Song of the Day “Ohio” by Bonerama
With the release of So Much Love (2026), New Orleans’ favorite trombone-heavy powerhouse, Bonerama, has finally delivered a studio effort that feels less like a “project” and more like a family reunion. After years of detouring through specific tributes—most notably their high-octane 2019 reimagining of Led Zeppelin—the band has pivoted back to a broader, “gumbo” philosophy. This record isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a career-spanning victory lap that somehow avoids looking in the rearview mirror for too long.
The evolution here is subtle but significant. Where earlier records like Hot Like Fire (2017) leaned heavily into the “Supafunkrock” label, So Much Love feels like the band is finally comfortable in its own brass skin. The band has stopped trying to prove they can play rock—we know that already—and has instead focused on how they can make rock (and soul, and funk) sound like a natural extension of a Crescent City second line. The addition of heavy-hitting guests like Trombone Shorty and Ivan Neville doesn’t feel like a marketing gimmick; it feels like the band is finally claiming its rightful seat at the head of the NOLA table.
Side Note (and shameless self-promotion): Back in 2019 I started a “band” with a similar concept in Portland, OR… To play (and ideally, revitalize) aging rock songs with very un-rock instrumentation. It was called RiverRock Orchestra, and while it included a rock rhythm section (drums and electric bass) all the other instruments were orchestral with NO chorded melodic instruments all (no guitars, no keyboards, instead opting for violins, violas, cellos, sax, trombone and trumpet). Unfortunately, the lockdowns of 2020 prevented us from performing live but we did manage to release an album in 2021 to immortalize the concept before I eventually left town in 2022.
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/classic/1565925833
While So Much Love is peppered with standout moments—including a revised “Empty World,” Pink Floyd’s “In The Flesh,” (Featuring Stanton Moore from Galactic and Ivan Neville) and a sprawling “Meters Medley”—it is their cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio” that serves as the standout of the track list for me. This choice might seem like a safe bet given its pedigree, but Bonerama treats the protest anthem with a level of brass-bound aggression that would make Neil Young do a double-take. Backed by the formidable trifecta of Trombone Shorty, Cyril Neville, and Ivan Neville, the track transforms from a folk-rock lament into a menacing, low-end-heavy stomp. The beauty of this rendition is that it treats the trombone not as a brass instrument, but as a lead guitar with a sinus problem. Because the track features a “brass-heavy” lineup—including the core Bonerama slides and the guest power of Trombone Shorty—the solo sections function more like a heavyweight fight than a standard jazz improvisation.
Trombones are inherently “vocal” instruments, but here they don’t just mimic the melody; they provide the snarl. The slide-greased grit of the horn line replaces the feedback of the original’s electric guitars, providing a visceral weight that feels incredibly modern. It’s the sound of a protest march that isn’t just walking—it’s charging. The collaboration with the Nevilles adds a layer of New Orleans royalty that grounds the song’s political urgency in a way that feels authentic to the city’s own history of resilience.
The Song
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/song/ohio-feat-trombone-shorty-cyril-neville-ivan-neville/1870642610
Great live set from late 2025 (doesn’t include this SotD but still great):
The Album
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/so-much-love/1870642593
The Band
https://www.boneramabrass.com/
Mark Mullins – trombone / vocals
Greg Hicks – trombone / vocals
Chris Butcher – trombone
Matt Perrine – sousaphone
Bert Cotton – guitar
Eric Bolivar – drums
Be sure to check out the Audio Toxicity 2026 Bad Music Detox Protocol (AKA a playlist of songs covered so far…)