An Exclusive interview with Monkey Junk
An Exclusive interview with Monkey Junk!! by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud
The 2008 birth of the Ottawa-based band MonkeyJunk came along just when music fans needed them the most. They brought an accessible and refreshing blend of swamp-rock roots and blues to the table and haven’t looked back. In the relatively short time they’ve been performing and recording together, the members of MonkeyJunk have won a collective 20 Maple Blues Awards, two Canadian Independent Music Awards, a Blues Music Award (USA), and have been nominated twice for a JUNO Award, taking home the coveted hardware in 2012.
Straight out of the gate, MonkeyJunk quickly became one of the most popular new bands on the scene, performing at festivals and packed venues across the country, amassing a large audience of devoted fans, affectionately called “MonkeyJunkies”. In fact, they hit the road for a tour before their debut album Tiger In Your Tank was even released. They are not a fluke, one-off collective or “ordinary Joes” who decided to start a band. These are three musicians who individually had established careers prior to forming MonkeyJunk. Steve Marriner, the trio’s vocalist, baritone guitarist, harmonica and organ player, was well known as the ‘go-to’ guy as a producer, sideman and session player. He’s also toured the world performing alongside Harry Manx. Steve is also the consummate musical networker and stage guest having been invited to join many artists in concert such as Randy Bachman, Colin James and Big Sugar. At the age of nineteen, lead guitarist Tony D performed for three nights in Buddy Guy’s band. In 1982, he opened for Stevie Ray Vaughn. These events helped propel him into a long-standing career with his own popular project, The Tony D Band. He has also toured with some of this country’s greatest musicians, including the late Dutch Mason. Before MonkeyJunk, drummer and percussionist Matt Sobb was a very busy session drummer around Ottawa and has backed up several regional, national and international artists live on stage, touring and in studio over the last 24 years such as Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Jeff Healey and Tom Wilson (Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Junkhouse, Lee Harvey Osmond), The Tony D Band, his brother’s band Marty Sobb and The Mobb among many others.
As one of Canada’s heaviest bands since Big Sugar, their music is passionate and edgy with unfettered delivery. MonkeyJunk’s fourth release for Stony Plain Records, Moon Turn Red, is sure to further cement the band’s popularity. “With each record we make, we feel like we’re pushing more boundaries. Moon Turn Red is no different. I really think some of the songs on this album are some of the best we’ve written”, says Marriner. “We explored grooves we’ve never hit on before, and experimented with some new sounds while paying particular attention to the melodic passages of the songs.” With ten scorching tracks varying from straight-up rockers like “Light it Up”, “You”, “Hot Hot Papa”, “Live Another Day”, “Lucky One”, and “Travelin’ Light”, the reggae-tinged “Love Attack”, the funky “Show Me Yours”, to the soulful, goose bump inducing love songs “Learn How to Love” and “Meet Me at Midnight”.
Moon Turn Red also features a guest appearance from legendary Canadian guitarist David Wilcox, who plays guitar and sings on MonkeyJunk’s cover of his classic “Hot Hot Papa”. Also, the track was produced by Colin Cripps of Blue Rodeo. “It was a real thrill for all of us to work with David Wilcox as he is someone we have been a fan of for many years – one of our musical heros”, says Sobb. “We listened to his music growing up, have covered his songs in previous bands and still listen to his records in our van while on tour.” He was very generous with his time and talents and it was truly an honour that he was so gracious and genuinely invested in making the track sound great with us. It was great to have Colin on board to produce that song too – his musical sensibility and keen ears really harnessed the best out of all of us!” Another coup for the band was having Gordie Johnson (of Big Sugar and Grady fame) lend his talents to the recording. As Marriner states, “He possesses an acute sensibility for melody and groove, a champion of ‘riff-rock’, while his role on our record is more supportive than feature, he brought all sorts of vibe to the session that I believe we effectively captured on tape that day.” Tony D adds, “Gordie and I both come out of the blues. We’ve known each other for over twenty five years. It was serendipitous that he happened to be touring in the vicinity of the studio in Almonte, ON and after all these years we finally got a chance to work together!”
Moon Turn Red is not only an outstanding addition to an already impressive body of work and a turning point for MonkeyJunk, it is an example of musical camaraderie and brotherhood; the trio of long-time friends and colleagues just seem to click in a way that is at once natural and otherworldly. Their passion, conviction and dedication to their music is evident with every lick, every beat and every lyric. MonkeyJunk is a reminder to listeners that musicianship, ability and strong song writing always triumph.
“The name MonkeyJunk comes from Son House, who once said ‘I’m talking about the blues, I ain’t talking ’bout no monkeyjunk.’ But I am going to talk about MonkeyJunk – they are brilliant and have produced one of the best albums I have heard in a long time…; Ten tracks that prove that this Canadian band is here to stay. And as Son House would have said if he had seen these boys: ‘I’m talking ’bout the blues, I’m talking about MonkeyJunk!’” – Bob Boncey, Blues Matters (UK)
“The Sultans of Swamp R&B” – William Shatner
“MonkeyJunk are keeping the spirits of Muddy Waters and the other roots giants alive with their own unique brand of music. Check it out – you won’t be disappointed.” – David Wilcox
“Loved your CD, some really cool tunes – It is one I find myself listening to over and over again” – Ritchie Hayward, Little Feat
“Blues, raw and different.” – Star Trek captain/Canadian actor/musician Bruce Greenwood
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