When Monkey Pilot (猴子飛行員) gets on stage, it’s easy to see how the group’s warm, fun energy draws the audience in. It doesn’t matter who plays before the band, Monkey Pilot is relaxed and exudes an easygoing vibe. The music has a Seattle-grunge feeling initially reminiscent of Soundgarden, which rocks out into heavy metal guitar noodling at times. Add to that charming lead singer Tony Wang (王湯尼) with his “Get on up!” James Brown funk voice, and you have a sound that gets the crowd up onto the dance floor grooving and rocking.
Wang’s physical presence — tall, broad, large — combined with his powerful voice and passionate performance brings the crowd to life. Erin Wang (王昱人) plays drums provides a kicking, energetic rhythm, with John Chen (陳自強) on guitar, Yao Yu (余光燿) on bass, and Zane Yang (楊聲錚) on acoustic guitar.
All five come from different musical backgrounds: hard rock; alternative and metal; funk; and blues and reggae. When they play a show, they like everyone to dance and “get crazy,” said Wang. “We want to talk about life, hard life, easy life — funny things.”
In Taiwan it can be difficult making money from playing in a band, but the members of Monkey Pilot dismiss the idea that one should focus on making money first and having fun later. “If for 10 years you only think about money then your mind is like dead water — you have money but don’t know what is fun,” said Wang.
To avoid this mental stagnancy, the band has come up with a Monkey Pilot philosophy based on early space exploration programs, when monkeys were launched into space as a prelude to manned space flight. According to the Monkey Pilot conception, monkeys don’t know fear — they only know that if they go somewhere and do something they will get a banana.
WHAT: Monkey Pilot (猴子飛行員) with La Petite Nurse
(小護士)
WHERE: Underworld (地下社會), B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1)
WHEN: Tonight at 9pm
ADMISSION: NT$300, includes one drink
The basic message the band tries to get across is that you don’t have to be perfect at anything in order to do it, said Wang. “[W]ith no fear you have power, you can do
it and be good at it.”
The secret, said Wang, is not to think too much: “Whatever goes on, the monkey feels fine.”
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