Ava Mendoza, Lucas Brode

A guitarist/songwriter/composer who's worked with Tune-Yards, Carla Bozulich (The Geraldine Fibbers, Evangelista), Nels Cline (guitar hero of Wilco), members of ROVA saxophone quartet, members of Caroliner, and more.

Critics have called her "a versatile and virtuosic guitarist" (The San Francisco Film Society), "a wizard on a semi-circle of effects pedals, but… equally adept with FX-less technique," (Lars Gotrich, A Blog Supreme/NPR Jazz). She was recently named one of Guitar World's "10 Female Guitarists You Should Know".


Lucas Brode is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Upstate New York. Currently, he plays guitar, glockenspiel, melodica and percussion in the collaborative instrumental rock ensemble Hannibal Montana and leads Monsoon In Bloom, an experimental modern fusion band for which he composes. He is also a sought after sideman, performing with the Ben Backus fronted group Your Rebel Friends and others. The groups, along with more improvisatory and loop based solo performances, can be seen in various venues throughout New York State and the general North East area.

Lucas Brode has taught throughout New York State both privately and through local music schools, tutoring musicians of all ages and skill levels. He has also performed many different styles of music at some of the area's most reputable venues including The Bitter End, Sullivan Hall & Cake Shop in Manhattan, Union Hall, Death By Audio & Spike Hill in Brooklyn and The Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Lucas Brode graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Music from Skidmore College, where he studied Jazz Guitar, West African Drumming, Music Composition/Theory and Music Technology. He now lives in Westchester County, New York, where he composes, records and teaches private music lessons.



[ [ [ Press ] ] ]

"...There is so much to discover about Lucas Brode's sound. If 'Morning' is to be given the proper undivided attention, the sound will eventually take you somewhere. It's like a small piece of monotone drone that's been moulded into a concrete definition aiming to tag you along on a peaceful journey."
- The Siren Sound

"Hannibal Montana explore a new "loud-quiet-loud" concept applied to prog rock rather than indie. Their songs often juxtapose sparse sections featuring buzzy electronic sounds, gentle guitar patterns and jungle-ish rhythms with sudden, loud math-rock explosions."
- The Deli Magazine

"...All of this sounds like a solid effort, especially given that its a young/new band. And so, [Hannibal Montana] should be added to a growing list of bands intent on doing things their own way."
- I Heart Noise