I guess I should mention
the band 100 Monkeys...
This is a picture from last summer's tour.
(L to R: Uncle Larry, Ben Graupner, Me, Jackson Rathbone, Jerad Anderson, and Ben Johnson.) Silly Ben G closed his eyes right when Lani (their publicist/manager/everything person) took the picture!
The guys all live in LA. They are also based out
of LA.
The guys are all really, very sweet!
Meet the guys of 100 Monkeys:
Jerad Anderson:
Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys, Backup Vocals
I don't really know Jerad too well.. Most of the shows I have been too, Jerad was not in attendance.
After a big show near my home, my best friend and I were in the line waiting to get the guys' autographs.
After waiting in the line for a while,
Total dork move, right? But he was totally sweet about it. "I'm doing good," he said. And with a smile, he passed my CD down to the next guy.. Jerad.
Well, I was still freaking out (thanks a lot Jackson!) when I got to Jerad. So I barely heard him when he looked at me with a sweet smile and said, "You have killer eyes." You see.. my mom had done my makeup before I left the house that night. I knew I looked killer-- fierce almost-- but I couldn't think straight after my encounter with Jackson not five seconds before. I believe I mumbled a "Thank You" to Jerad, but I still to this day have no idea if I did or not.
Ben Johnson:
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys, Vocals
Again.. This is another one of the guys that I don't know very well. Haven't actually talked to him at any length-- he is the "quite" monkey.
Uncle Larry:
Percussions, Flute, Bass, Keys, Saxophone, Vocals
Uncle Larry is the oldest-- and WISEST-- monkey of the guys. He was born in 1953 and is truly a sweet man. He is very grateful for all his fans; when we go "on tour" for a few days (meaning we go to four shows in four days... and in four different cities), he thanks us for being so supportive. He also has a rep for kissing girls' hands (has happened to me). Also loves candy and will kiss your hand repeatedly if you bring him some; just ask my best friend!
The guys at a acoustic set
Peaches Records
2010
Ben Graupner:
Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Trumpet, Vocals
This boy is CRAZY!!! Always jumping around during shows-- but boy, can he put on a show!!
Total sweetheart and he LOVES HUGS!!
Last year for his birthday, a few friends and I went to a small show for his other band that he is in, called Mechanical People. It was one of their very first shows-- maybe even their first one ever, I can't remember-- and my friends and I decided that he deserved some birthday shots!
My friend went over to the bar and got shots for all of us, including the guys from the band. She got them all Jameson whiskey (if you know these guys, you know how they like their Jameson!) I had a lemon drop martini shot-- just like the Carrie Underwood song "Before He Cheats".. I can't shoot whiskey! Haha!
This was also my first ever shot! So I was
pretty proud of myself-- that is until I actually took the shot!
I was like, "Damn! That hurt!" and almost chocked my shot all over Ben! But I sucked it up.. and realized that I still had half a shot left in my cup!
I finished that thing before anyone actually noticed!
That is only one of the stories about the encounters between Ben that I.. I have actually been around him more-- he was always here for the small shows.
Ben was not expecting a present; in fact, we surprised all the guys with the hand painted boxes, complete with their individual names on the lid along with guitar playing monkeys. "Tour Survival Kits" we called them. We loaded each guy up with tons of presents: silly string, candy, and each guy got something special, that was just for them in their boxes.
Nothing like making some very happy monkeys!
The guys at the end of a show
Dallas, 2011
Jackson Rathbone:
Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Drums Keys, Trumpet, Mandolin, Harmonica
Another CRAZY boy!! But he is also a giant sweetheart!
Well, I have already told y'all the story about the first time I met him.. So I can't tell that story again. But I haven't told y'all this one..
After a small show, Jackson felt brave enough to actually float around the bar with Ben and Ben for a few drinks. That was different because the previous shows that had been at the same venue had been very big, so Jackson (along with the guys that were with him) would take off after every show; it was nice to see Jackson socializing with his fans, proving that he really does love his fans, no matter how shy and/or skittish he may seem.
