MonkeyJunk

History

The band was formed in Ottawa, Canada, in 2008. Band members are Steve Marriner on vocals, baritone guitar, harmonica, Hammond organ; Tony D. (Tony Diteodoro) on lead guitar; and Matt Sobb on drums and percussion. Marriner had been playing a weekly solo show at Irene's Pub in Ottawa, frequently inviting guests to join him. An occasionally recurring guest was Tony D and he once asked Sobb to join too but never together. Marriner and D struck up the idea to try a 3 piece (2 guitars, drums and no bass) and since Sobb had been playing with Tony D. for approximately eight years, and before that time with Marriner in another project, he was called to start this new project on the last Sunday of March 2008. The band members are from different age cohorts, with Tony D. and Sobb being respectively twenty-two and twelve years older than Marriner (born 1984).

The band formation does not include a bass player. Such a formation is found in a number of notable classic blues bands, such as Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers. The band's name comes from an interview with Son House, who described the blues as being about love, stating "I'm talking about the blues. I ain't talkin' 'bout no monkey junk".

MonkeyJunk has been a frequent winner at the Maple Blues Awards, and the band's album To Behold won the 2012 Juno Award for Blues Album of the Year.

The band maintains a busy touring schedule, touring across Canada, into the United States and across Europe as well.

Maple Blues Awards

Canadian Independent Music Awards

Juno Awards

Blues Music Awards

Discography