Barb Brouwer/Salmon Arm Observer
Steve Marriner and MonkeyJunk are on a roll.
The band scored their second Juno, this time with the 2018 Best Blues Album.
Named after the album, their current cross-Canada Time to Roll tour is stopping at this yearsa国际传媒檚 Roots and Blues Festival in Salmon Arm, which runs Aug. 16 to 19.
Known as Ottawasa国际传媒檚 ace swamp roots-rockers, MonkeyJunk is an accomplished trio comprised of Marriner on vocals, harmonica and baritone guitar, Tony D. (Tony Diteodoro) on lead guitar and Matt Sobb on drums and percussion.
A huge movie fan when he was young, Marriner says he was inspired by Back to the Future and a scene in which Michael Fox played Chuck Berrysa国际传媒檚 Johnny Be Good.
That launched a quest to discover more artists sa国际传媒� intensive and extensive research during which he came across Little Walter Jacobs, whom he calls the archetype of electrified blues harmonica.
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sa国际传媒淭here were other Chicago guys and I got into Chicago blues and rock and roll of the sa国际传媒�50s,sa国际传媒� he says, noting he discovered that while blues are regionally similar, there are fascinating geographical differences and different sounds, depending on where they are played and who plays with whom.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e had an awesome education about the history of music,sa国际传媒� he says. sa国际传媒淚 love learning about obscure artists from the sa国际传媒�50s and sa国际传媒�60s; Marriner started playing the harmonica when he was 11 and as his interest in music grew, he tried piano and guitar. His first gig was with a piano player who excelled in Chicago blues and boogie woogie.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檇 be going home to try what I saw, teaching myself,sa国际传媒� he says of his ability to play several instruments. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 important to learn them so I get perspective from every seat on the stage.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淭ony is king of the castle as far as blues guitar goes,sa国际传媒� says Marriner, who started playing harmonica with him in a weekly gig at Ottawasa国际传媒檚 legendary home of the blues, The Rainbow Bistro, when he was 13. sa国际传媒淚t was in the summer of sa国际传媒�98 and I played about the same three songs every week.sa国际传媒�
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Marriner stayed friends with Tony D, who had been playing with Sobb since 2001, hiring each other for a variety of gigs over ensuing years.
Bored with what they were doing, the three musicians were jamming together at Tony Dsa国际传媒檚 home in 2008 sa国际传媒� just playing the blues with two guitars and the drums, no bass.
sa国际传媒淭he answer was clear; we got together the following Sunday at Irenesa国际传媒檚,sa国际传媒� Marriner says of the Ottawa pub that also supports musicians. sa国际传媒淲e sat down, we had no material written as a band. We just started jamming and people started coming, packing out the bar.sa国际传媒�
Marriner says the musicians had no plan or agenda other than getting together on a Sunday night and spending time together making music.
But the fans pushed their own agenda sa国际传媒� to listen to MonkeyJunk play.
Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, the band has played in several countries, touring Europe, the U.S. and every corner of Canada.
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Between them, this trio of musical veterans have boosted luminaries from Fabulous Thunderbird Kim Wilson to Buddy Guy, the late Jeff Healey to the lamented Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Mariner has toured with Colin James and will perform with him in his MainStage performance at Roots and Blues.
As well as a pair of Juno Award wins, MonkeyJunk has also scored 21 Maple Blues Awards, two Canadian Independent Music Awards, and a Blues Music Award (USA) for Best New Artist, for 2009sa国际传媒檚 sizzling Tiger In Your Tank.
The bandsa国际传媒檚 name was inspired by one of Marrinersa国际传媒檚 idols, delta blues great Son House, who said, sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 talking about the blues, I ainsa国际传媒檛 talking sa国际传媒檅out no monkeyjunk!sa国际传媒�
Audiences will be blown away by the triosa国际传媒檚 blistering mix of soul, grit, humour and harmony.
Catch MonkeyJunk at 10:45 Saturday night as they blow the lid off the Barn Stage, and in a workshop appropriately called Bombs Away, when theysa国际传媒檒l share the stage with Colin James, Big Dave McLean and Rick Vito at 4:10 Sunday afternoon at the Blues Stage.
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