On the Rise: MiniBoone

NYC-based MiniBoone talks to us about independent promotion, bachelor parties and Craigslist…

Your music seems to be a mix of several genres and influences.  How would you define your sound?

Sam: We’ve been getting lots of Talking heads comparisons, but the only musician we seem to regularly cite during the writing/arranging/rehearsing process is Huey Lewis. So some unlikely mix of those two sounds. But screamier.

Craig: Also, I love Phil Spector. Imagine a big, live Wall of Sound thing but with a noisy indie rock band instead. I’m probably the only guy in the band who believes this, but I just like that as a reference point.

Doug: I think we’re very conscious of the need to have hooks and riffs, but we get bored with hooks and riffs alone. We like making noise, and being really loud, screaming, and we like doing that in the context of pop music.

“That said, I think we’re still figuring out what our sound is.  It’s our first EP still, so I’m not in a particular rush.”

What was the recording process like for Big Changes?

Doug: The entire record, six songs, was recorded in two days. We did the rhythm tracks live in a comfy room with a high ceiling. We practiced diligently so that we could go into the studio and knock everything out quickly. We knew what we wanted to do, and we didn’t have a lot of money so there was very little experimentation with studio tricks or new instrumentation. What we wanted was a live sound, and we got that.

As an independent band, how to you effectively promote yourselves?

Craig: You do a lot of the work yourself that you would normally pay other people to do. I don’t have a job at the moment and yet I find myself on the computer almost all day every day to ensure we have all our ducks in a row. We’re trying to get people to notice the album, trying to organize a potential tour down to South by Southwest this March. Basically you have to be willing to do a lot of boring stuff that normally the intern would do. And you have to spend a lot of time being nonmusical. That being said, we do get a lot of help from our label as well, these guys in New York City called Drug Front Records who are awesome dudes.

What were your favorite albums of 2009?

MB: Quiet Loudly – “Soulgazer”, Bat for Lashes – “Two Suns, Future of the Left – “Travels With Myself and Another”, The-Dream -”Love vs. Money”

What do you guys do when your not playing music?

Craig: Scour Craigslist to find a big and cheap TV so I can experience the full graphic spectrum of my PS3 in all its glory.

Doug: Work the day job. Think about playing music and book shows. Refresh Facebook like everyone else. Drink. There are enough bars in New York to keep this from getting boring.

What’s next?

Craig: My wedding.

Doug: Craig’s wedding.

Sam: Craig’s bachelor party.

Click here to download “Devil in Your Eyes” from MiniBoone’s EP Big Changes