Dinosaur Bones Don't Need Cupcakes

Cupcakes have long been known to work as effective incentives for drawing large groups of people to an event.

Although Toronto indie rockers Dinosaur Bones were giving away baked goods by the handful at their one-year anniversary show a while back at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern, it's a safe bet the hundreds of fans filling the legendary venue weren't there to sample the band's culinary prowess.

With just a year on the scene and a frustratingly short EP under their belts, the buzz surrounding Dinosaur Bones is growing.

"Things have definitely gotten going pretty quickly for us," admits frontman Ben Fox. "I think a lot of that had to do with our collective mindset coming into the band.

"We're a pretty proactive and hardworking bunch, and I think it's been our work ethic more than anything that's helped us hit the ground running."

But as hard as Dinosaur Bones work, it's likely the curiously two-sided nature of their music that's turned this young band into one of Toronto's hottest unsigned acts.

Trebly, angular guitars waver overtop pounding keyboard vamps as Fox's snide lyrical wit sets a tone that can't be described as distinctively upbeat nor decisively melancholy. Instead, it comes off as irresistibly catchy and unapologetically sinister all at the same time. You'll dance and sing along, but in the end you'll be left questioning Fox's musical stabs.

"I've always found darker music more engaging than super-happy pop music, or music strictly intended to make you dance," Fox explains. "For better or worse, that mentality has definitely shaped our band's overall approach.

"We're far more interested in trying to write songs that twist your stomach in a knot and make you feel life rather than temporarily escape it."

That description is perhaps deceiving, though, since the past year has seen Dinosaur Bones establish themselves as one of Toronto's most entertaining live bands. Whether it's bassist Branko Scekic's unusual facial hair configurations, Joel Clifton's whole-hearted guitar shredding or tambourines alongside stacks of multi-coloured cupcakes, its obvious the band are having just as much — if not more — fun than their audiences.

Even in the face of the mounting hype, Fox remains calm as he discusses his hopes for the release of Dinosaur Bones' debut full-length late this summer.

"We don't feel any real pressure beyond the pressure we put on ourselves to write effective music and put on performances people will remember," he says. "We're still in the phase where people are starting to hear about us and are getting familiar with our music.

"The real pressure comes when people have gotten to know a band and well-wishes turn into expectations. I'm happy to ride out the courtship phase a little longer."

A little longer may be all they have. Dinosaur Bones seem set to take the independent music scene by storm with a string of dates around Ontario and Quebec, including a slot at Edgefest. But Fox is just happy to have come this far and is enjoying where the band are sitting.

"I don't think any of us are too keen on the idea of being a flash in the pan," he says. "We'd way rather be a cauldron of hearty Super Bowl chili that lives on the stove forever, simmering and getting more and more delicious with time."

Dinosaur Bones will play Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern on Friday at 8:30 p.m. as part of the annual CHARTattack/Horseshoe/Canadian Music Week showcase.

Dinosaur Bones will also play these shows:

March 14 Toronto, ON @ Trash Palace w/The Rural Alberta Advantage, Great Bloomers and Peachcake (CMW all-ages afternoon show)
March 18 Hamilton, ON @ The Pepper Jack Cafe w/Josh Reichmann
March 20 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace w/Still Life Still, Oh No Forest Fires and Arietta
March 27 Streetsville, ON @ Marcello's
April 10 Ottawa, ON @ Cafe Deckuf w/The Balconies
April 11 Barrie, ON @ Oscar's Restaurant
June 20 Toronto, ON @ Downsview Park (Edgefest)