Like many bands across the country, Ottawa’s MonkeyJunk has a memorable link with Banff and The Banff Centre.
While working on All Frequencies, the three-piece’s latest release, band members spent some time in a cabin at The Banff Centre and penned most of the songs on the album.
The results of that songwriting flurry of a couple of years ago will be evident when MonkeyJunk plays Wild Bill’s on Monday (April 20) and offers up its swampy soul, dirty blues and rock ‘n’ roll.
“It wasn’t a residency or anything,” said Steve Marriner (vocals, guitar, harmonica). “We had some friends from Ottawa there and we like to hang out there, it’s nice.” Marriner will be joined by Tony D on lead guitar and Matt Sobb on drums.
After forming in 2008, MonkeyJunk has put together three solid albums, travelled much of the world and been nominated for, and won, Junos, Canadian Independent Music Awards, 20 Maple Blues Awards and Blues Music Awards in Memphis.
Having left Ottawa to head west -– “everyone there is all abuzz about the bluesfest lineup and everyone’s airing complaints” – MonkeyJunk opened in Jasper and will tour Alberta and B.C. to May 4, before moving on to the Maritimes.
In Banff, the band will perform from its three albums, All Frequencies (2013), To Behold (2011) and Tiger In Your Tank (2009), as well as test drive some new material. The band’s sound is of the power trio variety on songs like “You Make a Mess” which features driving rhythm, wailing guitar and Marriner’s belt it out vocals, catchy “Je Nah Say Kwah” features harmonica and a foot stompin’ beat and “Once Had Wings” is a somber ode to meeting the end of the road.
A new album, as yet unnamed, is likely to be released in fall.
“We were in Banff a year ago,” said Marriner, “and on this tour, we’re trying out a few new venues. We love playing at Bill’s and it’s great of them to have us on Monday, the hardest day on the planet to book.”
When it comes to songwriting, said Marriner, MonkeyJunk has its own procedure. “It’s pretty collaborative, but we do things different than most guys. We do full arrangements and have all the music done before we get to the lyrics. Once the arrangements are done, we meander around jamming until it sounds like something.
“We’ll be recording again with Stony Plain (Records). They’ve done such a great job for us, we’re comfortable with them and they let us do whatever we want. We’ve heard from others about difficulties with labels that have a power thing, but Holger (Peterson) doesn’t do that.
“When a label believes in you, you believe in the label.”
MonkeyJunk success came quite early after forming in 2008. In 2009, the trio headed to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge, where they captured a third-place spot.
“That was a really great experience,” said Marriner. “It was the first time any of us had been to Memphis and it was like going to the holy land – we ate barbecue, played at the challenge, got ourselves out there and made some connections. Our first European tour was based on that.
“But, regardless of the final result, the experience of playing the Orpheum in Memphis was special; to know you’re on the same stage as Elvis and Johnny Cash were.”
MonkeyJunk works on music full time, with great support from friends, family and the Ottawa music scene.
“We work hard, but we also have good people around us,” said Marriner. “The people of Ottawa are always supporting us. People exchange ideas and musical interests.”
Part of what works for MonkeyJunk is diverse musical backgrounds. “Matt has the widest palette of tastes,” said Marriner, “and the most diverse interests. Tony and I are more narrow minded in our tastes, but we all love the blues, rock ‘n’ roll and soul, New Orleans-style music.
“Tony’s also a deadly flamenco guitar player after 35 years of playing.”
Working hard means a steady schedule for the band, including busy summer of festival performing.
“Last summer we were all over hell’s half acre,” said Marriner. “We were in Dawson, Colorado and Halifax for festivals, in Europe we were in Poland and France and other countries.
“And for this tour, we’ve hired a sound engineer, Glen McIntosh. We toured with Harry Manx together and it’s great to have him with us because we know we can get a good, consistent sound wherever we go. He knows all our little intricacies.”
The band’s name, by the way, comes from a quote by American blues legend Son House, who said, “I’m talkin’ ‘bout the blues now, I ain’t talkin’ about monkey junk.”
