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 year91裸聊视频檚 Roots and Blues Festival in Salmon Arm, which runs Aug. 16 to 19.
Known as Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 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 Berry91裸聊视频檚 Johnny Be Good.
That launched a quest to discover more artists 91裸聊视频� 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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91裸聊视频淭here were other Chicago guys and I got into Chicago blues and rock and roll of the 91裸聊视频�50s,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e had an awesome education about the history of music,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚 love learning about obscure artists from the 91裸聊视频�50s and 91裸聊视频�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.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 be going home to try what I saw, teaching myself,91裸聊视频� he says of his ability to play several instruments. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 important to learn them so I get perspective from every seat on the stage.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭ony is king of the castle as far as blues guitar goes,91裸聊视频� says Marriner, who started playing harmonica with him in a weekly gig at Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 legendary home of the blues, The Rainbow Bistro, when he was 13. 91裸聊视频淚t was in the summer of 91裸聊视频�98 and I played about the same three songs every week.91裸聊视频�
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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 D91裸聊视频檚 home in 2008 91裸聊视频� just playing the blues with two guitars and the drums, no bass.
91裸聊视频淭he answer was clear; we got together the following Sunday at Irene91裸聊视频檚,91裸聊视频� Marriner says of the Ottawa pub that also supports musicians. 91裸聊视频淲e sat down, we had no material written as a band. We just started jamming and people started coming, packing out the bar.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频� 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 200991裸聊视频檚 sizzling Tiger In Your Tank.
The band91裸聊视频檚 name was inspired by one of Marriner91裸聊视频檚 idols, delta blues great Son House, who said, 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 talking about the blues, I ain91裸聊视频檛 talking 91裸聊视频檅out no monkeyjunk!91裸聊视频�
Audiences will be blown away by the trio91裸聊视频檚 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 they91裸聊视频檒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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