Other Reviews and Info

MonkeyJunk's debut “TIGER IN YOUR TANK” has been released in Spring 2009 and the rest of 2009 will see the band touring coast to coast in Canada - appearing at your favorite juke joints, divebars, theatres and festival stages.

Review By Lynn Saxberg

MonkeyJunk's first album kicks off with the mumbled words of Son House: "I'm talkin' about the blues," growls the veteran bluesman, "I ain't talkin' about MonkeyJunk."

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Steve Marriner, guitarist Tony Diteodoro and drummer Matt Sobb set out to figure out what he was talking about. The noted Ottawa musicians formed MonkeyJunk a year ago, and have a musical definition that's soulful, swampy and steeped in the blues.

Taking another cue from their blues elders, they created the band without a bass player, sticking with that configuration for their first foray into the studio.

The album, Tiger In Your Tank, is terrific, laying out a range of influences, styles and personal observations in one juicy slab of stripped-back blues. Between Marriner's baritone-guitar work, Sobb's precision and Diteodoro's exploration of the rhythmic possibilities of six strings, you hardly notice the lack of bass. The vibe is unplugged, but there's definitely a backbone.

The song selection features well-chosen covers placed alongside MonkeyJunk originals. Your heart will melt when you hear Marriner singing Magic Sam's Give Me Time, while Diteodoro's dirty guitar on Leon Russell's Boogie Man is hypnotizing.

As for the originals, listen for the voodoo riffing that drives Small Time Evil, the dazzling Hammond organ and guitar work on Push Comes to Shove, and Diteodoro's evocative fretmanship on Blues for Anna. All three musicians are monstrously talented, as well as old friends, and Tiger In Your Tank does a great job of capturing the chemistry between them.

Tracklist

1. I Wanna Put a Tiger in Your Tank 3:08
2. Small Time Evil 3:27
3. Give Me Time 4:08 
4. If You Were Mine 3:45 
5. When Push Comes to Shove 6:07 
6. Beefy 5:06 
7. Pay the Cost 4:27 
8. Boogie Man 5:57 
9. Leave the Rest to You 4:02 
10. Blues for Anna 3:40 
11. Gutsy 5:21

About MonkeyJunk

Legendary delta bluesman Son House spoke about a passion for his music and was quoted as saying "I'm talkin’ 'bout the blues. . . I ain't talkin' 'bout monkey junk!" 

MonkeyJunk is a band that draws heavily on the legends of the blues and translates that influence into a contemporary blend of swamp R&B, soul boogie and bedroom funk. This triple threat trio comprised of Steve Marriner, Tony D and Matt Sobb draws on over 56 years of combined experience playing blues live and in studio . . . and it shows. 

In the fall of 2008, MonkeyJunk was nominated for a Maple Blues Award for best new artist - a rare feat only having been in existence for 6 months and not having released a record yet . . . In February 2009, MonkeyJunk represented Ottawa, Canada at The International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, TN competing amongst 100 bands from Poland, Croatia, Norway, Italy, Israel, Sweden, France, Australia and North America. After the smoke cleared on Beale St., MonkeyJunk had placed third overall! 

STEVE MARRINER is widely recognized as one of Canada’s premier harp players. Steve has toured and performed at prestigious festivals, concert halls and clubs internationally with acoustic bluesman Harry Manx and guitar goddess Sue Foley. He’s appeared on a number of other artists’ recordings including Harry Manx, JW Jones Blues Band, and Steve Dawson. The 24-year-old’s debut album Going Up (released March 13, 2007) showcases his range of talents with well-crafted original songs, strong vocals, dynamic harp and kickin’ grooves. Enthralled with the harmonica at an early age, Steve studied the great Chicago harp players while immersing himself in the music of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Lazy Lester and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. At age 14, he won the Ottawa Blues Harp Blow-Off and a spot on stage at the Ottawa Cisco Blues Festival that summer, and they’ve invited him to play every year since. In January 2009 Steve won the best harmonica player award at the Maple Blues Awards held at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto. 

TONY D is a mainstay on the Canadian blues scene whose eponymous band has been playing for over two decades. Recording, playing live and touring internationally have given rise to a widely-known reputation for a guitar player/singer/songwriter with the goods to deliver. Some highlights include 9 European tours; playing festivals on both sides of the Atlantic to crowds of over 20,000 people; entertaining Canadian Forces troops in the Middle East, Bosnia and Alert; releasing 6 CDs to critical acclaim and giving back to the community through his involvement in Blues In The Schools, as well as various local and international charities including the Ottawa Cancer Foundation and international relief agencies. 

MATT SOBB is a busy Ottawa-based freelance drummer whose focus had shifted to MonkeyJunk. His freelancing has allowed him to play live and in studio with many renowned artists such as Jeff Healey, Johnnie Johnson (Chuck Berry), Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds), Colin Linden, Richard Bell (The Band, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt), Tom Wilson (Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Junkhouse), Lee Oskar (War), Juno Award winner The Mighty Popo, David Gogo, Shaun Verrrault (Widemouth Mason) and many more . . . his experience and love of all roots music is evident here as he drives the groove with efficiency and style. Matt proudly endorses LOS CABOS drumsticks!

MonkeyJunk - Tiger In Your Tank

MonkeyJunk performs the title track single from their Debut Album "Tiger In Your Tank."
Recorded in St. John's, Newfoundland in September 2008 for TV show "Out Of The Fog."

http://www.myspace.com/monkeyjunkottawa