10285 - MONKEYJUNK - MOON TURN RED (2015)

MONKEYJUNK
''MOON TURN RED
SEPTEMBER 25 2015
42:37

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1 Light It Up (Tony Diteodoro, Ken Friesen, Steve Marriner, Paul Reddick, Matt Sobb) 03:33
2 You (Tony Diteodoro, Steve Marriner, Paul Reddick, Matt Sobb) 03:44
3 Show Me Yours (Tony Diteodoro, Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 04:05
4 Hot Hot Papa (David Wilcox) 04:35
5 Love Attack (Tony Diteodoro, Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 04:28
6 Live Another Day (Tony Diteodoro, Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 04:58
7 Learn How To Love (Tony Diteodoro, Steve Marriner, Paul Reddick, Matt Sobb) 05:02
8 Lucky One (Tony Diteodoro, Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 02:56
9 Travelin' Light (Tony Diteodoro, Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 04:22
10 Meet Me At Midnight (Tony Diteodoro, Ken Friesen, Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 04:50

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Tony D/Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Nick Diak/Vocals (Background)
Ken Friesen/Vocals (Background)
Gordie Johnson/Organ (Hammond)
Kelly Prescott/Vocal Harmony
Steve Marriner/Guitar (Baritone), Harmonica, Keyboards, Vibraphone, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Steve O'Connor/Organ (Hammond)
Kelly Sloan/Vocal Harmony
Matt Sobb/Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
David Wilcox/Guitar, Vocals

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REVIEW/AMG
Timothy Monger
Moon Turn Red, the fourth LP from Juno-winning blues-rockers MonkeyJunk, is a robust, hard-driving set with a pleasingly saturated vintage vibe, courtesy of producer and Blue Rodeo member Colin Cripps. With its unique formula of electric guitar, baritone guitar, and drums (no bass) remaining intact, the band hums along like a well-oiled machine, dishing out heavy grooves that touch on funk, soul, deep swamp blues, and, most prominently, rock & roll. A big part of MonkeyJunk's appeal is how they approach a genre that often relies on tired, played-out tropes. There are plenty of acts offering very standard takes on bluesy rock, but MonkeyJunk pay a lot of attention to their craft both in the studio and on-stage. On Moon Turn Red, they channel the traditions of the American South through the stadium muscle of Led Zeppelin, experimenting with sounds and grooves that go beyond the roadhouse into something weirder and more exciting. Album highlight "Live Another Day" pairs a floor-rattling organ (or possibly deconstructed harmonica) intro with a mighty, lumbering, half-swung groove before blowing the roof off with a nifty bit of hard rock guitar harmony. Similarly, the thumping riff-rocker "You" leaps out of the speakers with enough propulsion to drive a locomotive. More than just a collection of guitar solos and roots themes, their songs are clever and well thought out, with plenty of presence, but still with a keen sense of providing rock's most essential thrills. Now eight years into their career and MonkeyJunk sound more vital than ever.

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OFFICIAL BIO
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.

sarahfrenchpublicity.com

“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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WEBSITE

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TO THE TOP

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8290 - MONKEYJUNK - ALL FREQUENCIES (2013) (REPOST)

MONKEYJUNK
''ALL FREQUENCIES''
2013
42:09

1 /You Make a Mess
MonkeyJunk/3:14
2 /Right From Wrong
MonkeyJunk/3:37
3 /Why Are People Like That?
Bobby Charles/3:59
4 /Je Nah Say Kwah
Matt Chaffey / MonkeyJunk/2:55
5 /Sirens In the Night
Matt Chaffey / MonkeyJunk/3:54
6 /Yearnin' For Yesterday
MonkeyJunk/3:32
7 /Once Had Wings
MonkeyJunk / Paul Reddick/5:19
8 /What I Got To Give
MonkeyJunk/4:21
9 /Say What?
MonkeyJunk / Paul Reddick/4:03
10 /Swank
MonkeyJunk/7:13

ABOUT
By Stony Plain Records
Tony D /Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Steve Marriner /Guitar (Baritone), Harmonica, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals
Matt Sobb /Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background)

THREE “ORDINARY GUYS” MAKE UP AN EXTRAORDINARY BAND AND CREATE A POWERFUL NEW RECORDING.
MEET STONY PLAIN’S MONKEYJUNK, NOW HITTING ON ALL FREQUNCIES…

If you meet Steve Marriner, Tony D or Matt Sobb on the street you’ll be chatting to three ordinary guys — the sort of folk who’ll stand you a beer at a local pub, or give you a cigarette if they have one.

