A bonobo is an ape and our closest living relative. Bobo, the founder and ideological torchbearer of the band speaks directly to the politics of this country. His lyrics expose the religious right and strict conservative moral agendas of lawmakers as impeding upon your social right to be yourself. The Bonobos sing about the great divide between rich and poor in songs such as Divided We Fall and Class. As much as any punk band in the early 80s, they speak to a generation of outspoken angry working people, but their real talent lies in bringing together all of the elements of good rock and roll music. With horns, a viola, keyboards, bass guitar, drums, and guitars, they create a unique blend of classic sounds.
While they take their music very seriously, they are quite hedonistic in their knack for turning a punk show into a party. Their animated live shows have encouraged a small but faithful following in St. Louis that includes many friends and also their family, since family is what The Bonobos are. With the exception of Robo, they are all related. While Mofo was still growing up, Bobo talked politics with his nephew Loco and eventually they started putting music to some songs. Mofo, taught himself drums and joined the band when he was sixteen. Jojo, a cousin, was playing guitar and steel guitar in a band called Trailhead and when he moved back to St. Louis in 2003, added his talents to lead guitar, and piano. Robo rented the next door unit from the studio and started turning her classically trained skills on the viola into heady ballads such as Mayday.
The band has spent most of the last two years playing around St.Louis. They have shared the stage with a wide array of local and national talent. These include St. Louis own The Vultures, Core Project, Dub Kitchen and The Frozen Food Section, and LA punk band BANGsugarBANG. Playing shows changed the Bonobos from a group of politically minded composers in a basement studio, to true performers with a show that excites. Their music met the challenge of a live show with a uniqueness and audacity rare in todays punk bands. "We are much closer to Little Richard than we are Minor Threat." says Bobo. "We plan to breathe some life into punk music and as one fan put it, 'slam some heart back in tha' kids apathetic bodies.'"
Under their own record label, Great Ape Productions, The Bonobos are producing an album that includes nearly every song theyve ever played live They may not be prolific, but theyve worked hard at creating only quality music and message. The orchestration in Mayday is out-and-out epic, with its moody punk chords and strange angry viola in the background. There is place in politics for a band like The Bonobos and with the release of their debut album, this band deserves recognition for hard hitting truth and some of the most unique rock and roll of today.