Mini-Golf and Muerta with the Boxing Lesson – Part 2

To read the first part of this piece, head over to FestivalCrashers.com.

10 [Par 4] – The band is collaborating with Frenchie Smith Records, and it’s a very loving partnership. When they were mixing Muerta, Chris “Frenchie” Smith told the band, “You are the best I’ve seen you. Keep going. It’s gonna happen.” Hopefully, it will happen for both of the up-and-coming local music groups.

11 [Par 4] – The inspiration for the Muerta EP came from the video for the song that was directed by Jonathan London. “The idea for the video was like Radiohead’s ‘No Surprises’ video,” Paul explained. “The effect is done by fans. I look like an electric eel.”

12 [Par 3] – On hole 12 during our interview tournament, Paul managed to hit his ball off the course and to the front fence, twice. On the second go, he even took down another player’s beer can. It almost seemed to happen in slow-motion, as Paul took his swing and the ball soared quickly through the air, tipping the beer can without so much as changing course. As the other mini-golfer ran to salvage his brew, he looked over at our team in amazement and yelled, “How does that happen?”

13 [Par 5] – Meandering from hole to hole with the Boxing Lesson, you immediately get a sense of their personalities. Paul is full of energy, excitement, belief in his art and love for his bandmate. Jaylinn is a firecracker, hilarious and equally supportive of Paul. Though Paul does a lot of the talking, as Jaylinn quipped after an impressive 2-swing first hole – “Do not rule me out.”

14 [Par 5] – Paul’s musical tendencies extend to his love of different recording formats. He had a love affair with cassettes, but explains, “Vinyl is my true love. I’m way into vinyl.” New Fortune is producing Muerta double EP 7”s.

15 [Par 4] – Now that Paul has taken over the managing role for the band again, he said he enjoys getting direct feedback about the band. “I’m never going to lose this – connecting with bloggers and fans.”

16 [Par 5] – When the Boxing Lesson’s drummer, Venny Nunez, first played with the band at the ripe age of 16, Paul and Jaylinn had to rub club stamps off on his hands to get the underaged musician into venues with them. Now, he’s 21 and Paul says, “We’re prolific together.”

17 [Par 5] – There’s a new full album in the works that Paul says Muerta transitions fans into. Still, there’s no rush these days. “At practice, we’re doing it for us again,” Paul said. “We’ll spin records, smoke pot, play for fun. Sometimes, we’ll just play a G for 45 minutes.”

18 [Par 5] – The Boxing Lesson are, more than ever, D.I.Y. Through their hardships, they’ve come full circle to make everything they do about the music again. “We’re like a high school band again,” Paul said. “I own all of my own music, I have Jaylinn, I have shows and friends. We’re starting again, and doing this for fun.” Sounds like a hole in one to me.

At the end of the game, Zack has blown everyone away with a 43, Jaylinn comes in second with a 53.5 (after being robbed and making a hole in two strokes but having the ball pop up out of the ground as if by magic, we gave her the .5 on the last swing), Paul is close on her heels at 55, and I play a gentlewoman’s 58. Everyone is all-smiles. You can share in the joy: the band will play an in-store at End of an Ear on Saturday at 6pm, rocking out the entire Muerta EP from start to finish, and offering up free downloads for anyone who comes. You can also pick up one of their new vinyl prints – there are only 250 to be had.

If you want to check out the band’s 101 Homegrown Live gig at the ND on Saturday, leave your name and e-mail in the comment section and we’ll pick a winner to be put on the guest list. For another chance to win, check out part one of this interview at FestivalCrashers.com.