Feature Interview: 100 Monkeys

I had the pleasure of speaking with avant-garde musical group 100 Monkeys before their show at the Marquis Theater in Denver, Colorado on January 13th. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from either the gig or the interview and I ended up having a great time with both. If you get the chance, I encourage you to check this band out. You won’t see the same gig twice.

How would you describe 100 Monkeys to someone who has never heard of you?
Ben G.: We’ve been asking on our website and someone described us as “rockapaloozical,” which I thought was pretty accurate.

What experience would you like people to come away from a 100 Monkeys show with?
Ben G.: An extremely good time. If we can inspire someone to create their own artwork, that’s probably the greatest thing we could ever have someone leave a show with: inspiration.

What is your favorite part of a live performance?
Ben G.: Just being able to interact with fans. We make up a song or a few songs every show. Getting a suggestion from the audience and making something right in front of people like that is one of the best parts because it’s always fresh and always new. It’s always great to play a song that people have been wanting to hear all day long. When you play it, everyone has such a great time. The giant dancing banana is also a perk.

Well, I can’t imagine that not being anybody’s favorite part.
Ben G.: Yeah, it’s not often that you get to dance with a gigantic banana.

No, not every day. What is your favorite part of touring?
Ben G.: All the parts of touring are kind of my favorite parts of life. I like driving, I like playing rock and roll, and I like traveling and seeing new places– it’s kind of a mixture of all those wonderful things. I don’t know if I could pick a favorite.

Is there anywhere in particular that you’re looking forward to seeing?
Ben G.: Well, definitely places we haven’t been. Like Tulsa. None of us had ever been to Tulsa, Oklahoma before. We just had a great time there. I know I’ve been to Denver and Denver’s awesome, so I’m looking forward to going there. All these new cities and new places are what I’m looking forward to the most.

What’s next musically for you guys?
Ben G.: We’re working on a project in February that we’ll be announcing pretty soon. Then we’re starting a tour again in March. We’re all going to head up to the Spencer Bell benefit on April 24th.

Can you tell me a little bit about that?
Ben G.: If you don’t know who Spencer Bell is, you can go to SpencerBellMemorial.com. He’s an artist and musician we lost three years ago, so we do a lot to promote his music. There are benefits where people who made music with Spencer or have just been inspired by his music get together and have a festival, basically. It’s a really wonderful thing. This one in Dallas is the first one outside of his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, so it is going to be particularly special.

What have you been listening to lately?
Ben G.: We’ve been listening to a lot of classics. We’ve been listening to the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, , and a little bit of [Jimi] Hendrix. We’ve been watching lots of the old performances back in the ’70s, the sort of famous, landmark performances, just trying to pull something from those. I guess we’ll see what comes out in the next few records.

What do you like to do in your time off?
Ben G.: We don’t have time off. (laughs)

What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received?
Uncle Larry: Love yourself so you know how to love others.

Do you have a favorite book?
J. Rad: The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay.

What about your favorite film?
Marty: Fight Club.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Ben J.: The Gila Wilderness in New Mexico.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Ben G.: We would definitely like everyone to go get a free copy of “ href=http://www.100monkeysmusic.com/music/keep-awake/>Keep Awake“, which we just recorded in December. There’s a bunch of free music you can download from our website. Definitely go pick that up. It’s sort of a late holiday gift.