The Bunny Gang Working to Establish Denver as Home
by Tim Wenger
The Bunny Gang have, albeit not yet a long one, but still a storied, history. Forming in Denver in 2012 following time in Los Angeles, California under the moniker Nathan Maxwell and The Original Bunny Gang, the group is working diligently to establish themselves as a prominent name in Denver’s scene and a respected name throughout the world.
Front man Nathan Maxwell is well known in the punk world as the bassist of renowned Celtic punkers Flogging Molly. The Bunny Gang was started originally as his side project involving his father Maxwell and bassist Michael Peralta, and has grown over the last few years into its own name and reputation as The Bunny Gang with help from lead guitarist Nat Nelson following their move to Denver.
The group has recorded a much anticipated full-length record that has turned into an ongoing process, but should be out by early next year. Originally, the record was originally supposed to be already released, but the band wanted to make sure everything was just the way it should be before dropping it into the public’s hands. “It will definitely be out by 2043,” Nathan says laughing. “It’ll be out by, at the latest, early 2014. The album is done. We are finalizing the album artwork and the layout, and want to make sure the album is in the exact right home for it to be in.”
With the upcoming release of the record and the time between now and then, the band’s focus is to dive as deep into the local music scene as possible. The group has toured multiple countries, been asked to contribute to compilations and perform at a handful of festivals, and feel that it is time to grow their roots in the Mile High City and settle into what they call home. “I’ve been traveling the nation and some other countries for a while now, and my first thought was, ‘That’s what I know, so let’s take The Bunny Gang on tour, let’s keep touring and touring’. I’m glad we did because we had to get our chops up and become a band that I’m proud of now. Now we are that band. Now the focus is, we’re a Denver band, let’s show Denver that we’re here. Let’s really focus on Denver.”
Nathan feels that the group was not ready to show itself to our fair city before the extensive touring and be the ‘local celebrities’ that they want to become. Through their treavels, recording, and becoming the family that is The Bunny Gang, they are now proud of who they are and are ready to strap themselves in and become a high-flying part of the ever-expanding bubble that is the mile high music scene.
As such, the band’s history is very family oriented. Nathan and bassist Michael Peralta have known each other and been playing together for years, and the formation of the band with Nathan’s father on drums meant that the group started with a tight relationship that has only grown tighter through the sharing of musical talent.
“For me, this represents where my head’s at at the moment with music,” says Nathan. “The Bunny Gang plays honest, authentic music and we wear our heart on our sleeve. We have our influences, and through those influences we create our sound. It’s like roots music, it’s authentic to who we are.”
The creation of their debut full length has been a long process, culminating in the four members being wound ever more tightly together, ready to present themselves to the world as they feel they should be perceived. “It’s been challenging,” says Maxwell, the group’s drummer, who has been with the group since its’ early days. “In drawing this out, we’ve all become a bit wiser. Truly we have become more confident in what The Bunny Gang is. We’ve realized that we’ve got something special here. The band is attracting a lot of cool people.”
Maxwell likes the tag of ‘Conscious Rebel Music.’ A huge part of the band’s roots are in the punk rock ethos, but the guys are family men and are not the nihilistic teenagers leading a life of anarchistic destruction that they may have once been. “We have this root,” says Nathan. “We got on stage with a punk element, but we still have a consciousness of what’s important. We’re not singing about beer and partying, we’re singing about more important issues. The rebel part IS the punk influence, but the conscious part is taking it to a higher level. There are a lot of people out there that are outgrowing that desperate youth and want bands that have something to say. Everywhere people are waking up. People are waking up to truths, to hard truths, and I believe that in general the umbrella is consciousness. People are becoming critical.”
“I’m not someone that wants to be dead at 25 anymore,” says Nathan. “I’m someone that wants to live. I’ve got so much to live for. It’s about seeing the forest for the trees and taking the long way.”
The long way for these guys is playing shows, recording, and sticking their message firmly in the ears of each and every listener. “You go everywhere,” says Nathan. “Every single place you can go, you go there. If it sticks and people resonate, then you go back. Who knows where the places that love The Bunny Gang will be.”
To date, Japan has been a place that they have done well, as well as Germany, but they hope to increase that base to become a worldwide audience. “It’s still so new, it’s hard to say. We’ve had some great shows here and there, we’ve had some great shows in Denver.”
Obviously, Flogging Molly is a big name and often when people think of Nathan, that is what they think of. While it may serve to help the band as far as recognition, they strive to be perceived as a separate entity. “It’s a double edged sword,” says Nathan. “There’s those out there that love Flogging Molly, and there’s those out there that hate Flogging Molly. The double-edged sword is that those who love Flogging Molly might expect The Bunny Gang to sound more like Flogging Molly, or more like a hardcore punk band if they know my background. But it’s not that at all. It’s hardcore punk in the meaning and the message, but not sonically. On the flip side, I think there are people who would really love our music, but they hear Flogging Molly and the go ‘Ah I don’t like (them), so I’m not going to like The Bunny Gang.’ They’re different, but it’s the same spirit going through it. I think real music fans will get that. You can’t please everyone, and I have no interest in trying.”
The band’s identity is growing stronger with every show, and they have no plans to slow down anytime soon. They want to continue growing, continue changing, and continue to represent their ideals through their music. “Hopefully, though life, you evolve,” says Nathan. “You learn, you become wiser.” For The Bunny Gang, their progression will continue to coincide with the lives of the four members that make up the family and the views they wish to express to the world.
Online: thebunnygang.com
Category: Buzzworthy
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