Trip Master Monkey
at Local 186
by Joe Hacking
Trip Master Monkey played Local 186 on August the 23rd – a Tuesday night. As you might expect, it wasn’t crowded, but the more of these beginning of the week shows I do, the more I realize that Boston’s early week lameness can be a good thing.
Uncrowded rooms leave you little in the way of diversions as you get a clear view of the stage. The band dominates the event, not the women standing around, not the parade of freaks, just the band. So there was Trip Master Monkey, in possession of my full attention.
“We’re Trip Master Monkey,” stated singer Chris Bernat. “But then again, you all must know this because you’re all on the guest list.” Laughter broke out at the truth behind Bernat’s words, setting the casual mood for the rest of their set.
Trip Master Monkey are originally from the midwest, but recorded their new album, Goodbye Race, at Ft. Apache Studios here in Boston. Listening to the CD did not prepare me for their live sound. I was expecting the standard, college alternative. What I got was alternative with a healthy dose of punk agitation. While a solid disc, seeing their physical exertions as they reproduced their music made me like them more. Though the intimacy of the room played a role, the fact that they are a musically competent, tightly knit unit cannot be overlooked. These guys have exceptional ability.
Singer Bernat pours his heart into his vocals, emptying the energy from his body into the mic. Drummer Marty Reyhons keeps himself busy on the kit, changing syncopation within his rhythms, which are lively and energetic. Guitarist Jamie Toal laid his straightforward rhythms and simple leads atop Reyhons’ hammerings while bassist Wes Haas (who also doubles as a rhythm guitarist) bridged the gap between drum and six-string, his fingers dancing over the four strings of his bass.
Trip Master Monkey (they took their name from a novel by cult author Maxine Hong Kingston) have been around since 1987 and have a good sized following back home, and yet they seemed perfectly happy to play before a small room. They kept a flat out pace to the very end of the set.
Upon arriving home, I put Goodbye Race back in and listened for what I’d missed, having been properly enlightened by the band’s performance.