But between them, they make extraordinary music — a tough-assed hybrid of blues, rock and roll and jam-band grooves that doesn’t quit. This is music that makes you wanna dance, but has real substance.

The band’s called MonkeyJunk (one word, folks, with a capital J in the middle). And with the late September release of All Frequencies, their second album for Stony Plain Records, the door is opening for the next stage of what is already a remarkably successful career — the band won no less than five 2014 Maple Blues Awards.

Steve, Tony and Matt are based in Ottawa, probably the least likely place for a band that makes music this tough. Ottawa is not only Canada’s buttoned-up seat of government, but has a rep for being a closed, insular town where there’s not much of a music scene.

Not quite true, the trio will tell you. There is a blues scene, a couple of active clubs, a hard-working blues society and some major festivals. And that all helped the band get started.

A familiar story: A solid music scene and good friends jamming together

And the story, in some ways, is a familiar one. All three musicians were familiar faces on the local scene, in and out of a half a dozen bands between them. Steve had earned his stripes as the best harmonica player in town, and was a passionate, convincing singer; he’s also toured the world with guitar genius Harry Manx and played on countless recording sessions. Tony D was the local go-to guitar slinger and bandleader, released his own solo albums, and had a long collaboration with the late Dutch Mason. And Matt Sobb had played for half a dozen years in a band that Tony had fronted, as well as with just about everyone else who played music in Ottawa … Oh, and they didn’t want a bass player…

That's right, no four-string axes allowed, and they do just fine without 'em, Marriner favoring the lower end of his baritone, straddling the divide. The band specializes in dirty, low-down, irresistible rhythms and beats made all the greasier by Tony D's slide work. – Mark S Tucker, http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame

Over late night drinks after a jam in spring 2008, the three of them realized that, between them they’d been playing blues-influenced music for well over half a century; maybe they should form a trio. Taking their name from an assertion from blues pioneer Son House that he was “talkin’ about the blues; I ain’t talkin’ about monkey junk” they set out to make their first record, an independent release called Tiger in Your Tank.

But before the record was even released, MonkeyJunk hit the road. Playing what they described as a contemporary blend of “swamp R&B, soul boogie and bedroom funk” they criss-crossed Canada — and six months later, the brand new band was nominated for a Maple Blues Award, before the debut record was even released.

A few months later, MonkeyJunk represented their hometown at the International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, competing amongst 100 bands from Poland, Croatia, Norway, Italy, Israel, Sweden, France, Australia, and North America. After the smoke cleared on Beale Street, MonkeyJunk had placed third.

Their music is as true blue as the blues can get: there is simply no way in Heaven or Hell that Son House would have thought them anything but the real deal. — Spider Robinson, science fiction novelist

That sort of initial success has continued. A year later, in Memphis, the first indie release earned “Best New Artist debut” at the annual Blues Music Awards ceremony. Since 2010, closer to home, the band and its individual members have been nominated for nearly 25 Maple Blues Awards — and won a total of 20 them.

Their second album, named To Behold — the first Stony Plain release — upped the ante even further, winning a prestigious Juno Award as Blues Recording of the Year. Not to mention half a dozen Maple Blues Awards nominations, and winning Recording of the Year and Electric Act of the Year honours, while Matt was chosen Drummer of the Year.

Keeping the band’s winning streak moving forward

All Frequencies is likely to keep the band’s winning streak moving forward. Compared to To Behold, released in 2011, the new record offers a wider range of musical influences. There are four songs co-written with other writers (good friends Paul Reddick and Matt Chaffey) and a swamp-laden version of a Bobby Charles tune, “Why Are People Like That?”

Blues? For sure — but the band, over a beer, will tell you there’s much more. There’s some greasy rock and roll and a hot new single — “You Make a Mess.” Add in a lot of uptown folk, a tiny taste of Appalachia, some stunning effects-laden guitar work from Tony D and a jam-band finale (the seven-minute “Swank”).

