Modern indie can be whatever you want it to be. That’s kinda the magical thing about the current state of music, anyone can make anything and if it’s good, it finds its audience. For the eclectically-monikered CrashMonkeys (one word, Capital-C, Capital-M), they’re about as indie as they come. Based out of the lovely, beautiful Santa Cruz, CA, they’re also a lovely representation of their city. The debut single from the band “Dangerous” features tongue-in-cheek and playful lyrics over a funky, drum-driven instrumental, and it’s sure to be a song you just can’t get out of your head.
CrashMonkeys consists of Stel Furet, Chuck Keller, and Mary Corbin — the trio seems fairly recent in their establishment but Furet has an EP out under his name. It’s too early to call shots on where the band is going from here but according to their website, there’s an EP inbound. Entitled Love and Kicks, it’s due out sometime in the fall and CrashMonkeys are releasing a trio of singles in the lead-up to it. “Dangerous” is a magnificent choice for the first single of the bunch, as it paints a great picture of the material the band wants to deal with. An accompanying music video features leading man Stel Furet speeding around in a race car, adorning a crash test helmet and banana. To quote the song’s hook, “You might not be what I was looking for, but you’re sure as hell what I need.” CrashMonkeys wasn’t the expected choice, but they’ve made it apparent they’re the necessary choice.
It’s a rare instance to get a single from a band that feels so confident in the core thesis of what a band can be, but “Dangerous” appears to be a diamond in the rough. Not only is the songwriting on point, but the production is outstanding. Be this a result of Furet’s solo work giving him a little bit of practice on the writing and producing side of things or not, it’s a marvel to come across new acts with a knack for well-produced singles. There’s no doubt in my mind that CrashMonkeys will garner a following as they release more material, as this niche within indie music has seemingly been going through a drought over the last decade. If we’re lucky, the band just might inspire a wave of new indie artists that are far less concerned with being self-serious, and more concerned with simply producing great music and having fun with it!
As it stands, CrashMonkeys (one word, Capital-C, Capital-M) is the next thing. It might take a minute, and it might not start with them, but they are The Moment; just like the film brat revolution of the ‘70s or the rock ’n’ roll movement of the ‘50s, every new decade brings a new twist on an old favorite. Fingers crossed that the 2020s are ruled by funky indie bands who perform well-written ditties with reckless abandon! If the wave never comes, however, I’ll still sleep soundly at night knowing CrashMonkeys are out there leading the charge.
Chadwick Easton