Trinket's big bang theory

How many bands get the chance to totally redo their major-label debut and re-release it a year later? "It's unusual," agrees Brian Youmans, singer for Trinket, "but RCA really believes in us. It's almost like we had a rough draft out for six weeks and then we pulled it off the shelf. That doesn't happen very often in this business; it usually just drifts off into obscurity."

RCA had other plans for the Athens and Atlanta-based band Trinket. Their self-titled, major-label debut came out last year but performed poorly. The company gave the band the unique luxury of re-tooling, remixing and, in some cases, re-recording the project, now titled Set To Explode, with the catchy new single "Boom" included for added impact.

"People have just taken to it and programmers have gotten a good response from listeners who just liked the song 'Boom,'" says Youmans, who notes that having the added strength of RCA's promotions department has helped stations in Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles add the song. Trinket hopes those cities will become major "Boom"-towns when the band's headlining tour of clubs begins next month.

Currently opening for Duran Duran on select dates, Youmans says the band — which also includes J. Christopher Arrison on guitar and drummer Derry De Lamar — meet new pockets of fans in every new area they visit. "You know, they're the big fashion band with the famous videos and all," laughs the flamboyant front man and snappy dresser. "The other night, people were coming up and saying we should be dressing them."

Trinket plays the Cotton Club, Sat., August 5.