Mink @ Southpaw, Brooklyn, 11/9/07

I have just started to put together my Top 10 list for 2007 and Mink's debut CD is definately one of the more exciting CDs of the year. The band has a great live energy and they were in top form for their show at Southpaw.

While the band is playing the majority of their debut CD in concert, a couple new songs have started to surface. A cover of Bowie's "Suffragette City" now seems to be a permanent part of the set, there was a three song promo containing all new songs distributed at CMJ and "Little Drummer Boy" is streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Mink's show at Southpaw was a double-bill with Care Bears on Fire. A lot of the Care Bears crowd stayed for Mink's set and took the stage toward the end of the set to dance with Neal.



Here are some of my pictures from the show:













I have some more pictures of both Mink and Care Bears on Fire posted to my Imeem page (BrooklynRocks on Imeem).

Links:
Mink's MySpace Page
Mink's Website

Mink - Self-Titled CD Review & CMJ Preview

Mink is a fairly new band on the NYC scene but they have quickly earned a strong following. The band just finished a high-profile tour with Perry Farrell and Satellite Party and played Lollapalooza this summer along with a few dates opening for Kiss. Mink's self-titled debut CD was released about a month ago and the band makes a strong showing.

The cuts on this disc range from snot-punk (D-Generation or the Dead Boys would be good points of comparison) to power-pop. The two cuts that close this disc are reminiscent of early Smashing Pumpkins.

The strongest tracks on the disc are the rockers ("Get It Right", "Madame Chung", "Talk to Me") and the first half of the disc sizzles. The only cut that didn't catch my ear was "Dematerialize" as this seemed to be a Wallflowers style radio-rocker that really didn't fit positioned between two strong rock tunes. After "Dematerialize", the tracks that follow, "Pressure Pressure" and "Jodi", are a return to the rock n' roll swagger. The band changes pace toward the end of the disc but these songs seem to fit well with the flow of the disc. "Sweeter" is driven by vocal harmonies and has an almost 60's doo-wop feel. The last track "Will Not Let You Down" (and the hidden bonus track) are both orchestral pop and are a mellow way to end the disc.

The new CD is produced by Sylvia Massy (who has worked with all kinds of cool artists which include Tool, Slayer, Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and her stellar production complements the band's strong songwriting and playing.

Mink is an extremely strong live act (see my pictures and review from their show at Irving Plaza opening for Satellite Party) and they are playing two CMJ shows this week.
Oct 17th - Club Midway -- 11:45pm -- Organic / Tijuana Gift Shop Showcase
Oct 19th - Pianos -- 4:30pm -- Planetary Group Party



Links:
Mink's MySpace page
Mink's Website

Mink Is Headlining "Battle of the Bands" Competition Tomorrow in Union Square

MINK will be headlining the Virgin Megastore Battle of the Bands competition as part of the NYU / Time Out New York - "Back to School" celebration at 3PM on Sunday, Sept 16 at the south end of Union Square Park.

The bands will battle... The winner will be chosen... Then MINK will rock it. More info online at www.virginmegamashup.com

MINK has recently been playing some high-profile shows which included a stop at Lollapalooza and a few dates with Kiss. The band is currently on tour with Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party. (Here is a link to pictures from the Irving Plaza/Fillmore show)

Links:
Mink's Website
Mink's MySpace page

Mink @ Irving Plaza (The Fillmore), NYC 9-5-07

Mink opened for Satellite Party at Irving Plaza on Wednesday and it was obvious that a lot of the crowd at the show was there for Mink. Mink hasn't been playing together all that long but the place was packed by the time the band took the stage.

The band played a 12 song set which included 11 of the 12 songs from the band's just-released debut CD along with a cover of Bowie's Suffragette City. The only song on the CD not played was "Will Not Let You Down", which is a mellow, melodic tune in the style of early Smashing Pumpkins.

Concentrating on their rawk songs, the band played with a swagger that I haven't seen since D-Generation first hit the scene. I've seen the band labeled as power-pop (I think I used this label in a previous post) but they also have a raw NYC edge in their live show.


The band was working hard this night and played a total of three shows on Wednesday (Virgin Mega before the Irving Plaza show and Snitch after the show). Check out this clip from the Virgin Mega performance.


Here is the band's setlist from the show:
1) Madame Chung
2) Talk to Me
3) Sweeter
4) Dematerialize
5) Pressure
6) Jodi
7) Crazy
8) Untouchable
9) New York Summer
10) Suffragate City
11) Pills
12) Get It Right


Mink is continuing its tour with Satellite Party until mid-October and is in Virginia tomorrow night. Here are the next few shows:

Sep 9 2007 8:00P Norva- w/Satellite Party Norfolk, Virginia
Sep 10 2007 8:00P The Orange Peel Asheville, North Carolina
Sep 11 2007 8:00P Centre Stage- w/Satellite Party Atlanta, Georgia
Sep 12 2007 7:00P Apple Store Lenox Square Atlanta, Georgia
Sep 13 2007 8:00P House Of Blues- w/Satellite Party Orlando, Florida

Links:
Mink's MySpace page
Mink's Website

Mink in Union Square, NYC July 7, 2007

After reading that the RSVPs for The Boredoms drum circle didn't guarantee admission, I decided I would be better off catching some other bands on Saturday. I am not into waiting in line for hours with no guarantee of admission and, based on the comments on BrooklynVegan's site, it sounds like I made the right choice.

On Saturday afternoon, Mink singer Neal Carlson interviewed passerbys. It was all good fun and I believe that a video of the day will ultimately end up on YouTube.

Neal and Nick
Neal Meets the Championship Yo-Yo Team

A couple of Yo-Yo tricks...

...and a couple more

Neal is not be outdone on the yo-yo

Links:
Mink's Website (link)

Talk to Mink in Union Square Tomorrow

This looks like this could be fun!

Don’t feel like heading to the Jerz for Live Earth or staying inside to watch it on TV? Wanna get warmed up before 77 drummers steal your ears in Brooklyn?

Come on down to Union Square tomorrow afternoon (Sat, 7/7/07) and grill MINK. To compliment their current single “Talk To Me,” we have a set designed where you can come and ask MINK about their upcoming tour, life on the road, high school crushes, eating habits, what makes them cry... ANYTHING.

The band will be in Union Square from around 2PM on!

MINK are at Crash Mansion tonight at 10PM, then they head out to play dates with KISS, others with Satellite Party, then Lollapalooza!

They’ll also be MYSPACE “BAND OF THE WEEK” next week

Links:
Mink's MySpace page (link)

Mink Plays Crash Mansion this Friday, July 6th

I just got turned on to Mink and have been really getting into their brand of power-pop. The band is playing a show at Crash Mansion this Friday (July 6th) prior to heading off on a Canadian tour. The band is also playing two dates with Kiss at the end of this month.

Mink’s self-titled debut album, produced by Sylvia Massy (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool) is out on August 28, 2007 through Fontana/Universal.
Here are the band's upcoming tour dates:

Jul 6 2007 10:30P Crash Mansion New York, New York
Jul 16 2007 8:00P Zaphod Beeblebrox Ottawa, Ontario
Jul 17 2007 8:00P Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, Ontario
Jul 18 2007 11:30P Salt Lounge London, Ontario
Jul 19 2007 10:30P Upfront & Company Marquette, Michigan
Jul 20 2007 8:00P Kewadin Casino - with KISS Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Jul 21 2007 8:00P Rock Fest 2007 - with KISS Cadott, Wisconsin

Check out Mink's latest video "Talk To Me"


Links:
Mink's Main Website (link)
Mink's MySpace page (link)