MonkeyJunk’s new offering shows off a band with a strong sense of identity, and a tough and confident identity it is. (The band) delivers track after track of sinewy, serious blues-rock, highlighted by lead vocals and songwriting that are head and shoulders above the journeyman pack. Likely to muscle their way onto playlists are “You Make a Mess”, “Right from Wrong” and “Je Nah Say Kwah”.

All Frequencies hit the mark at the 2014 Maple Blues Awards when the band picked up five awards (of six nominations) including Entertainer of the Year, Electric Act of the Year, Recording of the Year, Songwriter(s) of the Year and Harmonica Player of the Year for Steve Marriner.

Humbled by the awards, Marriner says the band stopped worrying “whether what we were doing was ‘bluesy’ enough. We know that whenever — and wherever — the band’s playing the people dig it.

“We're growing and we're exploring. Every era of the blues has seen influential artists change the soundscape of the music and explore different musical possibilities.

“It’s our job to try to follow in their footsteps.”

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

8289 - MONKEYJUNK - TO BEHOLD (2011)

MONKEYJUNK
''TO BEHOLD''
JUNE 21 2011
43:24

1 Mother's Crying (Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 04:33
2 You Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave) (Hank Williams) 03:31
3 Right Now (Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 04:08
4 Let Her Down (Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 04:53
5 With These Hands (Steve Marriner) 03:44
6 You Don't Know (Ken Friesen, Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 03:37
7 While You Are Mine (Ken Friesen, Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 06:00
8 Running in the Rain (Ken Friesen, Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 02:41
9 All About You 05:01
10 The Marrinator (Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 05:10

Tracey Brown/Guest Artist, Vocals (Background)
Curtis Chaffey/Guest Artist, Vocals (Background)
Tony D/Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Baritone), Slide Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Kelly Prescott/Guest Artist, Vocals (Background)
The Marrinaires/Guest Artist, Vocal Ad-Libs
Steve Marriner/Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Baritone), Harmonica, Organ (Hammond), Slide Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Wurlitzer
Matt Sobb/Cymbals, Drums, Percussion, Tape Box, Vocals (Background)

REVIEW
by Rick Anderson, AMG
The second album from this unusual blues-rock trio finds the band continuing to explore the borderlands between swamp boogie, funk, R&B, country, Delta blues, and Chicago blues, with consistently fruitful results. Operating without a bass player (vocalist Steve Marriner plays guitar, keyboards, and harmonica, while Tony D plays lead guitar and Matt Sobb plays drums), MonkeyJunk nevertheless generate a dark and thoroughly grounded groove -- or perhaps one should say "grooves." "Right Now" is Texas-style funky blues, heavy on the wah-wah pedal; "Running in the Rain" is full-tilt barrelhouse blues with a strong R&B undertow; "With These Hands" is a lovely example of Muscle Shoals-style soul music, and a song that Dan Penn would have been proud to write; but perhaps best of all is the group's arrangement of the Hank Williams classic "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)," which takes that vintage honky tonker and turns it into a snarling, harp-driven Delta blues workout complete with greasy slide guitar and a vibe that evokes a more heavyweight Tom Waits. Throughout the album it's hard to say whether Marriner's singing or Tony D's stinging lead guitar is the true anchor of MonkeyJunk's sound, but either one would be sufficient. The band is only a few years old, but sounds as if it has been aging and ripening its sound for decades.

ABOUT
By Stony Plain Records
THREE “ORDINARY GUYS” MAKE UP AN EXTRAORDINARY BAND AND CREATE A POWERFUL NEW RECORDING.
MEET STONY PLAIN’S MONKEYJUNK, NOW HITTING ON ALL FREQUNCIES…

If you meet Steve Marriner, Tony D or Matt Sobb on the street you’ll be chatting to three ordinary guys — the sort of folk who’ll stand you a beer at a local pub, or give you a cigarette if they have one.

But between them, they make extraordinary music — a tough-assed hybrid of blues, rock and roll and jam-band grooves that doesn’t quit. This is music that makes you wanna dance, but has real substance.

The band’s called MonkeyJunk (one word, folks, with a capital J in the middle). And with the late September release of All Frequencies, their second album for Stony Plain Records, the door is opening for the next stage of what is already a remarkably successful career — the band won no less than five 2014 Maple Blues Awards.

