Bonerama Toots its Own Horns

The Lion’s Den in Greenwich Village is renowned for offering a wide variety of independent, “real” music to its patrons. On Saturday, this reliable venue came through once more, featuring the New Orleans brass funk-rock ensemble, Bonerama.

Although Bonerama might be called a brass band, it’s far from a typical example.
Without a trumpet or sax in sight—usually the keystones of a brass group—Bonerama nonetheless exudes a brassy feel that encompasses a fresh combination of classic rock and jazz improv. From the moment the trombones, pointed toward the heavens, blared from the front of the stage, the audience was instantly spell-bound by Bonerama’s unique combination of genres.

For the lion’s share of the night, audience attention remained fixed on the rhythmic motion of the trombones’ slides, as they produced the mellifluous baritone harmony that not only defines their big-band style, but also drives most of the Bonerama’s funk-rock grooves. Although multiple band members played trombone in each song, their sounds mixed seamlessly. From time to time, one trombonist chimed in with an impressive solo while the others provided a powerful rhythmic backdrop. What remained indecipherable was which trombonist stood out, as they shared—and stole—the much-deserved spotlight in virtually equal increments throughout the program. It eventually became apparent that this is unimportant to the band’s members: every trombone player in Bonerama could indeed bone with the best.

While most songs were fast-paced and brass-dominated, Bonerama rightfully acknowledged when it was time to tone the set down a notch and let its guitarist or drummer have a turn in the limelight. When the guitarist’s turn arrived, the air filled with a funky rhythm that got both the audience’s and Bonerama’s blood rushing and that never failed to deliver tight Bonerama sound—complete with jazz licks and a whining wah-wah cry. What truly topped off the band’s appeal was its surprisingly lively vocals. Although it appeared at first that the baby boomers from Bonerama would rely entirely on their instruments, ultimately their lyrics put the finishing touches on this big band creation.

Watching Bonerama is a fun experience, especially for those into the jazz, blues, or funk genres—one that adds a refreshing flare to the sometimes bland mainstream music scene. One of the band’s souvenir t-shirts asked, “Got Bone?” Those audience members who didn’t have it when they arrived had certainly boned up by the time Bonerama left the stage.