Monday, April 20, 2009

NRK to RELEASE BARN BURNER


details coming soon:
http://www.myspace.com/theinfamousbarnburner

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Stolen Minks // Athens Exchange

The Stolen Minks Get Their High Kicks in Athens

















Photo Credit: www.myspace.com/stolenminks

by Carrie Dagenhard

03/26/2009



If you're looking for a good dose of estrogen-fueled garage punk, I have just the remedy: Stolen Minks. This three-piece from Halifax, Nova Scotia delivers the kind of fiery, no-bullshit sound that's become all but extinct in today's garage punk circuits.



A hometown favorite since their formation in 2003, Stolen Minks have been generating one distortion-packed super hit after another, with their most recent full length, High Kicks, charting for several consecutive weeks in Canada.



While the Minks are largely classified as a "girl band," I don't think it's safe to put them under the same musical umbrella as, say, The Pussycat Dolls. In fact, the Minks would eat the Pussycat Dolls for lunch. Instead, the Minks' sound conjures up similarities to Riot Grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill or Bratmobile while combining playful rockabilly riffs and old school punk distortion. The Minks categorize themselves simply as "garage punk."



"I heard a great line from a musician in Halifax," says guitarist Stephanie Johns. "The difference between garage punk and punk is that garage punks don't know how to play."



Whatever it's called, people like it. The Stolen Minks have landed gigs all over the US and Canada, playing Go Bar in Athens and a house party in Decatur this past week, traveling to Pittsburgh early next week and eventually heading back to Halifax before playing another leg of shows later this spring. Even with all of their border-crossing journeys, the girls have refined their on-road needs to just three necessities: air mattresses, moisturizer, and sour gummy dinosaurs - the latter being a favorite during the past tour.




And just like any other traveling band, the Minks have encountered their fair share of dangerous escapades. While en route to Baltimore, their van was hit by a possible drunk driver. While the band members made it out safely, their vehicle has more than a few battle scars.



"It looks like Jaws tried to have a Minks snack," Johns says.



Luckily, their trip to the South has been relatively accident-free and we can only hope they'll be returning soon. If you happen to catch a show, which I would highly recommend, make sure to stick around and say hello.



"We just want to be pals with everyone who comes to our show," Johns says. "Let's be friends forever!"