# Milton Mapes

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**Milton Mapes** is a band that formed in [Austin, Texas](/source/Austin,_Texas) in 1999. The band was named after band member Greg Vanderpool's grandfather.[1]

Singer/guitarist Greg Vanderpool and bandmate Roberto Sánchez, both veterans of Dallas’ [Deep Ellum](/source/Deep_Ellum,_Dallas,_Texas) music scene, subsequently spent a year in [Nashville](/source/Nashville,_Tennessee) compiling songs that would make up Milton Mapes' debut release *The State Line* (2001). The 7-song CD was well received by regional press and radio, drawing comparisons to [Neil Young](/source/Neil_Young) (Harvest) and [Bruce Springsteen](/source/Bruce_Springsteen) (Nebraska).

Milton Mapes eventually evolved into a complete band with the addition of Britton Beisenherz, [Cliff Brown Jr](https://about.me/cliffbrownjr)., Chris Dye, and Jim Fredley, homing in closer on an atmospheric revival of Young's [Crazy Horse](/source/Crazy_Horse_(band)) or [Bob Dylan](/source/Bob_Dylan)'s electric conversion. While maintaining their roots under layered guitars and textures, the band knew the power of understatement—often allowing the quiet moments of a song to shine as brightly as the loud ones. The band released *Westernaire* (Aspyr Media) in 2003, reflecting this migration with a heavy dose of guitar-oriented songs. Sounding much less "country" than the title might suggest, *Westernaire* explored themes of 'the unknown', love, and alcohol—painting with rock-and-roll a hazy landscape that holds more questions than answers.[citation needed]

The band toured through much of the United States since the recording of *Westernaire*, appearing both as a duo and as a full band. The group shared bills with an assortment of its respected Texas contemporaries and touring acts such as [Magnolia Electric Co.](/source/Magnolia_Electric_Co.), [Cowboy Junkies](/source/Cowboy_Junkies), [Chris Whitley](/source/Chris_Whitley), [Willie Nelson](/source/Willie_Nelson), and [The Handsome Family](/source/The_Handsome_Family).

Milton Mapes released its third album, *The Blacklight Trap*, on March 8, 2005 on the Undertow label, touring in support of the album throughout much of the Spring and Summer.

*The Blacklight Trap* was released in Europe on Decor Records in October 2005. The band also released an EP collection of B-Sides and Outtakes from The Blacklight Trap entitled *Shady Valleys* in late 2005.

The band recorded a cover version of "[Lonesome Town](/source/Lonesome_Town)" for the covers compilation soundtrack released in support of video game *[Stubbs the Zombie](/source/Stubbs_the_Zombie_in_Rebel_Without_a_Pulse#Soundtrack)* in 2005.

In 2006, the band regrouped to reflect their changing dynamics and was reformed as Monahans, and have since recorded four albums (*Low Pining*, *Dim the Aurora*, *Leveler* and *Roam An Empty Space*) under the new moniker.

In 2010, [Robert Plant](/source/Robert_Plant) covered their song "The Only Sound That Matters" from the album *Westernaire* on his album entitled *[Band of Joy](/source/Band_of_Joy_(album))*.[2]

## External links

- [Milton Mapes Official Site](http://www.miltonmapes.com/)
- [Monahans Official Site](https://archive.today/20130221221203/http://www.monahans.net/)

## References

1. [**Songfacts**](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=15653)

1. Allen, Jim ["Robert Plant Introduces Band of Joy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100628023727/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1642414/robert-plant-introduces-band-of-joy-during-low-key-gathering-in-new-york.jhtml), 'CMT.com', June 25, 2010

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Milton Mapes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Mapes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Mapes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.