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ROCKNATION ISSUE 18 PAGE 15
soop’s newest addition, bassist San- Rocknation: In March of this year, you eral awesome Arizona-based bands.
ford Rogers, Monkeysoop’s recording toured in Arizona and California, and in Rocknation: What other events are lined
engineer Joel Vasquez on keys, and April, opened for legendary surf up for 2012?
two of Monkeysoop’s guitar students, guitarist Dick Dale and Swedish rockers Monkeysoop: Monkeysoop will be
Michael Gentz and Matthew Oubre, Sabaton. Please tell us all about the tour returning to Houston for the first time in
contributing solos on “Mysteries of the and those shows. years on August 18th, to play with other
Interview with MONKEYSOOP Universe.” Additionally, our own version Monkeysoop: In mid March, Monkey- Texas-based bands at the Mink. We have
other shows in the works, hopefully in-
soop hit I 10 West and played three
of Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round
by Tom Mathers (Like a Record)”, recorded in 2009 with dates in California and two in Arizona. cluding more out-of-state adventures in
Craig McIntyre (bass) and Oscar Laun The highlights of the tour were sharing the late summer and fall. Meanwhile, the
Rocknation: Welcome to Rocknation (drums), was released as a bonus track the stage with The Radioactive Chicken recording studio is calling quite loudly.
and congrats on your new release, on this latest CD. Heads, Rhythm Coffin, and perform- We have an acoustic CD in the works
“EXPERIMETAL II”, on Sonic Wave Rocknation: You have two exciting spe- ing with Dukey Flyswatter of Haunted as well as a comedy, vocal-infused CD,
International. Please tell us a little about cial guests appearing on this release, Garage at the CIAA in N. Hollywood, based on a project we started in back
this new album. Michael Angelo Batio and Terry Bozzio. then opening for Michael Schenker with in 2010. Jerry Connor is also writing a
Monkeysoop: Thank you, Tom, it’s great Please tell us how that came about and Robin McAuley in Tempe, Arizona. In short film using a medley of Monkey-
to be interviewed by you once again. what songs they play on. April, we were fortunate enough to open soop tunes and ramping up custom
Schizophrenic guitar frenzy over a solid Monkeysoop: We have always been big for two great acts two weeks in a row. guitar production with his new com-
backing rhythm, each song articulating fans of these musical heavyweights we On the 8th, we opened for Dick Dale in pany, Hellgrimm Guitars. Monkeysoop
multiple time signatures and tempos, wanted to take this new album further Helotes, Texas, and his stage presence will also be recording EXPERIMETAL III
EXPERIMETAL II is an expansion of in- than our previous efforts. By asking and overall charisma was astounding. in the near future . . . stay tuned for this
strumental exploration, inspired by our them to perform on our CD, we were April 15th was the Sabaton show in San and other Soop surprises!
2010 release, simply hopeful that they’d be intrigued. Antonio, the first on their 2012 North Rocknation: Thank you for this
EXPERIMETAL. Jerry Connor (our Knowing how choosy they are about American Tour. What can we say? interview, any last words to the fans?
guitarist) wrote the songs so that the the projects on which they appear, we Sabaton rocks - period. If you’ve never Monkeysoop: Thank you, Tom, for
two albums would flow nicely together were thrilled to hear that they were both seen them live, fix that as soon as having us. And thank you to all of our
and create a storyline to engage the interested in doing session work on possible. fans, for taking a chance and listening
listeners’ imagination. Our goal is to our album. All of their recording was Rocknation: You are touring in Arizona to our music. Here’s to a rockin’ second
stretch the boundaries of musical pos- done at their preferred studios and sent again in July. Have you booked any half of 2012!
sibilities within a mostly progressive/ to us through the internet. We emailed shows with other name artist or are For more info: www.monkeysoop.com
metal/hard rock vehicle. EXPERIMETAL them our parts on the songs and then you headlining after the successful last www.myspace.com/monkeysoop
II also features the work of Monkey- turned them loose. Michael Angelo’s shows?
solo on “Power Exalted” was Monkeysoop:
amazing - to hear his play- We are returning
ing on one of our songs was to Club Red in
truly mind-blowing. Terry Tempe, where
Bozzio had the arduous task we are opening
of setting drums to Jerry’s for the amaz-
most unusual, 15/16 time- ing Keel. We’ve
signatured “The Balance Fac- been fans of
tor”. Roughly forty layers of theirs for a long
superb drumming came back time and were
to us and we used every one honored to be
of them in the song. Terry’s considered for
experience working on “The this show. We’re
Balance Factor” became his also playing in
first video lesson on writing Tucson on the
and recording drum parts, 7th, where we’ll
featured on www.drumchan- be sharing the
nel.com earlier this year. stage with sev-