Beards and Boys: The Supergroup

Click the picture above to check out www.turquoiseboy.com!  (Left to Right: Marc Bourdon, Kelsey McGee, Winston Monticello, and Derek Mangrobang)

by Jeremie Fincher

Occasionally, I find myself questioning the validity of the word 'supergroup' as a label for local Anchorage bands. I have admired supergroups of the past, in the national level of the music industry. CSN, Temple of the Dog, Foo Fighters, A Perfect Circle, Them Crooked Vultures, are among my personal favorites, and are great examples of this term. Wikipedia gives the definition "A rock group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups." I think it was the word 'famous' that always bothered me. That word is completely relative. In our small town, Anchorage, it's hard for me to call any music from Alaska, other than 36 Crazyfists, Static Cycle, and Jewel, famous. The latter of which I would very easily sweep under the rug as an "Alaskan" artist.

Over the past year, in this town, I have learned just how relative 'famous,' is. We've been very fortunate to host several big name acts in the past two years, more so than previous years. Because of the size of our community, "Alaska gets these big bands, and someone has to open for them. It gives local bands more of a chance than say, L.A." As far as relative 'fame,' local bands are making headway by adding some larger acts to their musical resume, and because they're being exposed to a larger audience, they are gaining fans left and right. The few shows I've seen with local acts supporting the truly 'famous' headliner, the local groups KILL it. At least in our little isolated village here in the North, some of these bands are famous, so I have learned to curb my tendency to correct the 'supergroup' attribute.

Nicole Mosman - Z3 Photography Ã���Ã��Ã�©

The quote above is from Marc Bourdon, bass player for two local bands, Turquoise Boy and Historian. I asked him how he felt about Turquoise Boy being picked for the upcoming KZND Jingle Ball as the opener for Portugal. The Man. He had this to say: "This is the biggest show to date. Our most important show so far." Turquoise Boy opened for St. Vincent in April in the Wendy Williamson, Airborne Toxic Event in September, and had all of them been in the state, would have opened for Minus The Bear this summer, as well. When asked about these shows, one highlight from the St. Vincent show stuck out to me. "That's going to forever be one of my cherished musical memories. We're loading in, and she's sound-checking Actor Out of Work. That was extremely surreal for me. She even gave Derek and Kelsey all her spare orange juice and bread."

"Yeah, we're super excited for that (Portugal. The Man) show, couldn't be happier. We're working really hard for it." Marc continued. The Jingle Ball 2011, is being held at the Egan Center, sponsored by 94.7 KZND on Friday, December 16. Tickets are $25 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations. Show starts at 6:00 PM.

Turquoise Boy are a pop rock band with many facets, and are versatile enough for many different musical bills. These boys, per capita, have the most experience supporting larger musical acts in the Anchorage music scene. As much as I've resisted the term in the past, Turquoise Boy are a local 'supergroup.' Note the addendum 'local,' but also note that I'm a very stubborn person when it comes to my musical beliefs and feelings. These boys have "only been around since May," and they're making huge headway.

Derek Mangrobang, lead guitar and lead vocalist of the band, who was recently recruited as a temporary drummer for Romany Rye, says, "I've been waiting 10 years for this. It's a real symbolic moment for me, at least. I think all of us have been waiting a long time. This is the best radio push we've had." Derek played with Marc and Kelsey McGee, TB's drummer, in the Smile Ease, a now defunct local Anchorage band. When that group dissolved, Derek and Marc started formulating plans for Turquoise Boy, and naturally, Kelsey was nominated, and the three began working on what were demos of Derek's original music.

Kelsey, also drummer for local metal band Bolt Action Beaver, had known the band's fourth member, Winston Monticello (guitar, synth, vocals), from high school. Winston is the frontman and guitar player for local ska/punk band This Is Alaska (TIA). "I brought over the demo to Winston's house. That's how we got Winny. I've known him for awhile now and I showed him Derek's demos and he was like, 'Dude, this is sick. I wanna check it out!' So we brought him to a jam and we liked him."

