Chris Simpson is best known as Zookeeper, but he gathered up his old buddies for a Mineral reunion tour this year.
The band only released two full-length albums (1997's The Power of Failing and 1998's EndSerenading, which came out after they broke up), and after 17 years apart, they're hitting the road. Despite his busy schedule, Simpson found time to talk to Brooklyn Vegan about the experience.
"I think it was was just sort of a thought that had been ruminating for a little while but about a year ago it was really put on our radar," Simpson said. "So, it's really been pretty recent. We were starting to think about the fact that it's been 20 years – I was starting to think that, and just in the back of my head I knew that was approaching. If there was going to be a time to do something, maybe now would be a good one."
But Simpson doesn't think the music has aged much.
"It's just that the content feels current," he said. "It's almost like I'm right back there, way back when I was singing them. It's not like "Ah, this is nostalgia!" More just that I remember and connect with where the songs come from."
He also hinted at new music from The Gloria Record (his other project) and focused on an impending Zookeeper release:
"I think it's just a totally different phase of life than when I put out anything else," he said. "I'm older, I'm domestic and I'm having kids. Those are the sort of things I've been thinking about. That being said, they're not necessarily songs for kids. But just shorter, simpler songs that are really short and simple and really nice melodies. Working around that and maybe building things up a little less than we would for say a Mineral song. It's definitely a lot more subdued material."
Want to catch Simpson and Mineral on tour? Here's the schedule:
09/08: New Haven, CT @ Center Church On The Green
09/09: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
09/10: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
09/11: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
09/12: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop (TWO shows)
09/13: Chicago, IL @ Double Door
09/14: Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest
09/15: Columbus, OH @ Skully's
09/16: St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
09/17: Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
09/19: Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
10/22: San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
10/23: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
10/24: Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
10/25: Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
10/26: Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
10/27: Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom
11/02: Gainesville, FL @ Fest 13
11/03: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
11/04: Greensboro, NC @ The Blind Tiger
11/07: Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest
The band also has several 2015 shows scheduled. Check them out here.
