Ottawa based blues -rock trio MonkeyJunk have tapped into something special.
They won a Juno Award this year for best blues album for their second CD “To Behold” and took home a guitar case full of Maple Blues awards (five this year), bringing their total up to an even dozen. Not bad for a group that started playing together just for fun in 2008.
MonkeyJunk plays the Geomatic Attic, Nov. 7
“We’re three people who have been playing together for years. We started the band because we are all friends who had been playing together in a lot of different bands. We’re all buddies,” said lead vocalist Steve Marriner, who also holds down the bottom end on baritone guitar in the bass-less band, which also included guitarist Tony D and drummer Matt Sobb.
“We‘re not ever going to have a bass player. It's part of what makes us unique. Tony D and I have to work hard to fill out the lower end and show there is a lot more than just blazing guitar solos,” Marriner continued. He is a respected record producer in the Toronto/ Ottawa area, but has been focusing on MonkeyJunk, a name which comes from an off the cuff remark made by blues icon Son House.
They are currently enjoying a very successful tour of Western Canada.
“It’s been going really well, especially in Alberta. We played Sherwood Park on a Sunday night and we played a room that has a capacity of 400 people and we had over 300 people there, and the Blues Can (in Calgary) was pretty close to sold out,” he enthused, over a cell phone from Sicamous en route to Penticton.
The entire year has been going well for them.
“Winning the Juno was especially nice, not that winning the Maple Blues Awards aren't. But it’s a nice validation of all of our work. And we do a lot of work, because there are a lot of sacrifices. We aren’t with our families,” he continued.
“And while there is more to a music career than just winning awards, it is great to be honoured,” he continued.
The band is excited to be retuning to the Geomatic Attic and have changed up the show.
“The first half of the show is acoustic, which is nice for people who have seen us before and it keeps the music fresh for us,” he continued adding they are always looking for ways to keep their music fresh.
“The album has been out for a year and a half and we hope to begin working on music for the new one at the end of the year,” he said.
They took a few days off to hole up at the Banff Centre For The Arts.
While much of their current set is acoustic, he noted it is unlikely the new CD will be acoustic.
“I doubt it will be acoustic. Making electric music, that’s where our hearts are. So it will be pretty hard hitting,” he said adding it won’t be released until next year as it is still gestating.
Some songs have already been written including a new song they played on CKUA last week called “What I’ve Got To Give,” which is starting to take shape.
“We did a demo for it in Washington D.C. For Sirius XM. We recorded it live for the B.B. King’s Bluesville spotlight. So that as a really fun experience.
It was part of many experiences they had touring around the eastern seaboard of the United States this year with Florida band JJ Grey and Mofros.
“Iit was really entertaining and fun. The crowd responded very well. And they have really dedicated fans who know the words to all of their songs. We’ve done supporting tours where it goes with the territory that you won’t get a lot of attention, but they were buying CDs,” he said.
They will be returning to the United States to play Legends Rhythm and Blues Cruise which sails around Fort Lauderdale and sells out quickly. They will be sharing the stage with blues luminaries like Mavis Staples, Elvin Bishop and Taj Mahal.
“There are a lot of heavy hitters there. But it’s going to be pretty laid back and we get to bring our families and have a little bit of a vacation,” he said.
The show will begin at 8 p.m. sharp at the Geomatic Attic, Nov. 7. Tickets cost $30.
