This weekend we had our annual Master Musician Festival. It’s a rather large gala here that stretches over two or three days and features all kinds of performers from all kinds of backgrounds and genres. In essence, you never really know what to expect from one group to the next. Especially, if you’ve never heard of the performer before. Every year, we have one or two acts that just seem to stand out from the rest. This year, for me, there was one act particularly that just hit me just right. That band was called Bonepony. Now, ya gotta understand what I like in a performance to start with. I like nergy. Not just fast and loud, but physical energy as well. Too many bands just stand there. That bores me visually. I could sit in my home and listen to that and enjoy it just as much or more. For a show to be unique, I like something visually that cranks me up along with the music. Secondly, I like a positive show. One that cranks you up for all the right reasons. There’s too much pushing people down in this world. I look for and enjoy those things that push you up. And lastly, I like to see the personality of the performer onstage. I prefer to look at shows in the perspective of who they are moreso than a collective group impression. When I saw Bon Scott with ACDC, you knew what ACDC was all about. Brian Johnson carried the tunes ok, but he just seemed to be there. The focus shifted 100% to Angus, which was more than enough . But, with the dueling personalities of Bon and Angus, it was a unique experience that I still haven’t forgotten. Seeing ACDC in 1979 still ranks as my favorite show ever. When you saw them then, the energy level just exploded at you. The personalities just exploded at you. And, needless to say, the music just exploded at you. I’m not sure I ever experienced anything close to that since. Maybe Ted Nugent’s Guitar Army was fairly close, but all you got personality wise was Gonzo. This weekend was close to that. Now, one last preamble before I dig in too deep, the reason I remember ACDC in 1979 better than I do in later years was because I still remember laughing hysterically at what I was seeing. They were fun. Maybe not in all the right reasons, but they were an absolute riot.
This weekend came close to that feeling. First of all Bonepony’s primary personality shines through via Scott Johnson. Now, here’s Scott:
The immediate impression I got was a cross between Iggy Pop and Bobcat Goldthwait. Now, anyone who knows me well knows that is a most excellent comparison. Iggy had the energy, and Bobcat had, well, let’s jsut say a special presence. However, Scott’s smile was totally disarming. One look at him initially and I didn’t really expect too much musically.
Nick Ngyuen sort of had a Jimmy Page look and feel to me. Now, Jimmy’s never been one of my favoritest guiter players. But, he had a presence to him that few have been able to match. Jimmy, like few others, looked someone who was in control of what he was doing. I like that in a musician under one caveat. They have to match that look. And, I have to say, at least live, Nick is possibly the most incredibly talented string man I have ever witnessed in my entire life. The dude just bounced from one instrument to the next and played them in ways that most people only dream of. What most people forget is that Jimmy Page’s greatest solos were emulating other stringed instruments with his guitar. What he should have done is what I’ve seen people doing more of lately and Nick has down to an art form. They make other instruments sound like guitars. The advantage for Nick is multi-fold and it showed. They don’t have a bass player. Why bother when you can do it all yourself? Nick was amazing for me to watch. It’s not terribly often that a performer plays a popular festival in a small rural town that just makes me go “WOW!”. NIck and Cowboy Crush’s Debbie Johnson being the only two in many years. The things Nick does with strings just left me slack-jawed.
Here’s Kenny Wright playing the drums. Like the other two members, he played several instruments. Now, the thing about Bonypony is they are just a trio. That’s it. No studio stand-ins, nothing. Just the three of tiem. They made more sound than the follow-up act did with four guiters by a mile. That folks, is talent. Now, their music is pretty simple. Their message usually very upbeat. In other words, it’s hard to take them seriously. But, if you pay attention to what is being done and especially the live sound, you realize these guys are on a talent level very, very few bands ever achieve. They were pretty remarkable to me.
And quite frankly, the airwaves need a LOT more Bonepony’s that lift you up and lot less urban ghetto crap that beats our society down.
I will be seeing Bonepony again when I can. And, my five year old boy will be there with me.
Just a side note, I really pity whoever follows these guys during a show. Kinda reminds me of the days when ACDC opened for UFO. Anyone who attended those shows in ‘79 remember seeing UFO? Regardles of the hits count, these guys need to be the headliners. Or, at the very least, the show-closers.
Excellent show guys! I can’t recommend a better show for my peeps out there right now.
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