The New Meanies, originally called the Blue Meanies, are a Canadian four piece
rock band
A rock band or pop band is a small musical ensemble that performs rock music, pop music, or a related genre. A four-piece band is the most common configuration in rock and pop music. In the early years, the configuration was typically two guita ...
from
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
.
History
Formed around 1990 by high school friends Damon Mitchell (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Jeff Hondubura (guitar, vocals), Sky Onosson (bass, vocals, keyboards) and Jason Kane (drums, percussion) started playing blues-influenced rock.
After releasing two independent albums, ''Experience is Lost'' (independently released on cassette only) and ''The Blue Meanies'', they toured extensively throughout Western Canada in the early 1990s. In 1996 the band signed with
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
. The band changed its name to the New Meanies due to the existence of another
Blue Meanies based in Chicago, and recorded a new album ''Three Seeds'' in the
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
area with producer
Howard Benson
Howard Benson is an American music producer and multi-instrumentalist. He was nominated for the Producer of the Year Grammy Award in 2007 and 2008.
Early life and education
Benson was born and raised in a middle-class family in greater Philadel ...
. The album was released in 1998, and the single "Letting Time Pass" achieved major airplay on radio and television, charting at No. 14 on RPM Magazine's
Canadian rock/alternative chart
Canadian rock music charts (established June 11, 1995) publishes a weekly alternative rock music chart under the name ''Alternative 30.'' RPM charts
On June 11, 1995, Canadian music magazine ''RPM'' began publishing a weekly alternative rock music ...
. In 1999 the band performed in Toronto with Danko Jones and Tricky Woo.
"Live Reviews: PW Long / Flashing Lights / Don Caballero / The New Meanies / Danko Jones / Tricky Woo March 6, 1999 The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON"
''Chart Attack'', review by Vanessa Lewis In 2000, the band went indie again and released a new album, ''Highways'', in 2001.
Discography
Albums
*''Experience is Lost'' (1993)
*''The Blue Meanies'' (1995)
*''Three Seeds'' (1998)
*''Highways'' (2001)
Current status
The New Meanies are currently only performing sporadically.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:New Meanies
Musical groups with year of establishment missing
Musical groups from Winnipeg
Canadian indie rock groups
Musical groups established in 1990
1990 establishments in Manitoba