Monkey (band)
Encyclopedia
Monkey is a third wave ska band based in the San Francisco Bay Area
. Their musical influences include the Skatalites, Prince Buster
, the Specials, and non-ska artists such as: Elvis Costello
, David Byrne
and Tito Puente
. Monkey has released four albums, the first two as independent releases, the next two by Asian Man Records
. Their debut album ¡Changito!, was listed as San Jose's Best Independent Release for 1998. They have toured the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe, and have earned several nominations and awards, including the California Music Award (Bammie) in 1999.
The band has gone on, to tour the world and has recorded several albums. Monkey's music can be heard on several compilations, as well as movie and video game soundtracks.
, or Bammy. second self-released album, Station Wagon Living came out during the "crash" of third wave ska. Co-founding member Miller left the band in 2001. Meacham, up until then lead singer and organ player, became the bands lead guitarist. Monkey were signed in 2004, and released their first label supported album, Cruel Tutelage on Asian Man Records. While touring Europe, they met up with Bad Manners
in the U.K.. They returned to the U.S. and toured as their backup band. In 2009, they released Lost at Sea. The album featured Kincaid Smith from Hepcat
on trumpet, and the artwork was supplied by Parker Jacobs of Yo Gabba Gabba fame.
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. Their musical influences include the Skatalites, Prince Buster
Prince Buster
Cecil Bustamente Campbell, O.D. , better known as Prince Buster, and also known by his Muslim name Muhammed Yusef Ali, is a musician from Kingston, Jamaica. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music...
, the Specials, and non-ska artists such as: Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
and Tito Puente
Tito Puente
Tito Puente, , born Ernesto Antonio Puente, was a Latin jazz and Salsa musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" and "The King of Latin Music"...
. Monkey has released four albums, the first two as independent releases, the next two by Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records is a small, DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established May 1996.-Artists:...
. Their debut album ¡Changito!, was listed as San Jose's Best Independent Release for 1998. They have toured the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe, and have earned several nominations and awards, including the California Music Award (Bammie) in 1999.
The band has gone on, to tour the world and has recorded several albums. Monkey's music can be heard on several compilations, as well as movie and video game soundtracks.
History
Monkey was formed in the summer of 1995, by Curtis Meacham and Kevin Miller. In 1997 Monkey's first full length release, ¡Changito!, was released. The lineup of the band changed numerous times after this, with Meacham and Miller remaining. In 1999, they won a Bay Area Music awardBAM (magazine)
BAM , was a free bi-weekly music magazine founded and published by Dennis Erokan in the San Francisco Bay Area starting in January 1976 and continuing on for 23 years until 1999...
, or Bammy. second self-released album, Station Wagon Living came out during the "crash" of third wave ska. Co-founding member Miller left the band in 2001. Meacham, up until then lead singer and organ player, became the bands lead guitarist. Monkey were signed in 2004, and released their first label supported album, Cruel Tutelage on Asian Man Records. While touring Europe, they met up with Bad Manners
Bad Manners
Bad Manners are an English 2 Tone ska band. They quickly became the novelty favourites of the UK pop scene through their bald outsized frontman's on-stage antics, earning early exposure through their Top of The Pops exploits and an appearance in the live film documentary, Dance Craze.They were at...
in the U.K.. They returned to the U.S. and toured as their backup band. In 2009, they released Lost at Sea. The album featured Kincaid Smith from Hepcat
Hepcat
Hepcat is a ska and reggae band formed in southern California in 1989.Their soulful harmonies and mellow rhythms were unlike those of contemporaries and more akin to musicians from the heyday of 1960s Jamaican ska, also referred to as the first wave....
on trumpet, and the artwork was supplied by Parker Jacobs of Yo Gabba Gabba fame.
Current lineup
- Curtis Meacham: Vocals/Guitar
- Micah Turney: Drums
- Dustin James: Trombone/Organ/Vocals
- Dan Root: Saxophone
- Rudy Sermeno: Bass.
Previous members (partial list)
- Aaron Blanding: Trumpet (1995 - 1996)
- Adam Brioza: Guitar/Vocals (1995 - 2001)
- Allen Teboul: Drums (1995 - 1996)
- Bob Furber: Saxophone (1997 - 1998) (R.I.P.)
- Bob Wilms: Saxophone (1999 - 2000)
- Bobby Miller: Saxophone (1998 - 1999)
- Kevin Miller: Bass/Vocals (1995 - 2001)
- Nikki Arias: trombone/flute (1996 - 1997)
- Matt Kolb: Drums (1998 - 1999)
- Jimmy Boom: Drums (1999 - 2001)
Special Guests (Non-Members)
- John Roy of Unsteady appears on Station Wagon Living
- Kincaid Smith of HepcatHepcatHepcat is a ska and reggae band formed in southern California in 1989.Their soulful harmonies and mellow rhythms were unlike those of contemporaries and more akin to musicians from the heyday of 1960s Jamaican ska, also referred to as the first wave....
appears on Lost At Sea - Michael Valladares of Critical MassCritical Mass (Ska)Critical Mass is a ska band, formed in 1992, from the San Francisco Bay Area. The band has played shows with The Skatalites, The Untouchables, and others...
appears on ¡Changito! and Station Wagon Living - Roland Alphonso of The SkatalitesThe SkatalitesThe Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone". They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period...
performs the Tenor Sax solo on "Quemara" on the album "Changito".
Discography
- ¡Changito! (1997) CD, Deluxe Entertainment
- Station Wagon Living (2002) CD, Deluxe Entertainment
- Cruel Tutelage (2005) CD, Asian Man Records
- Lost At Sea (2009) CD, Asian Man Records
Awards and nominations
- 1997 Wammie NominationSF Weekly Music AwardsThe SF Weekly Music Awards are a music award for San Francisco Bay Area performers, issued by the SF Weekly alternative weekly newspaper....
, SF WeeklySF WeeklySF Weekly is a free alternative weekly newspaper in San Francisco, California. The newspaper, distributed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area every Wednesday, is published by Village Voice Media, a 16-paper alt weekly newspaper chain that also includes the New York City Village Voice and the Los... - 1998 Wammie nomination, S.F. Weekly
- 1998 Bammie nomination (Bay Area Music Award)
- 1999 California Music (formerly Bammie) Award Winner for 'Outstanding Ska Artist'