Allyson Putman
Staff writer
As a college town, Murray may not always be the center of new music and nightlife, but tonight that may change with the band Anton Mink making its local debut at The Olive.
Anton Mink, an indie rock band from Louisville, Ky., will perform at The Olive at roughly 9 p.m. There is no cover charge.
Chloa Mardis, from Bardstown, Ky., is the lead vocalist for the band. She said the band which has roots in Louisville, Ky., has been together for about six years.
While the group has seen much success in the six years they have been together, she said there was a break taken during that time for the band to get a new drummer and record their second album, “Outside the Lines.” The band is in the process of recording their third album.
The band has seen members come and go over the last six years but are now composed of Andy Jack on guitar, Gerome Clinton on the drums, Curtis Flame on bass and Mardis on vocals.
Anton Mink released its first album in 2007, followed by a tour of the west coast with stops in a few northern states as well.
For the tour of their current album, “Outside the Lines,” however, Mardis said the group wanted to keep things local due to higher gas prices.
Still, the decision to keep shows nearby has not had a negative effect on the group’s success but rather opened more doors for attracting a younger and different crowd.
“We’ve been looking for places to play around colleges,” she said. “Last weekend we played at Club Carbon in Danville and we’re working on a gig with Morehead in the near future.”
Playing at locations near colleges is not only beneficial to the band, as having the opportunity to witness the semi-local talent and upcoming artists can be a fun experience for college students, too.
It’s a good opportunity for aspiring musicians and those looking to expand their collection of artists.
Zach Peacock, junior from Cadiz, Ky., said he is looking forward to the live talent at The Olive tonight.
“For students, this is a good distraction from the stress of school and work,” he said. “We need more live music around here.”
Being a musician himself, Peacock said he is happy to see Murray adding some color to its nightlife with the addition of live performances.
“Electronic music and DJs are cool,” he said. “But nothing beats watching a band execute a great performance and really make a connection with the crowd.”
Though Peacock said he is not familiar with Anton Mink, he is eager for their new and unique musical styles to enter the music scene in Murray.
“I think we need to get away from the typical bar music scene and have more artists and less cookie cutter bands,” Peacock said.
Though the four-piece band is known to fall into the indie rock category, the reviews on antonmink.com state that it is a mix of everything from soul, rock and punk.
For more information on Anton Mink and listen to their second album, “Outside the Lines,” go to www.antonmink.com.