Wednesday 100 Monkeys were let loose on this city and they rocked it from the moment they stepped off the bus. Ok maybe there wasn’t a 100 of them, but with all the instruments this band incorporates you would think there was more than five.
The boys started off their day at Fox News, and one of the local radio stations. At which point they headed to Best Buy for a signing. This is when I met up with the guys, and I was amazed.
When I got to Best Buy I assumed that this was just going to be a signing, I was wrong.
When I entered I saw a small show area. Before the boys did their signing they were gracious enough to do a short set for the crowd that came to see them.
They did four songs and they were great! That was at Best Buy, no hardcore sound system and the guys rocked it. They did the Monkey Switch-a-roo, where they switch instruments, for every single song. The boys were very impressive from their singing voices to their skills on each instruments. Jackson Rathbone’s voice reminded me of Elvis. Ben Graupner had a voice unique on his own, but I loved it.
After their set the boys did an autograph signing for their fans. They also handed out raffle tickets, they gave out three sets of tickets to their show that night and a Fender Guitar! They were so incredible with their fans and gracious to them.
From Best Buy the boys headed to the Egyptian Room, for sound check and all of that. We headed backstage to talk with the boys for a little bit, they were great! We only had about twenty minutes with the guys because they were doing a private meet and greet with some of their local fans.
The boys set was AMAZING! Their stage presence was FANTASTIC! They were one of the most crowd interactive musicians I have ever seen. Whether it was interacting with their fans from the stage or jumping out in the crowd. Their stage presence was felt through the whole room, and the screaming fans were proof of that.
Between sets we got to the chance to hang out with the guys out back, they were some of the most down to earth people I have ever met. The full review of the concert including the awesome openers New Hollow and The Kissing Club will be up soon. After 100 Monkey’s set they were gracious enough to sign more autographs for the audience.
Be sure to look for the review by Monday! For now here is a video of the concert and interview with the 100 Monkey’s including their improv song. “Wednesday!” Which was definitely a highlight of the night.
“Raucous, perpetually instrument-swapping L.A. funk-rock quintet 100 Monkeys previews its new album, Liquid Zoo at a private listening party on the evening of Sunday, June 19, at the Fender Artist Showroom in Burbank, Calif., followed by a live concert. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. PST, Fender will webcast the listening party and the concert in a special streaming event that will also include the debut for the new music video for “Wandering Mind.”
The band custom painted two Fender guitars seen in the “Wandering Mind” video; one of the instruments has been donated to the Fender Music Foundation, a non-profit music education organization. Stay tuned for auction details!”
100 Monkeys – featuring Twilight star Jackson Rathbone – are finally crossing the pond this winter!
After finishing a summer tour in the US and Canada to promote their newest album, Liquid Zoo, which comes out June 28 (distributed by Warrior/Universal), they will be heading eastward to play several show in Europe.
The tour kicks off on November 28 in Sweden and continues into Denmark, working its way through Germany, France, and the Netherlands before touching down in the UK for their first ever shows!
Tickets for 100 Monkey’s UK tour go on sale at 9am on Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
The full UK tour dates are (all December 2011):
12 – Manchester Academy 3
14 – Birmingham Institute, The Temple
15 – London Islington Academy.
100 Monkeys are known States-side for their raucous theatrical live-sets where they switch instruments and vocalists nearly every other song.
This quintet of multi-instrumentalists is comprised of multi-faceted artists, actors, and producers including Jackson Rathbone, Ben Graupner (Trapped in the 5150, Devolved), Jerad Anderson (Wayne/Lauren Film Company), Lawrence Abrams (of the great Willie Bobo, Bob Hope U.S.O. tour, and The Artist Consortium) and Ben Johnson (of the Stevedores and music producer of Spencer Bell’s Brain).
