When she’s not playing keys or accordion, or singing backing vocals for songwriters like Kara Cole, Sarah Grain and Teresa Reynolds, Indy musician Mina Keohane stays busy fronting her own band, Mina & the Wondrous Flying Machine.
The band’s piano-driven blend of pop and jazz has gathered a following through their 15 years of playing music shows. They’re also a fixture at the Chatterbox Jazz Club, where they perform every third Thursday.
Mina & the Wondrous Flying Machine will celebrate the release of their third studio album, “Quiet Little Wreckonings,” at Square Cat Vinyl, 1054 Virginia Ave., 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
Mother the Band, fronted by Rebekah Kay, who is also a bartender at the Chatterbox, will open the show.
“I would say it was a journey of a lot of grief, some hurt and then ultimately forgiveness and letting go.”
Mina Keohane
Mina & the Wondrous Flying Machine features Charlie Ballantine on guitar, Josh Silbert on saxophone, Jesse Wittman on bass, Colin Oakley on drums and percussion, and Mina Keohane on keys and vocals.
Keohane admits her band has never quite been a priority. That’s until she received discouraging remarks from the studio producer that helped her make her first album, “Maestro…a note.”
“The producer on the first record said, ‘Nobody is going to like this music.’ And I really took that to heart,” Keohane said. “I tried to play out, and I realized, ‘This is definitely not music for everyone.’”
This time around, Keohane chose to work with Tyler Watkins at Postal Recording. A sample of the album, the single “Another On the Chin” is available for streaming online.
The new album also marks the start of a confident new chapter for Mina & the Wondrous Flying Machine. Keohane shared there was personal strife that led up to it.
“I was in an emotionally abusive relationship for about two years with a narcissist, so a lot of that is in there,” Keohane said. “My nephew passed away, and that was really challenging. So that’s in there too. I would say it was a journey of a lot of grief, some hurt and then ultimately forgiveness and letting go.”
When asked what stands out about Keohane’s compositions, drummer/percussionist Oakley explains her music is equal parts “cerebral” and “intuitive.”
“It is very mathematical, but the mathematical nature is conveying something very sincere and universal,” Oakley said. “It’s kind of like a spoonful of sugar for the medicine.”
Silbert, a seasoned saxophonist, adds that Keohane’s compositions are perplexing in a good way.
“I always have a moment of controlled, abject terror when Mina presents a new song, where I’m like, ‘Huh … okay. Well, what am I going to do here?’ I think it’s a testament to her talent and creativity,” Silbert said. “I don’t have a lot of blind faith in my life except for this musical relationship, where I trust her.”
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