praise and worship bands around college and later in Charlotte. My first main musical influence and concert was Little Feat. I loved the groove their percussion section had, and Bill Payne is a great piano player. Also, being from VT, Phish was an influence. I also love Latin rhythms and bands like The Motet, Cubanismo, and Carlos Vives.

John Myers
On the bass, John is the latest addition to Matador Red. A jazz background coupled with some funk and Motown gives him a broad palette from which to draw in flavoring the MR sound. More info soon...