Since it's Music Month, we thought we'd put the spotlight on the musical projects of Bookmans employees. First up: The Konamis. This four-piece band features Bookmans Mesa's assistant manager T.J. Maiden (vocals, rhythm guitar), former Bookmans employee Dan Bruner (lead guitar), Jack Crawford (bass), and Steve Mooney (drums).

Your five musical influences?
The Pixies, Weezer, the Ramones, the Clash, and the Kinks.

Your five influences other than music?
Over-the-top science fiction, comics, action, geek stuff, and pandemonium.

What's the story behind your name?
Technically Konami is Japanese for "tiny wave" (think tsunami but smaller), but originated in our love of video games. The name has always stuck though the band has undergone many changes. It started out as Dan and I dueling guitars at open mic nights. Then we were a 3-piece surf band, and eventually we settled on sci-fi rock.

What's the best gig you've ever played?
We've played a few venues out live; currently our lead guitarist is teaching English in Japan, so the band is up in the air but I won't say down and out. I have to say the best show we've had was a Halloween show at Bookmans. I was dressed as a dinosaur and Jack was a robot. Halfway through, we staged battle while Dan played fight music. We started out with about 20 people and played a two hour show; by the end we had around 40. It was just really cool to see customers head to the back and actually hang around to watch us play.

Which of your songs best represents you as a band?
Probably "Science Fiction Exhibition (chronicles of the spacebot)" - it's our eight minute sci-fi rock opera.

The Konamis on MySpace
The Konamis web comic