My best friend and I talked to Jackson several times that night; she got him to call some friends in Texas, which he happily obliged to, much to our surprise; he also completely freaked our friend out when she answered the phone! She was not expecting to hear Jackson's voice on the other end of the call!
So later, after they played the set, I asked Jackson if he could sign some autographs for the same friend in Texas. He said he would, but his hands were full. "I'll be back," he told me as he turned and went through the back door of the bar, his arms load down with the band's gear. I seriously doubted that he would come back; don't count your chickens before the hatch right?
Well, Mr. Rathbone is full of surprises, I guess. He did come back to me to sign the autographs; he even personalized them with the girls' names on them!
Earlier in the night, Jackson had been talking to a girl. They seems to hit it off, but I guess not. Jackson walked the girl back to her car after he had finished the show; her car was about a block away, I think. This was very nice of him since it was unusually cold that night (so if you are reading this, Jackson, that was very sweet of you).
I talked to him about screenwriting; I had been wanting to start writing movies but had no idea on how to start. Jackson gave me some awesome advice; he told me to watch my favorite movie very slowly and to write down everything I saw, exactly as I saw it, describing everything about the set, the characters, and the dialogue. This exercise really helped me (and feel free to use this advice). We talked for a few more minutes before; I felt bad because he couldn't hear me and I had to talk into his ear. So I asked if he would take a picture with me.
That's all I really have to say about these guys.. They are all really sweet guys who just love to make music..
If you would like to check out some of their music, check out:
http://www.100monkeysmusic.com/
Peace and Love.
<3
The guys are all really, very sweet!
Meet the guys of 100 Monkeys:
Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys, Backup Vocals
I don't really know Jerad too well.. Most of the shows I have been too, Jerad was not in attendance.
However... There is one funny story that happened between Jerad and I.
After a big show near my home, my best friend and I were in the line waiting to get the guys' autographs.
After waiting in the line for a while,
the guys came out and sat down to start signing autographs. I didn't realized it at the time, but Jackson was the first one at the table.
Usually, nothing freaks me out, but he did. I hadn't met him yet-- though I had been around him a few
times.
So eventually we got to our turn at the table. Jackson, being the Southern gentleman that he is, said, "Hey, darlin'" as I got to him.
Talk about major freak out. No I didn't scream at him. I didn't pass out. I did however look at his eyes. Should have NEVER done that. The only thing I could say to him was, "How are you?"
Total dork move, right? But he was totally sweet about it. "I'm doing good," he said. And with a smile, he passed my CD down to the next guy.. Jerad.Well, I was still freaking out (thanks a lot Jackson!) when I got to Jerad. So I barely heard him when he looked at me with a sweet smile and said, "You have killer eyes." You see.. my mom had done my makeup before I left the house that night. I knew I looked killer-- fierce almost-- but I couldn't think straight after my encounter with Jackson not five seconds before. I believe I mumbled a "Thank You" to Jerad, but I still to this day have no idea if I did or not.
Ben Johnson:
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys, Vocals
Again.. This is another one of the guys that I don't know very well. Haven't actually talked to him at any length-- he is the "quite" monkey.
Uncle Larry:
Percussions, Flute, Bass, Keys, Saxophone, Vocals
Uncle Larry is the oldest-- and WISEST-- monkey of the guys. He was born in 1953 and is truly a sweet man. He is very grateful for all his fans; when we go "on tour" for a few days (meaning we go to four shows in four days... and in four different cities), he thanks us for being so supportive. He also has a rep for kissing girls' hands (has happened to me). Also loves candy and will kiss your hand repeatedly if you bring him some; just ask my best friend!
The guys at a acoustic set
Peaches Records
2010
Ben Graupner:Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Trumpet, Vocals
This boy is CRAZY!!! Always jumping around during shows-- but boy, can he put on a show!!
Total sweetheart and he LOVES HUGS!!
Last year for his birthday, a few friends and I went to a small show for his other band that he is in, called Mechanical People. It was one of their very first shows-- maybe even their first one ever, I can't remember-- and my friends and I decided that he deserved some birthday shots!
