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Brian Bonz & the Major Crimes

Brian Bonz & the Major Crimes Radio

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FEATURED SONG
The Honey Bee
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The Honey Bee
Released: Jan 1, 2010
Label: Triple Crown Records

General Info

  • Genre: Acoustic / Ambient / Indie

    Location BROOKLYN, Please select your region, Un

    Profile Views: 251797

    Last Login: 11/14/2012

    Member Since 10/19/2004

    Website www.brianbonz.com

    Record Label Triple Crown/Favorite Gentlemen Community

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    Brian Bonz is only 24, but in those years, he’s seen the entire country and many parts of the world. Still, no matter where he travels, home is truly where the heart is for this Brooklyn native, which is why he has created a musical scrapbook of his life entitled The Triborough Odyssey. But make no mistake – although each song on the album was inspired by specific events and places that bind New Yorkers, all of the emotions on the record are universal. Like Bonz’s debut album, From Sumi to Japan, The Triborough Odyssey is a refreshing compilation of experimental sounds with even more luscious arrangements. However, it was the likes of the Notorious B.I.G. and Nas who had the biggest influence on Bonz’s goal for the new album. “It’s sort of inspiring when you hear rappers drop the names of neighborhoods or sing about different places and you know what they’re talking about,” he says. “I wanted to apply that upbringing, that surrounding, and write-what-you-know-about aspect to this record.” Although the album pays homage to New York, Bonz and his band, The Major Crimes, actually flew out to Chicago to record with John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake) at his legendary Soma Electronic Music Studios. Accustomed to recording in his hometown and fine-tuning the sound in friends’ basements, working with McEntire proved to be nothing short of enlightening. “It was a great experience to work with John and be put up to the challenge of recording with someone you don’t have any back story with, and who has a history of records you enjoy,” Bonz explains. “Listening to and hearing stuff back in that control room and being in the same studio that Wilco recorded some of their records, you sort of sit there and say, ‘Oh, this is why we’re working with this guy – because he makes Stereolab sound like Stereolab.’” Lyrically, Bonz was inspired by the 2003 Blackout, 9/11, Manhattan real estate and more, but each track also touches upon his ever-changing relationships. “The Honey Bee,” the album’s dreamy, doo-wop-inspired first single, is something that Bonz doesn’t usually dabble with – a love song. “I’m not really into writing about girls or taking that personal aspect of my life and applying it to a song, but it’s about dating someone that didn’t grow up in New York and moved here,” he reveals. “I feel like it’s always interesting to get asked questions from people that are just discovering the city and re-situating their lives.” Another unique offering on the record is the acoustic “My Corduroy Eye,” which is about Bonz’s friend who dealt with sex addiction, and is sung entirely in Spanish. “A Harlem Hand, A Harlem Heart” is one of the most noticeable gems on the album, rooted in smooth jazz and focused on “the projects and the people who live there, and how that’s slowly being stripped away because of real estate.” But the true benchmark of the new record is Bonz’s most personal song, “Triborough,” which features an extended instrumental introduction before allowing the cerebral singer’s vocals to come in. “It’s about any relationship you have, whether it be something involving love, friendship or a family member, and what happens when you get so comfortable with the dynamic that you let your guard down,” he muses. Those wondering about the Dot Hongs can rest assured – the name has been buried, but nearly all of the players remain the same. “It was just a joke that turned into a laughing kind of thing when we would bring it up to people that didn’t even know what we sounded like, so we changed our name to Brian Bonz and The Major Crimes, which is inspired by the HBO show The Wire,” he explains. “I’m a Wire freak, but I’m not going to get deep into the meaning behind ‘Major Crimes.’ People can Wikipedia that.” In the last two years, Bonz has grown tremendously, and like many of the best writers do, he’s channeling all of his (still-mounting) life experiences into his music – only this time around, he’s doing it New York style. “You write about what you know and what you learned from some of the people that you may have trusted when things are good or bad,” he says. “From that point on, I think it’s important to retrace whatever the issue is and make sure you take a step back and get a good perspective about it all.” Case closed.

  • Members

    Brian Bonz - Vocals/Guitar/Drums, The Major Crimes:, EJ De Coske - Noise/Keys, Mike Strandberg - Guitar, Jinda - Bass, Adam Christgau - Drums, George Bersis - Percussion, Mike Fadem - Drums, Mike Rizzo - Drums, Kenny Warren - Trumpet, Matthew Silberman - Sax, Brett Gregory - Baritone Sax & Clarinet, Amy Bracco - Vocals, Kevin Devine - Vocals,

