There’s always a first time.
For Mingo Drive, it’s a Dec. 9 debut at the historic Cain’s Ballroom as part of the annual EDGE Christmas Concert. The hometown band will open the festivities before handing off the stage to The Paradox, who will play before headliners Third Eye Blind.
It’s a new milestone for the Tulsa-based indie pop group of friends passionate about sharing the music they create and love. Members include Justin Scott handling vocals and keys, Sam Bowling on bass, Jeremy Pelotte on drums and Jacob Brallier with dobro.
Bowling, Pelotte and Scott have been friends since childhood, connecting through school, sports and music. They connected with Brallier while in college.
“As kids we’d go to [a] house … we’d bring our guitars and we’d just make a lot of noise, and then wake up a little more tough … and that was on Mingo Road,” Bowling said.
Over the years, the musicians formed different bands for fun and to compete in various Battle of the Bands, but never fully committed to any one project. In 2019, they began exploring the idea of launching a more serious, long-term group. After a few evolutions, including a stint as Jasper Wilderness, Mingo Drive was officially established in 2024.
Members discussed city names like Muskogee or Chicago. Then they considered street names for a local reference and found it — Mingo Road became Mingo Drive.
“We’d all lived on that street at one point in our lives,” Scott said.
“So, it made sense. There’s a little bit of meaning,” added Bowling.
As the musicians progressed, their sound evolved from Southern-flavored alt-rock to indie pop. While the genres may have shifted, the motivation behind Mingo Drive remains the same: enjoyment is the name of the game. Band members say they hope to create unique, memorable moments in live shows and through listening experiences.
They playfully describe their writing process as a human pyramid. An idea starts with one member, then is brought to the group and gradually developed into a song they all love.
“We all kind of dip into different genres that all kind of play a part in our music,” Scott said. “Every song is like a new journey for us, and we’re never locking into one thing. It’s always evolving and changing until we reach the finish line.”
Their discography heavily reflects this dynamic. Each song has a very distinct, individual sound. A collage of personal ideas and musical efforts transform into a group project fueled by passion. Just as the band intended, every song is its own experience.
The band is energized and ready to close out the year with nearly 2,000 fans at Cain’s. Mingo Drive is working on a couple of songs to come out in the near future, and there is discussion about a larger project on the horizon in 2026.
“Life’s good, we’re excited for what’s to come,” Pelotte said.
Keep up with the band on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Their music is available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Emma Dixon is a freelance contributor to the Tulsa Flyer.
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