Mouse and the Traps in front of Liberty Hall in Tyler in 2017. (Mac K Miller III/Contributed Photo)

From their roots in Tyler’s iconic Robin Hood Studios to their latest tribute to Bob Dylan, Mouse and the Traps have been a staple of the American South’s rock scene since the 1960s.

“They’re one of the few bands of that era that have played together continuously,” said producer Allen Morris. “Throughout all these years, even though they may have gone on and done other things… they would still come back together and play as Mouse and the Traps. They’re very close to one another.”

Decades into their legendary career, Mouse and the Traps continue to bring their timeless Texas garage rock to the stage. This Saturday, they’ll deliver a night of classic hits and unforgettable memories at Liberty Hall in Tyler.

“This is kind of a milestone for us,” said band leader Ronny “Mouse” Weiss. “We’re just lucky to be here, glad to be alive… to be doing something that we love.”

The garage rock band formed in Tyler in the mid-1960s with Weiss as the frontman, releasing numerous singles between 1965 and 1969. Two of those tracks, “Public Execution” and “Sometimes You Just Can’t Win,” became regional hits.

Weiss said “Public Execution” was written following a bad breakup when he was 19 years old.

“A girl I was engaged to kept moving farther and farther away,” he recalled. “And she heard that I was running around on her but I wasn’t. I had a cousin that I didn’t know very well come into town with some family members on my mother’s side to visit.”

Weiss explained that he took his cousin on a motorcycle ride to explore the city, but his fiancée’s friend saw them together and informed her, leading to unexpected consequences.

“She sent my ring back,” Weiss said. “It just… really made me feel bad. I hadn’t done anything.”

He took his broken heart and, with the help of his friend Bugs Henderson, turned it into a hit.

“I wrote the music and he helped me with the words … I guess the rest is history,” Weiss said.

Before they were Mouse and the Traps, Weiss and Dave Stanley (bass/harmonica) were members of a local band called the Catalinas, formed in 1964.

“We were just playing bars and honky tonks, private parties, and things like that,” Weiss said. Then they had a chance to record at the legendary Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, and decided to form a different band, initially known as The Traps, before ultimately becoming Mouse and the Traps.

As the band gained popularity, they toured across North Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Ohio, performing at college campuses, nightclubs, and outdoor music festivals. Soon, they were signed with Fraternity Records in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Although the band is known for their original music, their renditions of Dylan’s work helped solidify their reputation in the 1960s rock scene.

“During the early days of the band, the music press — like Rolling Stone and other (publications) — wrote about the band, and they compared Ronnie’s singing to Bob Dylan, particularly when he was doing Dylan songs,” Morris said. “One critic even said that Mouse did Dylan better than Dylan.”

Although they play Dylan’s songs, Mouse and the Traps are not a Dylan cover band.

“They have their own distinct style,” Morris said. “They produced a lot of records over the years as Mouse and the Traps, and they had a very loyal following. And even now, when they play, people show up because they remember Mouse and the Traps in that period of time.”

The band had seen changes in its lineup. Weiss, Stanley, and Ken “Nardo” Murray (drums) are the only original members still performing.

“We’re the only ones left… some of them aren’t here anymore,” Weiss said. “Some of them passed away; some of them don’t play anymore. We’re all having a few health issues and things like that, and it’s getting a little harder now in our age. We don’t travel much, but we just wanted to do a show to show our appreciation to our fans.”

Morris, who is producing the concert, is also behind the documentary that will be shown prior to the performance.

“We’re showing a documentary called ‘Walking in Dylan’s Shoes’ that was produced during the pandemic,” Morris said. “At the same time, they produced their latest album, which is also called ‘Walking in Dylan’s Shoes.’”

In the film, there are several selections of some of their original songs, as well as some selections from the new album, which are all Dylan songs.

Although the Mouse and the Traps have seen some changes and challenges in the music world, they’re happy to play however they can and look forward to playing at Liberty Hall, located 103 E Erwin Street in Tyler.

“People ask me a lot: ‘when are you going to quit?’” Weiss said. “This has been my life. I mean, this is really all I know how to do. It would be all right with me if I just went out on stage.”

The documentary will be shown at 6 p.m. and the live performance will start at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets or to learn more about this event, visit LibertyTyler.com or call 903-595-7274.