Steve, Tony and Matt are based in Ottawa, probably the least likely place for a band that makes music this tough. Ottawa is not only Canada’s buttoned-up seat of government, but has a rep for being a closed, insular town where there’s not much of a music scene.

Not quite true, the trio will tell you. There is a blues scene, a couple of active clubs, a hard-working blues society and some major festivals. And that all helped the band get started.

A familiar story: A solid music scene and good friends jamming together

And the story, in some ways, is a familiar one. All three musicians were familiar faces on the local scene, in and out of a half a dozen bands between them. Steve had earned his stripes as the best harmonica player in town, and was a passionate, convincing singer; he’s also toured the world with guitar genius Harry Manx and played on countless recording sessions. Tony D was the local go-to guitar slinger and bandleader, released his own solo albums, and had a long collaboration with the late Dutch Mason. And Matt Sobb had played for half a dozen years in a band that Tony had fronted, as well as with just about everyone else who played music in Ottawa … Oh, and they didn’t want a bass player…

That's right, no four-string axes allowed, and they do just fine without 'em, Marriner favoring the lower end of his baritone, straddling the divide. The band specializes in dirty, low-down, irresistible rhythms and beats made all the greasier by Tony D's slide work. – Mark S Tucker, http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame

Over late night drinks after a jam in spring 2008, the three of them realized that, between them they’d been playing blues-influenced music for well over half a century; maybe they should form a trio. Taking their name from an assertion from blues pioneer Son House that he was “talkin’ about the blues; I ain’t talkin’ about monkey junk” they set out to make their first record, an independent release called Tiger in Your Tank.

But before the record was even released, MonkeyJunk hit the road. Playing what they described as a contemporary blend of “swamp R&B, soul boogie and bedroom funk” they criss-crossed Canada — and six months later, the brand new band was nominated for a Maple Blues Award, before the debut record was even released.

A few months later, MonkeyJunk represented their hometown at the International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, competing amongst 100 bands from Poland, Croatia, Norway, Italy, Israel, Sweden, France, Australia, and North America. After the smoke cleared on Beale Street, MonkeyJunk had placed third.

Their music is as true blue as the blues can get: there is simply no way in Heaven or Hell that Son House would have thought them anything but the real deal. — Spider Robinson, science fiction novelist

That sort of initial success has continued. A year later, in Memphis, the first indie release earned “Best New Artist debut” at the annual Blues Music Awards ceremony. Since 2010, closer to home, the band and its individual members have been nominated for nearly 25 Maple Blues Awards — and won a total of 20 them.

Their second album, named To Behold — the first Stony Plain release — upped the ante even further, winning a prestigious Juno Award as Blues Recording of the Year. Not to mention half a dozen Maple Blues Awards nominations, and winning Recording of the Year and Electric Act of the Year honours, while Matt was chosen Drummer of the Year.

Keeping the band’s winning streak moving forward

All Frequencies is likely to keep the band’s winning streak moving forward. Compared to To Behold, released in 2011, the new record offers a wider range of musical influences. There are four songs co-written with other writers (good friends Paul Reddick and Matt Chaffey) and a swamp-laden version of a Bobby Charles tune, “Why Are People Like That?”

Blues? For sure — but the band, over a beer, will tell you there’s much more. There’s some greasy rock and roll and a hot new single — “You Make a Mess.” Add in a lot of uptown folk, a tiny taste of Appalachia, some stunning effects-laden guitar work from Tony D and a jam-band finale (the seven-minute “Swank”).

MonkeyJunk’s new offering shows off a band with a strong sense of identity, and a tough and confident identity it is. (The band) delivers track after track of sinewy, serious blues-rock, highlighted by lead vocals and songwriting that are head and shoulders above the journeyman pack. Likely to muscle their way onto playlists are “You Make a Mess”, “Right from Wrong” and “Je Nah Say Kwah”.

All Frequencies hit the mark at the 2014 Maple Blues Awards when the band picked up five awards (of six nominations) including Entertainer of the Year, Electric Act of the Year, Recording of the Year, Songwriter(s) of the Year and Harmonica Player of the Year for Steve Marriner.

Humbled by the awards, Marriner says the band stopped worrying “whether what we were doing was ‘bluesy’ enough. We know that whenever — and wherever — the band’s playing the people dig it.

