Bio:
Self-described "Brass House" trio Too Many Zooz make manically kinetic
instrumental music that combines avant-garde jazz, EDM, punk rock, and sundry
other traditions into their own distinctive brand of high-energy dance music. A
viral sensation since they first emerged as New York subway buskers in 2013,
Too Many Zooz have evolved into a globally recognized phenomenon who tour
often and produce YouTube videos that have garnered millions of views.
Formed in 2013 in New York City, Too Many Zooz features the talents of baritone
saxophonist Leo "Leo P" Pellegrino, trumpeter Matt "Doe" Muirhead, and
drummer David "King of Sludge" Parks. Pellegrino and Muirhead initially met
while students at the Manhattan School of Music where they studied jazz. They
eventually joined forces with percussionist Parks, whom Pellegrino had played
with in a separate busking outfit. They began playing live at various New York
subway stations and quickly attracted crowds with their aggressive instrumental
sound and Pellegrino's ability to dance and hype the audience like a DJ while
playing. In 2014, a video of the band went viral and helped set the stage for the
group’s meteoric rise.
In 2016, the trio released their debut full-length album, Subway Gawdz, which
featured guest spots from Kreayshawn, Armani White, members of Galactic, and
Beats Antique. That same year they were featured on Beyonce’s Lemonade
album, and performed with Beyonce and The Dixie Chicks at the CMA’s.
Over the course of the next several years, Too Many Zooz continued to release
EP’s and singles – including ZombiEP (2019), a concept album about a fictional
band playing a music festival during a zombie outbreak, plus collaborations and
remixes with The Floozies, Beats Antique, Spencer Ludwig, Moon Hooch, Dot
Cromwell, Nitty Scott, Lester London, and RoRo.
All of that set the stage for the band’s 2024 sophomore album Retail Therapy – a
13-song chronicle of auditory subway cinema that features appearances from
Moon Hooch, Thumpasaurus, Lucky Chops, and Too Many T’s.