Solid Tunes at Boney Junes

by Doug Messel

On a Friday afternoon, Hammerheads is quiet and empty, but that’s understandable. It’s not anywhere near time for the club to open. I’m sitting at the bar, talking to Chris Boone. Boone owns the club, a popular downtown fixture of Evansville nightlife well-known for its Saturday 80’s night parties. While Hammerheads is successful, what Boone really wants to discuss is another entertainment location he owns, Boney Junes Music Venue.

            Boney Junes is an all-ages music venue which Boone opened two years ago. Located at 5525 Pearl Drive on the west side of Evansville, Boney Junes books local, regional, and national acts to perform for audiences with a capacity of three hundred ninety people. Shows at Boney Junes are a constant thing. The night before I talk with Boone, the venue hosted a concert by Murfreesboro, Tennessee artist Backseat Goodbye and other groups. Another two shows are scheduled for the following week, each one with at least four or five bands. There’s no shortage of talent for Boone’s venue to showcase.

            Boone opened Boney Junes in 2007 as a way to contribute to the local music scene, which he was part of when he was younger. He wanted to stay with the scene, he says, and Boney Junes allows him to do so by letting local groups perform when other, more established groups come through.        

“It’s really cool because some of these local bands can play [as openers] alongside their heroes or the bands that influence them,” Boone says.

            It doesn’t look like there’s any sign of a slowdown in the surge of talent, either. Boone shares with me his scheduled line-up for the months of July and August. Self-described “southern rock” band Maylene and the Sons of Disaster are making an appearance on July 12, supported by local bands Behold the Seraph, As Forever Fades, and Abandon the South. July 15 brings Boston-based metal band Unearth to Evansville. Other established metal and hardcore acts, including The Acacia Strain, continue to appear throughout the month.

            The lineups for the early part of the month might present the idea that Boney Junes is only a showcase for metal. This isn’t the case, however. Boone is quick to point out three shows in August which differ wildly from the bone-crunching music of most of July’s acts. He excitedly tells me about the July 30 booking of Stephen Jerzak!, an acoustic/pop artist from La Crosse, Wisconsin (the exclamation mark belongs at the end of his surname; it’s not a typo – ed) Jerzak! is currently sitting atop Myspace’s “Unsigned” top artists’ chart. His music is partially reminiscent of Jason Mraz with elements of electronica.

            On August 3, Boney Junes will welcome Jeffree Star, another Myspace sensation from Orange County, California. Star’s music is pure electro-pop, and sounds like Omaha, Nebraska band The Faint. Star is also reportedly not only one of the most popular artists on Myspace, but one of the most popular people. Star allegedly even has more “friends” than site founder Tom Anderson.

            The final concert Boone tells me about is the Ryan Cabrera show on August 15. Cabrera is arguably the most famous artist on the cards for these next two months, having first appeared on MTV’s The Ashlee Simpson Show while dating Simpson in 2003. He enjoyed modest mainstream success with 2004’s single “On the Way Down.”

            The Cabrera show is a perfect example of the versatility and pull Boone’s venue has. He says Boney Junes presents an intimate venue for fans to get closer to their artists and have a more personal experience than say, at a larger venue like Roberts Stadium. It’s a great opportunity for both musicians and fans.

            Boone also shares details about another venture for Boney Junes: a film premiere. On August 15, the local independent film The Hymnographer will have its premiere at Boney Junes. Boone describes it as an experimental film based around music, and emphasizes its uniqueness.

            “It’s not something you’d find at Showplace [Cinemas],” he says.

            Boney Junes is another example of local art meeting with success. Not only does it bring in national entertainment, but it also provides an avenue for local bands to perform. The impression I get from Boone is that he’s excited about the possibilities that may open up for the venue, and that he wants as many people to know about it as possible.

            If you’d like more information about Boney Junes, their phone number is (812) 421-6767. Tickets to any of the shows mentioned in this article can be purchased either at Boney Junes Music Venue or online at www.kapiro.com.