BAND
Heart Gets Monkey is a new Shenandoah Valley band, an experiment of sorts. What happens when you
put together musicians who love each other like family, along with instruments, tons of on-stage personality,
and some time to play? We hope you'll enjoy the ride as much as we already are!
HGM plays mostly original music and though it is difficult to describe in words a group's particular
voice, we're basically a harmonious blend of 3 cups folk, 2 cups blues, 1 1/2 cups alternative rock, a
tablespoon of country, and a dash of Mom (stir in funk to taste). Imagine: Loretta Lynn or Hank Williams (1)
meets Ryan Adams or Fleetwood Mac. Covers include songs from Cracker, Gram Parsons, Psychedelic Furs, Ween,
White Stripes, Statler Brothers, Sebadoh, and traditional southeastern folk.
MEMBERS
JeffMo has a diverse history in music and sound all around the Shenandoah Valley and beyond.
Currently representing as
D.J. Mo-licious -- on-air host and
lead sound engineer for the "
WXJM Live!" radio show -- JeffMo is also a
former member of The Jeremiah Prophett Band, a former host of several weekly open mics in Harrisonburg, and
a solo performer. He's appeared at
Oak Grove Folk Music
Festival and has dozens of theater sound credits for
ShenanArts and
Blue Ridge Theater Festival. Fans will recognize Heart Gets Monkey's versions of his originals such as "Gone
On Too Long," "The Flood of '93," and more.
Bill is an incredible talent, instrumentally and vocally. Bill is also quite theatrical,
appearing in plays with Oak Grove Theater, Theater Wagon, and ShenanArts, as well as sketch comedy with
"The New-Fangled Variety Hour." Bill's music is strongly influenced by folk and mountain blues - "hillbilly music"
is his passion. Among the originals he contributes to HGM are "Spare Change" and "The Drugs Don't Work."
Bill is also a former member of The Jeremiah Prophett Band.
Roz has been musically influenced by a family folk tradition and a childhood heavily involved in
theater. In the past, Roz has played music largely for her family and herself, but enjoys performing and
recently learned to play the bass guitar. She has also written a number of silly folk songs for the group,
including "It's U" and "Virginia Clay."
Jess is undoubtedly the hottest, steadiest, funkiest djembe player around. But more than that,
Jess plays guitar and bass, sings and, when we're lucky, she dances a bit too. Jess is a songwriter, as well,
and her credits include "Black and White Dogs" - one of our most popular. She is also an alum of
"The New-Fangled Variety Hour."
Keri is the newest member of the band. We asked her to come play with us after jamming
with her at an "Awesome Party." Keri's sweet and sometimes saucy violin fills out Heart Gets Monkey's
tapestry of sound. Keri's also a dancer and pretty darn cute.
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