Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat

Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat have been on the music scene now for over twelve years, and have built a fan base worldwide. They are well known for their "no-holds-barred" approach to blues-inspired rock and roll. Their three Lucky Seven releases have shown an amazing depth of songwriting and playing, and their constant touring in both the USA and Europe has garnered many admirers. Jim is also well known as the lead guitarist for George Thorogood and The Destroyers, and has often been included in "Top Ten Guitarists" lists of various music publications.
     But now comes their best release ever! In a manner of speaking, Starvation Box is a double album, for it contains two distinct elements, both "The Best of Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat" AND six brand new tracks, each deserving in its own right to be included in anyone's "Best Of". The coolest, most popular tracks from their first three alubms - Radio Mojo, Shake and Bad Juju - are all included in one convenient package, and as a bonus, the band also presents six great new songs, including their arrangements of Elmore James' classic "U Gotta Move," Lightnin' Hopkins' "Lonesome Dog Blues", and four new Suhler originals. So once again, make sure the back door is locked tight, becauuse here come three of the hardest-rocking musicians you'll ever encounter - Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat!

The long awaited acoustic CD, Dirt Road.

The CD has been described as "...an alluring mix of Blues, Americana, and roots music which flirts with Celtic and Arabic melodies on "Out on The Western Plain" and daredevil guitar work on "Dust Devil".

Covers range from Johnny Winter's "Dallas", Mance Lipscomb's "Spanish Flangdang", and soundtrack-like forays such as "My Morning Prayer", and "Holly Ridge".

An acoustic driven CD featuring Jim Suhler, "Dirt Road" features plenty of driving slide guitar and National resophonic work, and guests such as Carlton Powell, Sam Myers, and Tim Alexander, among others.

Bad JuJu, the latest CD to come from this talented group, certainly deserves a spot in your player. This finely polished work features Jim Suhler on guitars and vocals, Paul Hollis on drums and percussion, and steady bass and backing vocals by Carlton Powell. Special guest, Tim Alexander of Asleep at the Wheel fame, contributes his expertise on piano, organ and accordion.

From the smooth slide work on Deja Blue to the "back to the blues" acoustic I.O.U this is by far the best album to come from the Dallas trio.

You can count on Jim Suhler and Alan Haynes to do vigorous and exciting music. This live set was recorded at the Blue Cat Blues club in Dallas' Deep Ellum district. It has none of the studio touchup work that's fashionable on many albums that purport to be "live". On bass and drums respectively are Carlton Powell and Paul Hollis, a famously solid rhythm section that regularly backs Suhler.

The kickoff cut is "Too Poor To Die", the chunka-chunk rhythm of which hosts as sardonic and macabre a lyric as the version of "Black Cat Bone" by the poet laureate of Texas death music, Lightnin' Hopkins. The tune has tons of slashing, volcanic slide. A slide swapmeet of epic proportion brings on "Knockin' On My Door", a hard-hitting shuffle. Suhler sings the former song, Haynes the latter.

Another audience fave is Suhler's reworking of psychedelic bluesmaster Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?". It's replete with requisite feedback and sonic weirdness wrought not from a Strat, as you'd expect but from of all things, a National steel acoustic guitar!

So, kick back and imagine yourself at a stageside table at the Blue Cat. slam a beer. Slam another. and there you are, in Texas, set for an immersive, knock-out blues experience with Jim Suhler and Alan haynes. (Tim Schuller)

Smooth sliding guitar, hard driving bass, and heart-pounding drum characterize Shake. Suhler's lyrics prick at the emotions of his audience reminding us of lifes ups and downs and come full circle providing soothing balm for the soul.

The title cut is more than appropriate, as the entire recording makes you want to do just that. It would be hard to beat the combination of the classic "Little Boy Blue", mischievious "Double Talking Woman", and toe tapping "Every Dog Has His Day".

This is one you don't want to miss.

Fire is a natural thing. Guitarists can acquire speed, style, flash, and fury. Fire is more elemental. A player either has it or he doesn't. Mike Morgan and Jim Suhler have tons of it. The Morgan/Suhler coalition comprises two guitarists of maturity and depth, who solo explosively but inventively, and share a great sense of dynamics. Suhler's guitar sound is glassy, slashing, and incisive while Morgan's is brawny, rugged, and retro.(Tim Schuller)

The Morgan/Suhler collaboration disproves the equation 1+1=2. In this case, 1+1= More guitar than you can imagine!

Monkey Beat takes its name from the hard-funk groove some of the older bluesman would call for at jam sessions ("Gimme the Monkey Beat!"). The title (Radio Mojo) comes from the name of Jim Suhler's volunteer radio show on local station KNON and is descriptive of the funky, roots-rock amalgam that Suhler dishes out. Monkey Beat consists of Suhler, bass player Carlton Powell of Mike Morgan and the Crawl fame, and drummer Paul Hollis.

From the hard-rocking, slide guitar driven "Where Were You When the Lights Went Out" to the Magic Sam-influenced treatment of "I Just Got to Know," Suhler and company carve out an original blues-rock groove that recalls George Thorogood, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Suhler is particularly good at nasty slide guitar, showcased on the Elmore James instrumental "Pickin' the Blues."

From the Bo Diddley beat (on "Oh Hannah") to the slinky reptile rhythms ("Doncha Hang Around My Door"), Monkey Beat suggests an unwholesomely good time. And, as George Thorogood (who picked them as an opening act on his most recent tours) states, "They better be good, I discovered them."