Journey from the jungle to the jungle gym with Seattle’s own Recess Monkey Nov. 1 at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.
After meeting while on the faculty of the University Child Development School in Seattle, the trio, which includes vocalist/guitarist Andrew “Drew” Holloway, drummer/percussionist Daron “The Dancing Bear” Henry, and bassist/pianist Jack Forman, worked through a series of other bands while punching the clock as kindergarten teachers by day. Realizing that playing late shows at night then awaking just in time for class the next morning required a better mix, the musical partners built on experience garnered from performing for students in an all-faculty band at UCDS and began recording. When challenged to propose a final project for a grad school class in children’s and adolescent literature, Holloway decided to record a CD of poem songs about his class, which became the basis for their first album ‘Welcome to Monkey Town.’”
Striking a balance between goofy and cerebral, Recess Monkey calls on its audience to evolve along with them from the “age of the (purple) dinosaur” to a new era of growth and development. Their musical style evokes the sounds of the three Bs — The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and the Byrds — but the tunes cover topics as far-ranging as putting on socks and dealing with frustration… good and important lessons all. In a further effort to connect with their audiences, Recess Monkey not only invites kids to sing along but often brings them into the studio, encouraging them to interact and even inspire the band’s musical creations.
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