New Orleans-based trombone group Bonerama is bringing their conglomerate of brass funk rock sound back to the Red Stick this Saturday, Jan. 30 at Varsity Theatre.
With their unpredictability and experimentation, Bonerama has never been simple to classify. Unable to settle for an elusive label, the six man group has been blending the lines between brass band and rock genres ever since their formation.
Bonerama was created in 1998 by Metairie natives Craig Klein and Mark Mullins. The founders played together in Harry Connick Jr.’s big band for 15 years and knew of one another prior to the gig.
Klein said he originally had the idea for a trombone-centered group after he saw a similar Cuban group while on tour with Connick’s band in New York. He suggested to Mullins that they establish a New Orleans version with the music they knew best. Then, Bonerama was born. Mullins and Klein played in Connick’s band while establishing Bonerama until 2005.
Although the member count has fluctuated throughout Bonerama’s 18 year tenure, the ideology behind the band has remained the same.
Mullins said the band sustains a range of musical influences, from Professor Longhair, The Meters and Louis Armstrong to The Beatles, Black Sabbath and Jimi Hendrix. They credit mostly New Orleans music for their main source of inspiration.
With Mullins and Klein, Greg Hicks completes the trombone trio. On guitar is Bert Cotton, with AJ Hall on drums and Matt Perrine on sousaphone and electric bass.
“The group that we have in this band right now, it’s like everyone aspires to be as best as they can be. And so when we’re feeding off of each other and that motivation is there, the band is really as best as we can be,” Mullins said.
Bonerama has performed worldwide, and are quick to express their gratitude for the opportunity to play for international audiences.
“It’s a great honor to go out on the road,” Mullins said. “It always has been, just to go out and represent New Orleans music because we all have such a deep appreciation and respect for all of the music that’s come out of New Orleans the last 100 years, even beyond. It’s just an incredible legacy of stuff that’s come out of that city.”
Mullins described how the band feels like an ambassador for the city every time they cross the state line, as everywhere they go people ask them about post-Katrina New Orleans.
“The common thread is that no matter where you go, you find people that are just so enamored with New Orleans and the music scene there,” Mullins said.
The band takes their connection with New Orleans seriously by continuing to release solid work. The veteran musicians have two new projects expected to release in 2016: their third studio album and an entire record dedicated solely to covers of Led Zeppelin songs.
Bonerama often collaborates with other artists including The Radiators, Kermit Ruffins, Dr. John, OK Go and R.E.M. Mullins described the support system among New Orleans musicians as a mutual admiration society.
Mullins said with the New Orleans music scene expanding, it’s much different from when the group began.
“It just seems like there’s more musicians than ever, more bands than ever, playing out of New Orleans.” he said. “It’s just…I don’t remember it being quite so robust. Creative wise, I think it’s just awesome.”
Tickets for show are $12.