"Yeah, plus the two halves of Beards and Boys were finally complete!" This is the band's 'secret codename.' "I always get mistaken for him (Winny) in public anyway, so this just makes it better," says Derek. I asked about the real band name's origin. Marc explained, "I'm from New Mexico, and I knew about this Navajo legend, Turquoise Boy, a kid who went on a quest to make a better life for his people, who eventually became the sun. That was kind of the working name, and we got that St. Vincent show, so it was cemented on the poster." The band admits the name is also a 'tip-of-the-hat' to Sonic Youth, as they have a song with the same name.

Nicole Mosman - Z3 Photography ������©

Because of the 'supergroup' aspect of things, and three of the members holding positions in other popular Anchorage bands, I found it poignant to ask what that was like. Winston said,  "It's awesome. I really couldn't ask for more. I get to play both sides of the 'community.' A lot of the shows I play with Turquoise Boy I wouldn't typically play with TIA and vice-versa. I get to play, you know, in front of a lot of different people, plus I get to play with these guys, which is sweet in itself."

Kelsey, in Bolt Action Beaver, plays some very different music than what Turquoise Boy is producing. "Because I've been playing complex 'math rocky' stuff forever - it's nice to kick back and compliment these guys with some nice little drum licks. It's really easy to work with these guys too, all coming from different musical backgrounds and everything. It's just awesome to lay down a fat basic beat." Marc maintains that Kelsey is the band's secret weapon and that they are "all super psyched that we have a metal drummer. Besides the fact that Kelsey is one of the better drummers in town, that fact that he's a metal drummer brings a whole new aesthetic to the songs. Plus, you should hear his tasty harmonies!"

KZND has selected Turquoise Boy as their Artist of the Month for December. This always coincides with a party, planned for January 7^th at Chilkoot Charlie's. Pros and Cons, and Marc's other band Historian, will be supporting Turquoise Boy. They plan on having a single to release, along with an interesting B Side. "I'm working with Joseph Bourgeois from charts over Hearts. He's remixing quite a few of my tunes that we're playing in this band, which is awesome, because it's kind of two sides to the same coin. He was a fresh set of ears. He remixed 'Apostrophe.' He's super talented and he took the hook of it and used it in a really great way," says Derek. Marc agrees that Joe is one of the hidden talents in this town, and possibly the Northwest region.

In conclusion, Turquoise Boy is the most fitting band in Anchorage to be called a 'supergroup.' Opening for the following acts (that aren't previously mentioned) proves it to me. Here it is: Matt and Kim, Between the Buried and Me, Ra-Ra-Riot, Sick Puppies, The Mountain Goats, August Burns Red, Everclear (Derek and Winston, both, in seperate bands), Eve 6, Lit, Barenaked Ladies, Cake, and Slightly Stoopid. Impressive, to say the least. The boys are talking about a small West Coast tour in the next year, and Derek's method of putting forth 'nothing but good energy' into the fruition of the band, has proven them successful in the seven months of the band's existence.  Keep an eye out for Turquoise Boy.

Don't forget to get your tickets to the Jingle Ball on December 16^th. Also, since December is the month for giving, the following evening, Turquoise Boy will be playing a private show for the beneficiaries of the Pump Up The Kids charity, now held annually by Fatguy and 94.7 The End. Noise Brigade and laVoy will also take the stage. The charity is a benefit for foster teens under the State of Alaska's care, providing these young adults with a joyful holiday season. The show is a party designated for the unwrapping of these gifts, and is strictly invite only. You can still help by sponsoring a teen's list. Go to http://www.947kznd.com/pages/11403650.php and fill out a form to give a teen in need a Merry Christmas. Those that donate and sponsor a teen receive an invitation to this private function.

Anchorage Night Out would like to thank Lawren Young Photography and Nicole Mosman of Z3 Photography for their Turquoise Boy shots!  Thank you so much!

Jeremie plays bass guitar in Anchorage rock band Robots Helping Clones and is an Assistant Editor at Anchorage Night Out. You can reach him at bands@anchoragenightout.com.

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