04/10/12
Hello MonkeyJunkies,
We are extremely honoured to announce (if you haven’t heard already)
that we have received the 2012 JUNO AWARD for Best Blues Album!!
(Canada’s equivalent to the Grammy Awards) The whole JUNO weekend was
an amazing experience – from Matt & Steve playing in the Juno Cup to
our JUNOFEST gig to winning the award and performing at the Juno Awards
Gala to co-presenting the Artist Of The Year JUNO with Sam Roberts to
Feist; to hanging out with the likes of Blue Rodeo and Ron McLean at the
Warner Music after party! Phew!!!
BLOGCRITICS.COM | MUSIC
Who needs a bass? Not Ottawa’s MonkeyJunk, who
take a somewhat atypical approach to the standard trio format.
Substituting baritone guitar for the typical bottom-hugging bass, they
deliver blistering boogies and blue-eyed soul on a thoroughly
satisfying debut collection.
MonkeyJunk are Tony D on guitars, percussionist Matt Sobb, and Steve
Marriner on vocals, harmonica (the instrument on which the then-teenage
prodigy first made his mark), keys including Hammond and Wurlitzer,
and guitar – acoustic and baritone.
Given he’s up front, much rests on Marriner. His vocals on past
outings have been a bit thin, but here he acquits himself admirably,
with a gritty, soulful, and thoroughly compelling delivery that’s
equally effective on rockers and ballads.
There’s only one cover on To Behold, a nice, bluesy romp
through Hank Williams’ “You’re Gonna Change (Or I’m Gonna Leave),” while
the band takes collective credit for most of the remaining tracks.
Original material ranges from the topical and menacing “Mother’s Crying”
that kicks things of, to the surprisingly tender and emotionally
honest “Let Her Down,” a subdued minor-key masterpiece. The funky
“Right Now” wears out its welcome after a few listens, but most of the
tunes hold up well, from the bright and bouncy shuffle of “Running In
The Rain” to the moody, made-for-a-rainy-day “While You Are Mine.”
Diteodoro takes sole credit for “All About You,” a tender and
touching love song, while Marriner is responsible for the blue-eyed soul
of “With These Hands,” both fine compositions indeed. The party comes
to a close with “The Marrinator,” an apt title for an instrumental
showcase that gives Marriner a chance to stretch out with some hardcore
harmonica, both acoustic on the intro and amplified once the band kicks
into high gear. He’s an absolute monster on the lickin’ stick, though
Diteodoro and Sobb are no slouches, either – there’s not a weak
performance to be found here.
They may have started out casually, old friends putting a band
together for low-key gigs, but MonkeyJunk’s musical chemistry can’t be
denied. They’ve won numerous awards, including a third-place finish in
the International Blues Challenge and a 2010 Blues Music Award for best
new artist – this despite a combined total of some 60 years of
performing experience. This is a band with enormous talent, dazzling
versatility, and unlimited potential. Check ‘em out!