Over their fairly brief lifespan, MiniBoone has been making considerable waves in Brooklyn.  With a sound that’s hip enough for the fussy hipsters of their hometown scene and downright catchy enough for the rest of us, MiniBoone now has their sights set on conquering this year’s South by Southwest Festival.  For the past two years, MiniBoone has been repeatedly considered one of the top bands to catch during the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, with glowing reviews featured in countless New York City music blogs, the Village Voice, The L Magazine, and even NPR. 

The quintet, consisting of Craig Barnes (vocals, guitars, keys), Doug Schrashun (vocals, guitars, keys), James Keary (vocals, guitars, keys), Samuel Rich (bass), and Taylor Gabriels (drums), released their six-song debut Big Changes in January of 2010 on Drug Front Records.  The EP is bursting with quirky personality, epic hooks, manic energy, and utter sincerity.  Imagine if the early Talking Heads drank with the reckless abandon of the Replacements and had Springsteen as a mentor instead of Eno.  The result is an epic, Boss-like spirit (similar to that evoked by Titus Andronicus) channeled through jerky, stop/start new wave rhythms and synthesized textures.  In less than two minutes, “Cool Kids Cut Out of the Heart Itself” explodes, simmers, and explodes once more, utilizing some of the most unusual and unexpected backing harmonies to ever grace a punk song.  Another highlight comes in the earnest narrative of “Rosalina Must Dance Alone,” which hints at a most promising and exciting future, showcasing an ability to tame their riotous energy into an introspective quasi-ballad.  “I Need” follows, featuring a guitar solo that Devo wished they could have somehow incorporated into one of their own frenetic creations, and “Funny Money” closes the album with an unabashed sonic assault that resolves into the prettiest of major chords, strummed simply by a clean-toned guitar.

In conjunction with their March trek to SXSW (the “Road to Tacos” Tour), MiniBoone is releasing a truly ballsy 7” single.  “The Other Summer” is a multi-sectioned opus, an indie “Jungleland” if you will, that clocks in at nearly six minutes and manages to be heartfelt and emotionally resonant yet whimsical and never remotely pretentious.  The tune’s midsection crescendos and culminates with a highly charged chorus of “nah, nahs” that would make a mini-opera master like Pete Townsend proud.  

MiniBoone has often been referred to, in so many words, as one of New York City’s “best kept secrets”; however, how much longer they will remain a secret is quite debatable.  The great state of Virginia has (count ‘em!) three opportunities in March to catch this infectious inferno of indie energy as they make their journey to the mecca of Austin, Texas.

March 4 – Charlottesville, VA (The Box)
March 5 – Norfolk, VA (The Taphouse in Ghent)
March 6 – Richmond, VA (The Camel)

MiniBoone.com

MySpace.com/MiniBooneBand

ReverbNation.com/MiniBoone

By Editor-In-Chief and Correspondent: Andrew Lutwin

Andrew is originally from Boston, but has spent equal time in Richmond and considers both home.  He graduated VCU with a B.A. in English and looks forward to seeing if his degree will be worth a damn.  While attending Northeastern University, Andrew began covering music for the Zig-Zag Live website and tour campaign, which won him the undying affection of Bostonians because of his access to free rolling papers.  He is fortunate enough to have parents with great taste in music and owes much of his musical sensibilities to them.  Some of his favorites include the Beatles, the Clash, My Morning Jacket, Mastodon, Mission of Burma, all 70s R&B, and anything that can be considered "outlaw."  Other hobbies include food, guitar, whiskey, hiking, Boston sports, and maintaining his beginner-level fish tank.