Even in a city that doesn't play by the rules, New Orleans' Bonerama is something different. They can evoke vintage Funk, Classic Rock, and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song. Bonerama has been repeatedly recognized by Rolling Stone, hailed as "the ultimate in brass balls" (2005) and praised for their "...crushing ensemble riffing, human-feedback shrieks and wah-wah growls" (2007).
Bonerama carries the brass band concept to places unknown. What other brass band could snag as honor for "Best Rock Band" (Big Easy Awards 2007)? As cofounder Mark Mullins puts it, "We thought we could expand what a New Orleans brass band could do. Bands like Dirty Dozen started the "anything goes" concept, bringing in the guitars and the drum kit and using the sousaphone like a bass guitar. We thought we could push things a little further."