“We're growing and we're exploring. Every era of the blues has seen influential artists change the soundscape of the music and explore different musical possibilities.

“It’s our job to try to follow in their footsteps.”

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

8288 - MONKEYJUNK - TIGER IN YOUR TANK (2009)

MONKEY JUNK
''TIGER IN YOUR TANK''
JULY 9 2009
55:59

1 I Wanna Put A Tiger In Your Tank (Willie Dixon) 3:05
2 Small Time Evil (Tony Diteodoro, Southside Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 3:25
3 Give Me Time (Samuel Maghett) 4:07
4 If You Were Mine (Otis Rush) 3:41
5 When Push Comes To Shove (Southside Steve Marriner) 6:04
6 Beefy (Tony Diteodoro, Southside Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 5:03
7 Pay The Cost (Tony Diteodoro, Southside Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 4:22
8 Boogie Man 5:55
9 Leave The Rest To You (Tony Diteodoro, Southside Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 3:56
10 Blues For Anna (Tony Diteodoro) 3:35
11 Gutsy (Tony Diteodoro, Southside Steve Marriner, Matt Sobb) 5:17
12 Lucky One (Bonus Track) 3:08
13 Pueblo (Bonus Track) 4:14

Tony D/Guitar, Slide Guitar
Tony Diteodoro/Vocals
Southside Steve Marriner/Guitar, Guitar (Baritone), Harmonica, Organ (Hammond), Slide Guitar, Vocals
Matt Sobb/Cymbals, Drums, Maracas, Shaker, Tambourine

ABOUT
By Stony Plain Records
THREE “ORDINARY GUYS” MAKE UP AN EXTRAORDINARY BAND AND CREATE A POWERFUL NEW RECORDING.
MEET STONY PLAIN’S MONKEYJUNK, NOW HITTING ON ALL FREQUNCIES…

If you meet Steve Marriner, Tony D or Matt Sobb on the street you’ll be chatting to three ordinary guys — the sort of folk who’ll stand you a beer at a local pub, or give you a cigarette if they have one.

But between them, they make extraordinary music — a tough-assed hybrid of blues, rock and roll and jam-band grooves that doesn’t quit. This is music that makes you wanna dance, but has real substance.

The band’s called MonkeyJunk (one word, folks, with a capital J in the middle). And with the late September release of All Frequencies, their second album for Stony Plain Records, the door is opening for the next stage of what is already a remarkably successful career — the band won no less than five 2014 Maple Blues Awards.

Steve, Tony and Matt are based in Ottawa, probably the least likely place for a band that makes music this tough. Ottawa is not only Canada’s buttoned-up seat of government, but has a rep for being a closed, insular town where there’s not much of a music scene.

Not quite true, the trio will tell you. There is a blues scene, a couple of active clubs, a hard-working blues society and some major festivals. And that all helped the band get started.

A familiar story: A solid music scene and good friends jamming together

And the story, in some ways, is a familiar one. All three musicians were familiar faces on the local scene, in and out of a half a dozen bands between them. Steve had earned his stripes as the best harmonica player in town, and was a passionate, convincing singer; he’s also toured the world with guitar genius Harry Manx and played on countless recording sessions. Tony D was the local go-to guitar slinger and bandleader, released his own solo albums, and had a long collaboration with the late Dutch Mason. And Matt Sobb had played for half a dozen years in a band that Tony had fronted, as well as with just about everyone else who played music in Ottawa … Oh, and they didn’t want a bass player…

That's right, no four-string axes allowed, and they do just fine without 'em, Marriner favoring the lower end of his baritone, straddling the divide. The band specializes in dirty, low-down, irresistible rhythms and beats made all the greasier by Tony D's slide work. – Mark S Tucker, http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame

Over late night drinks after a jam in spring 2008, the three of them realized that, between them they’d been playing blues-influenced music for well over half a century; maybe they should form a trio. Taking their name from an assertion from blues pioneer Son House that he was “talkin’ about the blues; I ain’t talkin’ about monkey junk” they set out to make their first record, an independent release called Tiger in Your Tank.

