WHO THE HELL IS BOOMBOX?
By Team JamBase Mar 6, 2007 • 12:00 am PST

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Formed about three years ago, BoomBox is not your traditional group. It only has two members – a guitar player/vocalist and a DJ – that combine live instruments with multi-track sequencing, turntables, and samplers for a unique brand of infectious music. Zion Godchaux and Russ Randolph came together while working on an album that Zion was collaborating on with his mother, former Grateful Dead member Donna Jean Godchaux. Russ was engineering the record and the two connected immediately.
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At the time they met, Randolph was tired of playing in traditional bands. He says, “I had pretty much given up, too much of a pain in the ass, not fun nor fulfilling, either musically or creatively.” Zion, who had practically grown up with the Grateful Dead, was feeling similarly jaded. Together, they had an original vision of what they wanted to do and where they wanted to go.
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Despite their unique instrumentation, every song does have a somewhat traditional structure which they’re able to flesh out live. They jokingly say that “we share one brain between the two of us,” which is evident in the way they finish each other’s sentences and thoughts. Onstage, they are “two people as an extension of one DJ” and the chemistry between them is undeniable.
So, what does the future hold for BoomBox? “We are always experimenting in the ‘Lab’ towards a bigger vision. We want to keep everything fresh and new, and exciting for us as musicians. We want to take it as far as it will go,” says Randolph. Zion adds, “It’s still a mystery to us. We know the path we’re on will have twists and turns but we have a good idea where we are going now. I’m blown away by what is possible and am happy to experience the adventure.”
BOOMBOX TOUR DATES
03/08/07 | Georgia Theatre | Athens, GA
03/09/07 | Mellow Mushroom | Tuscaloosa, AL
03/17/07 | The Funky Bean Farm | Yellow Springs, OH
03/23/07 | The Soul Kitchen | Mobile, AL (w/ Perpetual Groove)
03/24/07 | Club 29 | Decatur, GA (w/ Green Lemon)
03/29/07 | Two Stick | Oxford, MS
03/30/07 | Two Stick | Oxford, MS
03/31/07 | P Sally’s | Monroe, LA
04/04/07 | Newby’s | Memphis, TN (w/Particle)
04/05/07 | The Granada Theatre | Lawrence, KS (w/Particle)
04/06/07 | The Blue Note | Columbia, MO (w/Particle)
04/12/07 | The 8X10 |Baltimore, MD
04/13/07 | Uncle Buck’s Ranch | Athens, OH
04/14/07 | Magic Stick | Detroit, MI (w/Particle)
04/17/07 | The Buffalo Icon | Buffalo, NY (w/Particle)
04/19/07 | Mellow Mushroom | Tuscaloosa, AL
04/20/07 | Smokehouse | Florence, AL
04/24/07 | Exit/In | Nashville, TN (w/Particle)
04/25/07 | The Bottling Company | Hattiesburg, MS (w/Particle)
04/26/07 | Barley’s Taproom | Knoxville, TN
04/28/07 | Oldfields on High | Columbus, OH
05/02/07 | Canal Street Tavern | Dayton, OH
05/03/07 | The Blue Gator | Athens, OH
05/05/07 | Nelson Ledges Quarry Park | Garrettsville, OH
05/11/07 | Mellow Mushroom | Tuscaloosa, AL
06/07/07 | Wakarusa | Lawrence, KS
06/24/07 | Park Street Tavern | Columbus, OH
07/04/07 | Nelson Ledges Quarry Park | Garrettsville, OH
07/13/07 | Kinetic Playground | Chicago, IL
07/27/07 | Hoxeyville Music Festival | Hoxeyville, MI JamBase | Worldwide
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