The Wondermints
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The Wondermints are a power-pop band. The main members are Darian Sahanaja (keyboards), Nick Walusko (aka Nicky Wonder) (guitar) and Mike D'Amico (percussion). Other contributors have included Brian Kassan (bass) and Probyn Gregory (multiple instruments). The band's distinctive sound is a mixture of Elvis Costello-esque new wave and 60s lounge music, with a lyrical predilection for scientific or science-fiction topics (lyrics mentioning trilobites and DNA are not unusual).
The group's albums include: Wondermints (1995), Wonderful World of the Wondermints (1996), Bali (1998) and Mind If We Make Love to You (2002).
In 1999, the group signed on to be part of Brian Wilson's touring band. Sahanaja, Walusko, and Gregory have played with him ever since, with D'Amico (due to family problems) only having toured with Wilson in 1999, 2000, and 2002 (his replacement in 2001 and early 2002 was Andy Paley, and in 2004 Nelson Bragg took his place in the Brian Wilson band). Sahanaja also missed a few shows in 2003, being replaced by Gary Griffin. All the Wondermints can be heard on Wilson's Live at the Roxy CD and Brian Wilson on Tour and Pet Sounds Live in London DVDs, with Sahanaja, Walusko, and Gregory also appearing on the Pet Sounds Live In London CD and the studio CDs Gettin' in over My Head and Smile.
The band are part of a powerpop 'scene' in Los Angeles, many of whose members play on each others' records. The Wondermints, especially Gregory, often appear on other people's records or are in other bands, some of the more notable of which are Baby Lemonade, The Negro Problem, Stew and Kim Foxx.