Interviewed by: Payton Butler & Emma Curran | Photos obtained via email correspondence.
How did you guys come up with your band name?
We had been teetering between different band names for a while, but nothing seemed to stick. Until we were backstage before our first show at a party and decided we had to pick one. That was when Kyle said “The Blast Monkeys.” He had previously gone to an old coal mine tour in Colorado and heard them talking about how coal miners of the past would send their children into small mine holes with dynamite because they could fit into smaller areas. They called them Blast Monkeys and we thought it sounded cool. Always thought it was kind of paradoxical, super light and goofy sounding on the surface but interesting and somewhat dark in true meaning.
Who are your top three favorite artists?
Primus, Blink-182, and Microwave.
If you could do anything with your band, what would you want to do? What’s the ultimate goal?
Make a theme song for a popular TV show or cartoon.
What’s your biggest inspiration as a band?
The process between making new material and sharing it with an audience. Be it live or online, it’s always a thrill to interact with people and try to contribute something to the social sphere.
The Blast Monkeys are one of eight incredible bands to perform TONIGHT in KJHK & SUA’s Farmer’s Ball Semi-Finals event at the Bottleneck. If you’re interested in seeing The Blast Monkeys’s blend of pop-punk, midwest emo, and grunge performed live, be sure to arrive before 8:15 to grab a voting wristband for your chance to help them advance to the next round. Keep it locked, and we’ll see you tonight at the Bottleneck in LFK!