"The only thing missing was the stage diving," Kimbrough, left, said later of the sold-out shows. He and Belanoff, right, were joined by Walt Mink's final drummer, Zach Danziger.

Drawing fans from as far away as London, the Macalester band reunites for two sold-out shows and a documentary

Text and photos by Vince Castellanos '92

A buzz built through the capacity crowd packed inside the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. The occasion? A reunion of the legendary Macalester band Walt Mink, who were brought back together for a documentary movie. "Minneapolis is lucky tonight," said the director, Christopher Butler, as he introduced the band and 16mm cameras whirred.

Founding members John Kimbrough '90 and Candice Belanoff '90 stepped onstage with drummer Zach Danziger. The trio opened with the apropos "New Life," then segued smoothly to "Love You Better." By the time Kimbrough tore into the tune's guitar solo coda, the band and its fans were in full-on rock mode. Not bad for a group that hadn't played plugged-in for eight years.

When the June 17 reunion show was announced, the Triple Rock set a venue record for fastest sellout. Demand was so great that an all-ages gig was added. That sold out, too. People pilgrimaged from California, Texas, Ohio, New York and even London for the event.

For Chris Peknik '94, who journeyed from Albuquerque, N.M., Walt Mink was an introduction to alternative music. "I saw them open for Toe Jam in February '91 at Cochran, and my musical horizons really opened considerably. I always carried a torch for them, and the fact that they got back together was like a gift."

Walt Mink

Kimbrough, Belanoff and original drummer Joey Waronker '92 formed Walt Mink at Macalester in 1989, naming the band after a favorite psychology professor. "An idiosyncratic Cream for the '90s, Walt Mink adds daring innovation to the power trio formula," USA Today wrote in 1992. "...Their captivating honey-and-vinegar sound is fresh and inventive without being so oddball as to forever trap them in cult limbo." The band landed a major label deal, but bad timing and label trouble limited their commercial success. Waronker left to drum for the likes of Beck and R.E.M., and John and Candice called it quits in 1997, performing a farewell show in New York City.

In attendance that night was casual fan Christopher Butler. Now a writer/producer for Nickelodeon Online, Butler became fascinated by Walt Mink's history. "Their story is riddled with bad luck," he says. "They weren't screw-ups or drug addicts or rock tragedies. They deserved better. The ending in New York was so sad, but I thought, 'What if we write a new ending?'"

Butler planned a documentary that would feature a reunion show, and he met with Kimbrough in early 2003. "If someone is proposing a movie about a band no one's heard of, you'd think he's nuts. So I was pretty wary," Kimbrough admits. "And I told him I wouldn't put the band back together. That would never happen in a million years."

"I was so entrenched in my life with a toddler and a family and graduate school," Belanoff says. "No way was I doing that."

Candice Belanoff '90 and John Kimbrough '90: with original drummer Joey Waronker '92, they formed Walt Mink at Macalester in 1989, naming the band after a favorite psychology professor.

Eventually, though, Butler's persistence paid off. "What made our band good was elusive," Kimbrough says. "I knew that his only shot at showing it was to film us."

"I've got a son now [Eli, almost 4]," Belanoff adds, "and when he's 14 I'll have to convince him I was cool once."

Butler then lobbied Waronker. Though a supporter of the project and tempted by the prospect, the budding producer couldn't commit due to scheduling issues, so Walt Mink's final drummer, Zach Danziger, was enlisted and the line-up was set.

Famous for frenetic gigs, Walt Mink didn't disappoint at its reunion. Three-and-a-half-minute bursts of punk-tinged power-pop bliss showered down upon spectators bouncing to the beat. Kimbrough stalked around stage and attacked his intricate guitar licks, and Belanoff pogoed in place with eyes shut as adoring fans shouted, "I love you Candice!"

"At times it felt like we were bringing it with the old energy," Kimbrough said later. "It was as if no time had passed; it was incredible. The only thing missing was the stage diving."

Well past midnight and after more than 90 minutes of high intensity, the crowd still clamored for more, bringing Kimbrough back for yet another encore. "I'll play one more, but we're fresh out," he said apologetically.

"Lovely Arrhythmia" ended, the band took a final bow and the lights came on. But instead of leaving, fans clustered about and renewed acquaintances. "I underestimated the extent to which it would be a family affair and I didn't know how powerful it would be," said a hoarse Mike Lara '89, who came from Boulder, Colo., to see his pals John and Candice for the first time in 15 years.

Belanoff lives in Boston with her husband, Jason Harmon, and son. A doctoral student in epidemiology at Harvard, she hopes to use her degree to "teach young people and do some research around health disparities, social epidemiology and maternal and child health."

Kimbrough lives in New York with his wife, Rachel Karsen '90, and scores movies and television shows. He earned an Emmy in 2000 for the song "Up to You," which he wrote for a Nickelodeon special, beating out such luminaries as Marvin Hamlisch and Carole King in that award category.