In some respects, Karate Bikini’s got the most pressure this coming Saturday night, as the group releases a full-length, debut CD, Sauce of the Apple Horse. But some of that pressure’s been removed, as the group’s already floated the album out through the usual online-purchasing sources. (In fact, you can read all about their recording and their life and times, generally, in the current, print edition of St. Louis Magazine.)
Today, we’re casting a friendly glance at one of the opening acts on Off Broadway’s three-band bill this Saturday, The Boorays, who will be playing second on the bill, alongside Karate Bikini and the also-reuniting Heebie Jeebies. This won’t be the first reunion show for the Boorays, who’ve played a couple shows over the past few years. So if we’re throwing around the term “pressure,” most of what they’ve felt about this gig has been self-induced, according to bassist Andy Thomson.
“It takes a lot of coordinating to get the practice schedule going,” Thomson admits, citing the band’s careers, families and other responsibilities. “There was a certain band member who didn’t make all the early practices and two weeks ago, I didn’t feel good about this. But in the last 10 days, we’ve been playing a lot. You can usually feel good about things after a practice, or two, but to get really tight it takes about six or eight times together. And it always feels that we cram it all in at the end.”
As the Boorays have gotten back together, a cool part of the story is that it’s the same, core quartet that played together during their original run, from 1989-1995 (namely Thomson; guitarist-vocalist Mark Stephens; drummer-vocalist Bob Kaemmerlen; and guitarist Mike Hellebusch). During that time period, the band was a steady presence on bills shared by the Heebies Jeebies, the Sun Sawed in ½, Lydia’s Trumpet, Enormous Richard and a handful of other bands that helped define that particular, exciting moment, taking place inside the various clubs along Delmar.
In addition to their live dates, the group enjoyed several releases, with a self-titled cassette followed by: the CDs Pumpkin Pie Crustacean and Hollow in the Middle; three singles with the Columbia-based Faye Records; and a handful of compilation appearances. (For the definitive Boorays discography, go here.) Thomson remembers the group’s stint with the Faye as one of the highlights of the group’s original run, as the label brought several acts from across Missouri into national distribution.
“It was a really neat time and neat scene,” Thomson recalls. “We had fun being a singles-only band for them. They definitely helped get us more attention than we would’ve gotten on our own.”
Of course, the band itself did plenty to push things along, with an active travel schedule around the Midwest and lots of dates in their hometown. Those early days of steady practicing and gigging—and, for a good while, living together as roommates in a funky, little house in Maplewood—caused a certain muscle memory to take hold. Even with a couple of not-quite-full-lineup nights during rehearsal season this time around, Thomson admits that the band still shares an unspoken understanding.
“It’s a cliché, but it really is like riding a bike,” Thomson admits. “It clicked surprisingly well initially. Getting it ready to play out takes a little bit longer, but we can go two years, or five years, and it still comes together very quickly. I think we drilled these songs into our brains back in the early ‘90s. We can be the Rolling Stones of Off Broadway, doing our 50th anniversary reunion show in 2039. That’s something to really look forward to.”
Always with a hint of self-deprecation to his humor, Thomson jokes, too, when the topic of new songs comes up. He admits that he and the band are gripping onto the familiar cuts for this show.
“If people have happened to make the other reunion shows, this’ll also be the greatest his,” he says. “We’re your average oldies act. Like one of the bands that used to play at (what was that place?) the Big Kahuna off of Olive. I’d personally love to dip into the catalog a little more and we’ve always talked about a new songs, but to get our hour together, we’re going with the ones that’re practiced.”
And while there’s not another set date planned, it doesn’t feel as if this’ll be the last time the group whips a show into being.
“I guess Kip Loui wanted somebody else from ‘the Cicero’s pop mafia’ to play with them for this reunion, so we’re tagging along,” Thomson says. “They asked if we were available, and since we’re always available, we signed on.”
Karate Bikini with the Heebie Jeebies and the Boorays play Saturday, July 21 at Off Broadway (3509 Lemp, 314-773-3363, offbroadwaystl.com). Doors 8 p.m. show 9 p.m. $5 cover, with half going to KDHX 88.1 FM.
