Alex Minoff
Encyclopedia
Alex Minoff is an American musician from Pennsylvania
who is known for his work with the groups Golden
, Weird War
, and Extra Golden
.
Though coming from an independent
(or "underground") rock 'n' roll tradition, Minoff plays Kenyan Benga music
in Extra Golden, which also includes a drummer and singer-guitarist from Kenya
.
He is typically a guitarist/singer but is also credited as playing drums on the Weird War
record If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em.
Minof also played as a session man and/or collaborator with other previously established groups, such as The Make-Up
(on their lp/cd Untouchable Sound - Live!), Ted Leo
, Royal Trux
, and Six Finger Satellite
. He also is featured in a group called Mistle-Tones who compose holiday music.
Minoff often plays a Gibson Firebird
guitar. He is known to some as "shoeboy".
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
who is known for his work with the groups Golden
Golden (Band)
Golden is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Oberlin, Ohio. Since Golden's members are also involved with other, more well-known bands, Golden is often considered more of a side project than a full-fledged band in its own right....
, Weird War
Weird War (band)
Weird War, briefly known as Scene Creamers, is an eclectic funk punk band based out of Washington, D.C.. The current lineup consists of Ian Svenonius on vocals, Michelle Mae on bass guitar, Alex Minoff on guitar, and Sebastian Thomson on drums....
, and Extra Golden
Extra Golden
-History:Bandmember Ian Eagleson studied Benga music from Nairobi for his Ph.D. thesis, and received assistance from Otieno Jagwasi, a Kenyan musician who played in a group called Orchestra Extra Solar Africa...
.
Though coming from an independent
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
(or "underground") rock 'n' roll tradition, Minoff plays Kenyan Benga music
Benga music
Benga is a genre of Kenyan popular music. It evolved between the late 1940s and late 1960s, in Kenya's capital city of Nairobi. In the 1940s, the African Broadcasting Service in Nairobi aired a steady stream of soukous, South African kwela, Zairean finger-style guitar and various kinds of Cuban...
in Extra Golden, which also includes a drummer and singer-guitarist from Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
He is typically a guitarist/singer but is also credited as playing drums on the Weird War
Weird War (band)
Weird War, briefly known as Scene Creamers, is an eclectic funk punk band based out of Washington, D.C.. The current lineup consists of Ian Svenonius on vocals, Michelle Mae on bass guitar, Alex Minoff on guitar, and Sebastian Thomson on drums....
record If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em.
Minof also played as a session man and/or collaborator with other previously established groups, such as The Make-Up
Make-Up (band)
The Make-Up was an American post-punk band from Washington, D.C. formed in 1995, consisting of ex-Nation of Ulysses frontman Ian Svenonius on vocals, James Canty on guitar and organ, Steve Gamboa on drums, and Michelle Mae on bass guitar...
(on their lp/cd Untouchable Sound - Live!), Ted Leo
Ted Leo
Theodore F. Leo , called "Ted," as a short form of "Theodore," is an American punk rock/indie rock songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, though he is most known for his singing and guitar playing...
, Royal Trux
Royal Trux
Royal Trux was an American alternative rock band from 1987 to 2001, founded by Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema .-History:...
, and Six Finger Satellite
Six Finger Satellite
Six Finger Satellite are an American synthesizer-based post-hardcore band, based in Providence, Rhode Island.- History :The band formed in 1990 around a line-up of J. Ryan , John MacLean , Peter Phillips , Chris Dixon , and Rick Pelletier...
. He also is featured in a group called Mistle-Tones who compose holiday music.
Minoff often plays a Gibson Firebird
Gibson Firebird
The Gibson Firebird is a solid-body electric guitar manufactured by Gibson from 1963 to the present.-History:The Gibson Guitar Corporation released several new styles during the 1950s to compete with Fender's instruments, such as the Telecaster and Stratocaster. After success with the Les Paul in...
guitar. He is known to some as "shoeboy".
Golden
- Here comes the Golden Fuzz (Slowdime) (1997)
- Super GOLDEN Original Movement (Slowdime) (1999)
- Golden Summer (Slowdime) (2000)
- Apollo Stars (National) (2002)
The Make-Up
- Untouchable Sound - Live! (Drag City/Sea Note) (2006)
Studio albums
- Weird WarWeird War (album)-Side one:#"Baby It's the Best" − 2:55#"Chicago Charlemagne" − 2:35#"Who's Who" − 2:18#"FN Rat" − 3:25#"Grass" − 2:07#"Ibex Club" − 2:05-Side two:#"Name Names" − 3:11#"Burgers and Fries" − 3:07#"I Live in a Dream" − 2:30#"Pick Up the Phone and Ball" − 2:05...
(Drag City) (2002) - I Suck on that EmotionI Suck on that EmotionI Suck on That Emotion is the second album by Weird War, recorded and released under the short-lived name Scene Creamers.Track #11, "Here Comes the Judge ," shares the same name as a Make-Up song from their 1997 album After Dark, of which Svenonius, Mae, and Minoff were all members.-Track...
(as Scene Creamers) (Drag City) (2003) - If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'EmIf You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em-Track listing:#"Intro " − 1:42#"Grand Fraud" − 3:24#"Tess" − 3:00#"If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em" − 3:58#*vocals by Jennifer Herrema #"Moment in Time" − 4:38#"Store Bought Pot" − 4:22#"AK-47" − 3:43#"N.D.S.P." − 4:34...
(Drag City) (2004) - Illuminated by the LightIlluminated by the LightIlluminated by the Light is the fourth album by Weird War, said to be their best.When asked about the album's title, Svenonius has responded "Illuminated By The Light just means lit by the light...
(Drag City) (2005)
DVD / Video
- appears on Burn to Shine 01: Washington DC 01.14.2004Burn to Shine (DVD series)Burn to Shine is an ongoing series of music DVDs created by Trixie DVD, a collaboration between filmmaker Christoph Green and ex-Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty. The filmmakers select a house that is set to be demolished in a certain city and ask a member of a local band to curate the event...
(Trixie) (2005)
Extra Golden
- Ok-Oyot System (Thrill Jockey) (2006)
- Hera Ma Nono (Thrill Jockey) (2007)
- Thank You Very Quickly (Thrill Jockey) (2009)