Zookeeper is primarily the indie pop vehicle of Chris Simpson, ex-frontman for the influential, short-lived 1990s emo band Mineral as well as shoegazers the Gloria Record. Other contributors to Zookeeper's expansive sound (replete with horns, tambourines, and honky tonk piano) include an assortment of musicians ranging from his previous bandmates to members of labelmates Sad Accordions. After packing the lineup into an Austin studio to record a set of loose, exuberant songs, Simpson emerged with Zookeeper's debut material -- a self-titled EP, released in November 2006 on Belle City Pop! (operated by Gloria Record drummer Brian Malone), and the full-length Becoming All Things, released one year later. ~ Andrew Leahey & Kenyon Hopkin