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We at Adventure School are pleased to present Recess Monkey, another one of the superfly bands playing at the 4th of July Party in Cal Anderson. So you all can get to know them better before the 4th, we put together a ‘lil interview with the band. These guys got it goin’ on. For realz!
Do you sing in the shower?
Jack: Every day! Things sound so much better in the shower, particularly really high notes like the BeeGees sang. It drives my cat Fred crazy- he sometimes howls along!
Daron: How can you not? I love to make up songs about what I’m going to do that day. My favorite is the “buying veggies at the Farmer’s Market” song. It’s kind of a funky James Brown ditty.
Drew: Of course! There’s a great song off Sandra Boynton’s CD Blue Moo called “Singin’ in the Shower.” I always sing that and wish I’d written that song.
Who’s your favorite cartoon character on TV today?
Jack: Wall-E. Daron: Yoda from The Clone Wars… He’s the OJ…The Original Jedi! Drew: I’m a little out of the loop…I’d probably have to throw back for the original Optimus Prime.
What’s your favorite thing on the playground?
Jack: I really like watching kids play imaginary games where they turn into horses. It’s hard work to learn how to whinny like a horse, but it’s totally worth it.
Daron: I love the Monkey Bars. As a teacher, it’s so cool to see a kid take on the challenge of the monkey bars as a Kindergartner. Then see that same child as a Second Grader skipping bars like a pro.
Drew: The sport court. When I’m on recess duty I try to chase down some speedy Kindergarten b-ballers. I’m pretty good with the 6-foot hoop!
What’s the best part about being a kid?
Jack: The same thing that’s the best thing about being an adult: LAUGHING! Daron: The best part about being a kid is that you are allowed to be a kid! That’s why I’m in Recess Monkey. I get a second chance to be a kid.
Drew: From the perspective of a teacher and dad, being a kid is so zen! Kids are in the moment, constantly making new discoveries and connections-It’s absolutely beautiful.
What made you guys decide to play kids music?
Jack: We like kids a lot and we liked BEING kids a lot, so it really didn’t take much discussion. Daron: It was a great way to put our two worlds together…teaching and our love of music. Plus, we quickly realized that kids love to rock! It’s a great experience, as a musician, to have the entire crowd bopping along to your music. Drew: We are all so immersed in our work as teachers it seemed like a great way to share our love and passion for music. Best story from a gig?
Jack: Back when we used to play at Ravenna Third Place Books on Saturday mornings, my phone fell out of my pocket directly into a glass of water. I can still hear the “plopping” sound like it was yesterday. Daron: To celebrate the release of our fifth album, Field Trip, we played all over town including a show on a Ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge. We had to stop during one of the songs because they spotted a whale breaching near the boat. Suddenly, everyone left the show to watch the whale. Then we all returned to the sun-deck and continued the song where we had left off!
Drew: We just played Golden Gardens Beach a few nights ago. Because it was un-amplified, we moved between groups of fans picnicking on a gorgeous night! It was magical monkey mariachi!
Any significance behind the name Recess Monkey?
Jack: It’s a pun on “rhesus monkey,” a cute little monkey that lives in India. Plus, we’re teachers, so we spend a lot of time on the playground. Who is your biggest fan?
Jack: My wife, Ellen. She’s usually at our CD table after each show. You should say hi! She’s nice! Daron: Besides my wife, Nami, it would be my gaggle of nephews (four of them) and my adorable niece.
Drew: Mayor Monkey, our hand puppet band manager.
Where would you like to travel most in the world?
Jack: Probably all around the Mediterranean. Such a beautiful part of the world! Daron: I want to go back to Iceland in the winter (I was there in the summer when there was 20 hours of daylight). However, right now, I would like to go to New Zealand.
Drew: Daron says everyone should visit Iceland and I’d really like to. That and Great Britain. I’m a bit of an anglophile.
What musical instrument do you wish you knew how to play?
Jack: Accordion Daron: The Hurdy Gurdy Drew: Piano If you could have any great musician in the history of the world play with your band, who would you choose?
Jack: Not many people know this, but Abraham Lincoln was an exceptional flute player. He’d be my pick. Daron:I’m going with Gandhi! He played a mean concertina in his day.
Drew: Paul McCartney. Hands down.
Do you have a band motto a la ”One for all and all for one?” Drew: Go bananas? What’s better: recess or monkeys?
Jack: Definitely Monkeys! They are so energetic and quite helpful. I would give anything to have one as a pet! (Can I change my pet answer???) Daron: I’m definitely going with the hybrid…recess with a bunch of monkeys. Leave a Reply |
