Box of Records

Where did Box of Records come from?

Box of Records started after former Satellite 7 drummer Brian Binkowski decided he wanted to try something new after having spent the last 10 years enduring the stresses of playing in an original band. His idea was to create a cover band that would be free from the often-insurmountable expectations of an original band. Instead, he wanted a band that focused more on mining a rich catalog of well known music to create a sound and a live atmosphere that could be considered unique in it's own right. With a vast array of influences from the folk rock of the 60's to the heavier rock legends of the 70's, the mold was cast for a band that would do more than just play note for note renditions of well-known classic rock songs. Instead, the idea of Box of Records was to take some of the lesser known hits from the best bands of the past 4 decades of rock and pop and tweak them for today's audience.

Building the most unique cover band
Longtime friend, Eric Knopp was the first and most obvious choice to be the band's front man. With his versatile vocals able to capture singers like Mick Jagger and Tom Petty, Eric's stunning range and pitch-perfect vocals have allowed the band to tackle a larger array of artists than even they'd initially thought possible. Eric and Brian have been sharing stages around Boston for the past 10 years, and their similar taste in music created a perfect foundation for the band.
Newcomer, Dave Rajfer was recruited somewhat serendipitously when he met Eric Knopp at a mutual friend's poker game. Dave has been playing music since age 4, focusing on guitar for the last 17 years. Since most of Dave's influences come from the masters of guitar improvisation, lead guitar was a natural fit for Dave. In contrast to how he learned violin and piano as a child, Dave took a different approach when he taught himself guitar at age 15. Instead of taking lessons and studying music theory, he spent most of his practice time playing along to Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix as well as many of today's top jam band virtuosos, tirelessly seeking new riffs to add to his catalog. Honing his chops over the years, Dave had always been looking for an opportunity to play in a band that would allow him to showcase his ability. So, when Eric asked if he knew any lead guitarists, the answer was simply..."Me."
The group's wildcard (in more ways than one) is undeniably Nick Caylor. Nick was asked to join when Eric, Dave and Brian felt their sound was lacking something unique that would take the band's sound to the next level. Originally, just thinking they needed a keyboard player, Eric asked his former graduate school classmate to join the band. What he got was far more than he'd bargained for in every imaginable way. Nick's innate talent on the keyboard runs the gambit from honky tonk piano, to whirling organs to synthesized guitars. However, it is Nick's unique vocal talent adds something totally unparalleled to the band's sound. Able to emulate the sound of crickets in Tommy James and the Shondells' classic "I Think We're Alone Now" or the ethereal sound of Mike Campbell's guitar that underlines the verses of Tom Petty's "Running down a dream" (that Tom Petty doesn't even attempt to duplicate live) epitomizes the attention to detail the band brings to it's covers. Nick's endless bag of tricks has continuously proven to keep fans coming back to see what he'll do next.
Local Boston music veteran, Dann Russo was asked to join the band when the band realized they needed some strong talent holding down the lower end. An accomplished solo artist in his own right, Dann accepted an offer to join the band after seeing the band play live. Captivated by the energy on stage, Dann was excited by the idea of playing in a full fledged rock outfit that offered him an opportunity to expand his musical horizons beyond the acoustic-based material that defines his solo career. Along with his remarkable skill on the bass guitar, Dann brings yet another vocal quality to the band. His ability to sing challenging parts like The Black Crowes scratchy, soulful "Remedy" or cover the rap verses of Flo Rida's "Low" helps complete a vocal ensemble that gives Box of Records the ability to play almost anything.
Box of Records has been playing around Boston for the past year spending most of their time improving their catalog of songs, adding new numbers for each gig they play. Always eager to throw something at their audience that they might not expect, Box of Records has cultivated a strong following of listeners who want to be entertained by music they know and love, but want something more than just hearing a good rendition. At a Box of Records' show you really can't expect anything but the unexpected.