  • Influences

  • Sounds Like

Bio

Brian Bonz is only 24, but in those years, he’s seen the entire country and many parts of the world. Still, no matter where he travels, home is truly where the heart is for this Brooklyn native, which is why he has created a musical scrapbook of his life entitled The Triborough Odyssey. But make no mistake – although each song on the album was inspired by specific events and places that bind New Yorkers, all of the emotions on the record are universal. Like Bonz’s debut album, From Sumi to Japan, The Triborough Odyssey is a refreshing compilation of experimental sounds with even more luscious arrangements. However, it was the likes of the Notorious B.I.G. and Nas who had the biggest influence on Bonz’s goal for the new album. “It’s sort of inspiring when you hear rappers drop the names of neighborhoods or sing about different places and you know what they’re talking about,” he says. “I wanted to apply that upbringing, that surrounding, and write-what-you-know-about aspect to this record.”
Although the album pays homage to New York, Bonz and his band, The Major Crimes, actually flew out to Chicago to record with John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake) at his legendary Soma Electronic Music Studios. Accustomed to recording in his hometown and fine-tuning the sound in friends’ basements, working with McEntire proved to be nothing short of enlightening. “It was a great experience to work with John and be put up to the challenge of recording with someone you don’t have any back story with, and who has a history of records you enjoy,” Bonz explains. “Listening to and hearing stuff back in that control room and being in the same studio that Wilco recorded some of their records, you sort of sit there and say, ‘Oh, this is why we’re working with this guy – because he makes Stereolab sound like Stereolab.’”
Lyrically, Bonz was inspired by the 2003 Blackout, 9/11, Manhattan real estate and more, but each track also touches upon his ever-changing relationships. “The Honey Bee,” the album’s dreamy, doo-wop-inspired first single, is something that Bonz doesn’t usually dabble with – a love song. “I’m not really into writing about girls or taking that personal aspect of my life and applying it to a song, but it’s about dating someone that didn’t grow up in New York and moved here,” he reveals. “I feel like it’s always interesting to get asked questions from people that are just discovering the city and re-situating their lives.”
Another unique offering on the record is the acoustic “My Corduroy Eye,” which is about Bonz’s friend who dealt with sex addiction, and is sung entirely in Spanish. “A Harlem Hand, A Harlem Heart” is one of the most noticeable gems on the album, rooted in smooth jazz and focused on “the projects and the people who live there, and how that’s slowly being stripped away because of real estate.”
But the true benchmark of the new record is Bonz’s most personal song, “Triborough,” which features an extended instrumental introduction before allowing the cerebral singer’s vocals to come in. “It’s about any relationship you have, whether it be something involving love, friendship or a family member, and what happens when you get so comfortable with the dynamic that you let your guard down,” he muses.
Those wondering about the Dot Hongs can rest assured – the name has been buried, but nearly all of the players remain the same. “It was just a joke that turned into a laughing kind of thing when we would bring it up to people that didn’t even know what we sounded like, so we changed our name to Brian Bonz and The Major Crimes, which is inspired by the HBO show The Wire,” he explains. “I’m a Wire freak, but I’m not going to get deep into the meaning behind ‘Major Crimes.’ People can Wikipedia that.”
In the last two years, Bonz has grown tremendously, and like many of the best writers do, he’s channeling all of his (still-mounting) life experiences into his music – only this time around, he’s doing it New York style. “You write about what you know and what you learned from some of the people that you may have trusted when things are good or bad,” he says. “From that point on, I think it’s important to retrace whatever the issue is and make sure you take a step back and get a good perspective about it all.” Case closed.

Comments

Post a comment...
  • Brian Bonz & the Major …

     Do people use this website still?

    2 months ago
  • Pami White

    Hey, this is crazy news!! if you have a blog or homepage, Manuel will advertise it for 1 week, if you will start a thread at his Music Forum!!

    Just write a nice and interesting post (no spam!) It's a great opportunity for some exposure! Don't miss it!

    1 year ago
  • Les Vinyl

     your music sounds like physical farts

    1 year ago
  • Brendan O' Shea

    2 years ago
  • Laurie Cox


    Hi, How are you doing??
    thanks for accepting me as a friend
    :)
    peace

    2 years ago
  • Amanda Taylor

    Have a great day my friend! Keep in touch!

    2 years ago
  • Douglas Craig (Music)

    You are one of the best musicians in NY or anywhere else for that matter!!  Record more music.

    2 years ago
  • steven edmonds

    i love u

    2 years ago
  • sowrongitsjessica

    Ellow! How are you? (:
    Long time no speak..

    2 years ago
  • Abby LaFreniere

    Briannnnn you need to play a show soon! Miss you! Good luck with the new album :)

    3 years ago
10 of 1506More

Members

Brian Bonz - Vocals, Guitar, Drums

The Major Crimes:
EJ De Coske - Noise, Keys
Mike Strandberg - Guitar
Jinda - Bass
Adam Christgau - Drums
George Bersis - Percussion
Mike Fadem - Drums
Mike Rizzo - Drums
Kenny Warren - Trumpet
Matthew Silberman - Sax
Brett Gregory - Baritone Sax & Clarinet
Amy Bracco - Vocals
Kevin Devine - Vocals


“Bonz’s singer/songwriter concepts are immersed in an entirely refreshing context, producing delicately experimental, ornate indie pop.” - Alternative Press

"Brian Bonz accompanied by The Dot Hongs represent the best of Brooklyn's' experimental rock scene ."- KEXP.ORG

"Brian Bonz and The Dot Hongs “combine dreamy ballads, experimental rock and ambient music without sounding affected or pretentious.” - The San Diego Union –Tribune

“Brooklyn songwriter Brian Bonz and his band [The Dot Hongs] perform wistful, intensely precious indie pop.” - Time Out New York

“Bonz makes great use of studio tricks and oddball instrumentation for a cohesive and fascinating voyage through love, childhood and obsession. Expect great things from this fledging indie breeze that could easily become a monsoon.” - Orlando Weekly

“A lovely album, full of indie pop-esque acoustic guitar work layered with synthesizers and pleasant vocals.” - American Indie

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