Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Hanging with the 100 Monkeys by @PattinsonPost

Hanging with the 100 Monkeys by @PattinsonPost


If you said fans flock to the funk rock band 100 Monkeys to see Twilight star Jackson Rathbone, you wouldn’t be wrong. And if you said that once you see the band in concert, you become a fan of the entire band; all five guys; you also wouldn’t be wrong. The 100 Monkeys, as a whole, rock.


The band is composed of Jackson Rathbone (“The Last Airbender” and the “Twilight” saga), Ben Graupner (“Trapped in 5150”, “Devolved”, “Intent”), Jerad Anderson (Wayne/Lauren Film Company), Uncle Larry (Willie Bobo, Bob Hope U.S.O. Tour and The Artist Consortium) and Ben Johnson (The Stevedors and music producer of Spencer Bell’s album “Brain”).

Their music has been called “funk-rock” and “a mix of Iggy Pop and the Raconteurs”, but they are hesitant to put a label on it. “We all come from different upbringings and influences and we all bring it together for it.  I can’t really put a description on it, which is cool, because it’s the 100 Monkeys thing” says Jerad Anderson.


In concert, they switch instruments and swap performing lead vocals, almost every song; doing what they call the “monkey switcheroo”. This night in Boston, Jackson sings a song during the sound-check that Ben G. performs during the concert. It’s something that makes them unique and which has been part of what makes their live shows so unpredictable. Jackson Rathbone says “I think it just comes from jamming in the living room, jamming around the campfire, passing the instruments around, sharing songs with each other; and over time it has taken shape into a band.”


The nature of their shows is very loose and highly improv’d. In fact, they do an improv song every night.  Ben Graupner explains the process, “The audience comes up with the song titles.  Jared goes out and tries to find the best song titles idea that is being shouted at him.  Now they’ll throw pieces of paper at him or hold up signs.  Usually Jackson makes up the lyrics, so Jared decides how easy or hard he’s going to make it on any given night and we just kind of start jamming and see what happens.  Depending on who’s playing what instrument, different things happen.”  The improv song of the night from Boston was “Birthday Suit”, which you can watch video of HERE.


Two of the Monkeys are on social media.  Jerad Anderson is on Twitter and Jackson Rathbone is on Twitter and Facebook.  Rathbone says it was actually the fans that convinced him to get on social media.  “There were so many fake me’s out there that I decided it would be nicer to the actual fans if I did it.  It was for my fan base and I didn’t want them to be deceived anymore, so I figured I should step up and be part of it.”  It turns out that Jerad is the social media monkey junkie of the group.  “He’s teaching me how to use that internet,” jokes Rathbone.  “It’s about having direct contact with your fans.  It’s part of evolution.  Humans want to communicate and it allows you to connect with your fans easier and on a bigger scale.” says Jerad.


The 100 Monkeys are on Twitter and Facebook and have used social media to interact with their fans and help get the word out about their music since the beginning.  In the past, they’ve asked fans on their blog to give them venue recommendations. The response was overwhelming. Fans took it to themselves to call the venue and demand they host the 100 Monkeys. “After about a week, the venue would say Yes, you can play here, just get your fans to stop calling us!’” said Rathbone with a smile. They have posted pictures and videos throughout their current 100 city tour and used Twitter to let their fans know about tour dates and locations and special events.


The Monkeys are involved in other projects as well.  Jackson recently produced the debut record for Bleeding Horse Express, one of their opening acts on the tour under his Happy Jack Music label.  He also co-starred in the movie “Girlfriend” (See the trailer HERE).  Jared produced it and the Monkeys played the soundtrack for it.  They have been promoting the movie while on tour and actually had some of the actors involved with the film on hand at the Boston show.  “Girlfriend” was mostly shot just outside of Boston and had its premiere in New York City on July 15th. They hope to open in more theaters soon, but are playing it by ear.


It helps that three of the five members are actors.  “It becomes a very theatrical mindset.  It’s fun.  We dance around a lot on the stage.  We have fun with our audience as opposed to just playing to them.  It’s a fun vibe, it’s a good time” says Rathbone.  The Boston show this night is packed with a wide range of fans, from young men and women all the way up to adults and even a few grandparents. The energy level is high and the crowd sings along with the familiar songs and at the end of the night, the 100 Monkeys sign autographs for a line of fans that stretches from the pool tables in back to the chairs by the front windows of the Brighton Music Hall.

And so it goes, the fans are smitten with The 100 Monkeys…all of the Monkeys.

Credit => Pattinson Post

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