But before the record was even released, MonkeyJunk hit the road. Playing what they described as a contemporary blend of “swamp R&B, soul boogie and bedroom funk” they criss-crossed Canada — and six months later, the brand new band was nominated for a Maple Blues Award, before the debut record was even released.

A few months later, MonkeyJunk represented their hometown at the International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, competing amongst 100 bands from Poland, Croatia, Norway, Italy, Israel, Sweden, France, Australia, and North America. After the smoke cleared on Beale Street, MonkeyJunk had placed third.

Their music is as true blue as the blues can get: there is simply no way in Heaven or Hell that Son House would have thought them anything but the real deal. — Spider Robinson, science fiction novelist

That sort of initial success has continued. A year later, in Memphis, the first indie release earned “Best New Artist debut” at the annual Blues Music Awards ceremony. Since 2010, closer to home, the band and its individual members have been nominated for nearly 25 Maple Blues Awards — and won a total of 20 them.

Their second album, named To Behold — the first Stony Plain release — upped the ante even further, winning a prestigious Juno Award as Blues Recording of the Year. Not to mention half a dozen Maple Blues Awards nominations, and winning Recording of the Year and Electric Act of the Year honours, while Matt was chosen Drummer of the Year.

Keeping the band’s winning streak moving forward

All Frequencies is likely to keep the band’s winning streak moving forward. Compared to To Behold, released in 2011, the new record offers a wider range of musical influences. There are four songs co-written with other writers (good friends Paul Reddick and Matt Chaffey) and a swamp-laden version of a Bobby Charles tune, “Why Are People Like That?”

Blues? For sure — but the band, over a beer, will tell you there’s much more. There’s some greasy rock and roll and a hot new single — “You Make a Mess.” Add in a lot of uptown folk, a tiny taste of Appalachia, some stunning effects-laden guitar work from Tony D and a jam-band finale (the seven-minute “Swank”).

MonkeyJunk’s new offering shows off a band with a strong sense of identity, and a tough and confident identity it is. (The band) delivers track after track of sinewy, serious blues-rock, highlighted by lead vocals and songwriting that are head and shoulders above the journeyman pack. Likely to muscle their way onto playlists are “You Make a Mess”, “Right from Wrong” and “Je Nah Say Kwah”.

All Frequencies hit the mark at the 2014 Maple Blues Awards when the band picked up five awards (of six nominations) including Entertainer of the Year, Electric Act of the Year, Recording of the Year, Songwriter(s) of the Year and Harmonica Player of the Year for Steve Marriner.

Humbled by the awards, Marriner says the band stopped worrying “whether what we were doing was ‘bluesy’ enough. We know that whenever — and wherever — the band’s playing the people dig it.

“We're growing and we're exploring. Every era of the blues has seen influential artists change the soundscape of the music and explore different musical possibilities.

“It’s our job to try to follow in their footsteps.”

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

6280 - MONKEYJUNK - All Frequencies (2013)

MONKEYJUNK
''ALL FREQUENCIES''
2013
42:09

1 /You Make a Mess
MonkeyJunk/3:14
2 /Right From Wrong
MonkeyJunk/3:37
3 /Why Are People Like That?
Bobby Charles/3:59
4 /Je Nah Say Kwah
Matt Chaffey / MonkeyJunk/2:55
5 /Sirens In the Night
Matt Chaffey / MonkeyJunk/3:54
6 /Yearnin' For Yesterday
MonkeyJunk/3:32
7 /Once Had Wings
MonkeyJunk / Paul Reddick/5:19
8 /What I Got To Give
MonkeyJunk/4:21
9 /Say What?
MonkeyJunk / Paul Reddick/4:03
10 /Swank
MonkeyJunk/7:13

Tony D /Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Steve Marriner /Guitar (Baritone), Harmonica, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals
Matt Sobb /Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background)

OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
In their short 5 year existence, Ottawa, Canada-based MonkeyJunk has cultivated a unique blend of SWAMP ROOTS ROCK. Their extensive touring has helped to develop a notable fan base across Canada, the US and Europe. They have been rewarded for their hard work with many awards including:

2012 Juno Award winner – Blues Album of the Year
2008-2013 – 15 Maple Blues Awards
2010 Canadian Independent Music Award – Blues Album of the Year
2010 Blues Music Award (USA) – Best New Artist Debut

“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)