My friend went over to the bar and got shots for all of us, including the guys from the band. She got them all Jameson whiskey (if you know these guys, you know how they like their Jameson!) I had a lemon drop martini shot-- just like the Carrie Underwood song "Before He Cheats".. I can't shoot whiskey! Haha!This was also my first ever shot! So I was
pretty proud of myself-- that is until I actually took the shot!
I was like, "Damn! That hurt!" and almost chocked my shot all over Ben! But I sucked it up.. and realized that I still had half a shot left in my cup!
I finished that thing before anyone actually noticed!
That is only one of the stories about the encounters between Ben that I.. I have actually been around him more-- he was always here for the small shows.
The best friend and I giving Ben a present at the street team party (Summer, 2011). He got silly string, which I found out he shot at Jerad's butt! He also got a whoopee cushion-- which he may or may not have put in Jackson's bed that night!
Ben was not expecting a present; in fact, we surprised all the guys with the hand painted boxes, complete with their individual names on the lid along with guitar playing monkeys. "Tour Survival Kits" we called them. We loaded each guy up with tons of presents: silly string, candy, and each guy got something special, that was just for them in their boxes.
Nothing like making some very happy monkeys!
The guys at the end of a show
Dallas, 2011
Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Drums Keys, Trumpet, Mandolin, Harmonica
Another CRAZY boy!! But he is also a giant sweetheart!
Well, I have already told y'all the story about the first time I met him.. So I can't tell that story again. But I haven't told y'all this one..
After a small show, Jackson felt brave enough to actually float around the bar with Ben and Ben for a few drinks. That was different because the previous shows that had been at the same venue had been very big, so Jackson (along with the guys that were with him) would take off after every show; it was nice to see Jackson socializing with his fans, proving that he really does love his fans, no matter how shy and/or skittish he may seem.
So later, after they played the set, I asked Jackson if he could sign some autographs for the same friend in Texas. He said he would, but his hands were full. "I'll be back," he told me as he turned and went through the back door of the bar, his arms load down with the band's gear. I seriously doubted that he would come back; don't count your chickens before the hatch right?
Well, Mr. Rathbone is full of surprises, I guess. He did come back to me to sign the autographs; he even personalized them with the girls' names on them!
Earlier in the night, Jackson had been talking to a girl. They seems to hit it off, but I guess not. Jackson walked the girl back to her car after he had finished the show; her car was about a block away, I think. This was very nice of him since it was unusually cold that night (so if you are reading this, Jackson, that was very sweet of you).
While Jackson was walking the girl back to her car, I was back in the bar talking to Ben J. I had asked Ben a question that he couldn't answer and said I would be better off talking to Jackson. I asked if he knew where Jackson was, but he didn't. We both looked; no Jackson to be found. Within a few minutes, Jackson came back.
After he had come back, I debated with myself if I really wanted to go up to him. Even after seeing him almost a dozen times, he still had the ability to star struck me. I did get my chance to talk to him though.
He walked past me and noticed me looking at him, so he stopped. "Can I ask you a question?" I asked; I was even surprised at myself to be able to keep myself so calm around him. "Sure, darlin'."
I talked to him about screenwriting; I had been wanting to start writing movies but had no idea on how to start. Jackson gave me some awesome advice; he told me to watch my favorite movie very slowly and to write down everything I saw, exactly as I saw it, describing everything about the set, the characters, and the dialogue. This exercise really helped me (and feel free to use this advice). We talked for a few more minutes before; I felt bad because he couldn't hear me and I had to talk into his ear. So I asked if he would take a picture with me.
This is my picture from that night. That was a very fun night. And I know I am very thankful to Jackson for giving me awesome advice. He really helped me and the screenwriting process became a lot more clearer. So... Thanks for that, Jackson!
That's all I really have to say about these guys.. They are all really sweet guys who just love to make music..
If you would like to check out some of their music, check out:
http://www.100monkeysmusic.com/
Peace and Love.
<3
No comments:
Post a Comment