STAGE PLOT

HISTORY

Grass Monkey started out s a more traditional bluegrass trio, with former member, Dave Corbitt, at the mandolin, Spencer McKenna at banjo, and Scott Minton at Guitar. Mr. Corbitt eventually left the band due to family obligations, leaving Scot and Spencer to find quick replacements for an upcoming show. Enter Jeremy Rhodes on drums, Spencer's roommate at the time, and Bobby Moore, the legendary multy-instrumentalist. 

Spencer moved his talents to the guitar and harmonica, and Scott very quickly learned bass. With no practice whatsoever, the four were surprised with how well they could play together and with how the audience reacted to their dynamic.

They sealed the new line-up that night, and all set to work on writing new material. Each member of the band had the "lead-singer bug," so they decided to take turns at the lead vocal helm. With all of these new elements, Grass Monkey was able to approach their style with more range and influence than ever before. They continue to grow in sound and spirit.

REVIEWS

"One of Roanoke's most fun acts... The band injects its own brand of wildness into old-timey and bluegrass music." 

- Tad Dickens, The Roanoke Times

"Grass Monkey obviously gets their roots from the bluegrass side of town, but they also kick it with the unexpected Beastie Boys influence too. It's this whicka-what combo that turns you into their Grass Monkey junkie!"

- Amanda Bocci, RoanokeRevolution.com

Voted one of the best bands in Roanoke by the readers of City Magazine, Grass Monkey continues to venture into new realms of... whatever it is they want to do. They're beloved, and sometimes feared, for their absurd and engaging stage presence, somehow blending conversational tangents with dynamic originals ranging from fast-paced "Gonzo-Grass" onslaughts to that chunky, folk-infused, good old-fashioned rock and roll. 

"Basically, we bring it."

- Grass Monkey

SONGS

Covers:

Whiskey Mama - The Hackensaw Boys (G)

Trouble - The Carolina Chocolate Drops (G)

Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan (A)

Mountain Town - The Asylum Street Spankers (A)

Apple Suckling Tree - Bob Dylan (D)

Moonshine - David Via (G)

Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show (G)

Alabama High Test - Old Crow Medicine Show (A)

Well Respected Man - The Kinks (C)

Smokin' Gun - Tennessee Bolt Smokers (A)

The Weight - The Band (G)

Dixie - The Band (G)

Maggie's Farm - Bob Dylan (G)

Hotel Yorba - The White Stripes (G)

Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones (C)

Originals:

Possum Jerky - (Dm, instrumental, progresses from slow bulgarian folk to fast jamgrass)

Don't Need You Anymore - (Dm, fast jamgrass with a D major bridge)

Windows and Doors - (Dm, 6/8 moderate/fast folk rock)

Rag #1 - (G, fast jamgrass with a low folk/rock intro)

Slight Case - (B, moderate folk/latin fusion)

Killat Man - (A, fast punkgrass)

Leave It All Behind - (E or F, fast jamgrass with audience chant ending)

Meet Me in the Van - (C, moderate jamgrass with a quickened ending)

In the Night - (C, moderate folk/janglepop)

Shrooms for Jesus - (C, moderate jamgrass)

The Big Rowdy (A, fast jamgrass with a slow rock intro)

Theivin Weasel - (G, fast jamgrass)

Lima Bean - (G, fast rockabilly/jamgrass)

Find Me A Wife - (G, fast jamgrass)

Midnight Moonlight Love - (G, moderate folk/rock)

Gallows Bird - (C, folk/waltz)

All Over You - (G, folk/ballad)

Lucy - (Bm, bossanova/folk disco)

The Ballad of Billy the Bankrobber - (Am, fast jamgrass)

Traditionals:

Little Liza Jane - (G)

Woah Mule - (G)

Take This Hammer - (E)

Red Haired Boy - (A, instrumental)

Raleigh and Spencer - (D)

Blue Yodel - (C)

Jersualem's Ridge - (Am, instrumental)

Goin' Down the Road/Deep Ellem Blues - (E)

Eat My Dust - (Instrumental)