Hot Like Fire

Much like you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you shouldn’t judge a band by its name, but there are some exceptions to that rule, and one of those exceptions happened on Tuesday night at the beautiful Dakota in downtown Minneapolis. I mean, come on, how was I supposed to know that there was a band in town called Bonerama and not jump on the opportunity to check it out after childishly snickering at the clever name? I mean, come on, snicker with me– Bonerama. Just so perfect and, as a lover of all things brass, I figured there was no better way to spend my Tuesday night.

Bonerama is a funky brass band from the heart of New Orleans. Okay, I’m not sure if saying they’re from the “heart of” New Orleans is entirely accurate, but that’s what they brought to a packed and excited Dakota on Tuesday night. There was something so joyful about everything this band did, from the sounds of the band to the chats between tracks, it just screamed New Orleans to me (or at least what I think New Orleans is like, as I have never been there). Although I had never even heard of this band before seeing them on Dakota’s schedule, they instantly made me comfortable with their down-to-earth charm that flashed throughout the room.

This band plays a mix of covers and originals, but to be honest, I couldn’t tell you all the covers they played. My boyfriend (who was my date for the night) mentioned that they had opened with a Radiohead cover, and I know that they played a cover from The Radiators only because they mentioned it, but, beyond that, I know there were more covers– I just didn’t catch them. That was my favorite thing about this group. They were surely playing recognizable tracks, but what they did with these songs made them feel wholly original. This is something I always look for when I hear a cover. Don’t just re-do something that has already been done; reimagine it and recreate it, and that’s something that Bonerama truly hit out of the park.

With multiple trombones, guitar, drums, sousaphone, and vocals from time to time, there was a lot to take in. There were times when it was definitely the in-your-face sound that you would expect from such a set-up, but there were other times when this band was able to lower the abrasive-ness and give the audience songs that were dazzling and stunning. That restraint and the dynamics that this group was able to produce, given the beefy instrumentation, were just a few of the many things about them that made their talent blaringly obvious. Another one of those things was how, although they were clearly all about the music and didn’t seem to miss a single note, they were also all clearly having fun on stage. From the quirky and slightly cheesy words between tracks to the smiles that were shared throughout the band and with the audience, you knew as you watched these musicians that they do this because they love it and for no other reason.

Let’s be honest, I was here for the bones. I was excited for the ear assault that comes with four trombones, so when the singing started to be a bit more prominent in the set on Tuesday night, I was a bit bummed. However, the talent that came with the singing kept me from being completely turned off. This band and its members can truly do it all, and the amount of talent that I heard from the two men who shared the majority of the vocal duties left me utterly stunned. From 70s-styled rock anthems to the slightly more obscure and quirky cover of The Radiators’ tune, I was left with my jaw on the ground with the way that this band could manipulate everything to give each song a distinctly new vibe and feel. The vocals were ever-changing, just like the tone of the trombones and sousaphone did from time to time. Although I was definitely in Bonerama’s world for all of Tuesday night, I adored the fact that that world was constantly evolving and changing.

I will never be the type of person to judge a book by its cover or a band by its name, but I am so glad that, like the child I am, I just couldn’t resist seeing a band called Bonerama. What a perfect way to spend a Tuesday night.