The soundtrack for my great run tonight, which I will write about later if my brain doesn’t want to rest more than write, was the new album All Frequencies from Ottawa’s MoneyJunk. MoneyJunk?? Did I hear you say, “What’s that mean??” If you did here’s the answer, if you didn’t ask skip the following…
The name MonkeyJunk comes from Son House, who once said ‘I’m talking about the blues, I ain’t talking ’bout no monkeyjunk.’ But I am going to talk about MonkeyJunk – they are brilliant and have produced one of the best albums I have heard in a long time…; Ten tracks that prove that this Canadian band is here to stay. And as Son House would have said if he had seen these boys: ‘I’m talking ’bout the blues, I’m talking about MonkeyJunk!’” – Bob Boncey, Blues Matters (UK)
MonkeyJunk, the 5-year-old Ottawa based blues band, with their own blend of Swamp Roots Rock. The band is a powerful trio composed of: Tony D on guitar, slide guitar and vocals, Steve Marriner provides the vocals, great harmonica, guitar, baritone guitar, and Hammond organ while Matt Sobb keeps the beat going with drums, cymbals,various percussion and vocals. They have tirelessly toured across Canada, the US and Europe gaining fans that they affectionately call MonkeyJunkies!! All that hard work has been rewarded with a boatload of awards that includes:
- 2012 Juno Award winner – Blues Album of the Year
- 2008-2013 – 15 Maple Blues Awards
- 2010 Canadian Independent Music Award – Blues Album of the Year
- 2010 Blues Music Award (USA) – Best New Artist Debut
At this year’s Maple Blues Awards in Toronto. MonkeyJunk received nominations for five awards, They won three of them! Steve was chosen Harmonica Player of the Year, Matt – Drummer of the Year! And those MonkeyJunkies chose MonkeyJunk as Electric Act of the Year! These awards bring the total number of Maple Blues Awards the band has won in their five years of existence to the 15 Awards listed above– wow!! All Frequencies is just as outstanding as all the other albums, so I’m sure they will be raking up more and more awards in the near future!! And David Wilcox stole some words right out of my mouth!! “MonkeyJunk are keeping the spirits of Muddy Waters and the other roots giants alive with their own unique brand of music. Check it out – you won’t be disappointed.” – David Wilcox Here’s the band performing “Pay The Cost” from their album Tiger In Your Tank. Can you see now, why Steve won the Harmonica Player of the Year Award??
