Poptart Monkeys - Shakey's - 4/27/02

Hello Everybody!!!
It has been a hell of a long time, way too long, since I've covered any shows for PA Rocks. In the past year, I've been busy deploying with the 193rd Special Operations Wing, Air National Guard unit. I have been to 8 countries in 5 different continents, in support of broadcasting the "Voice Of America". I've had some awesome experiences, but it's great to be back in PA where I can do what I enjoy most, and that is helping promote the local music scene.

During my last deployment we stopped overnight at Key West Florida, where I had the pleasant suprise of being able to catch The Poptart Monkeys playing at Durty Harry's in support of their recent Spring Break Tour. I had heard a lot of good things about this band from a friend who had briefly done some stage-hand work for them, and they exceeded any expectations that I had of catching them live. After seeing them rock the house in Key West, I made it a priority to cover one of their next shows apon my return to PA.

When I saw the band play at Shakey's in Hershey, they had plenty of stories to tell about their Spring Break Tour, some of which are posted on their website at www.poptartmonkeys.com. The show at Shakey's was just as energetic as when I saw them in Key West. These guys are very animated onstage, you can tell they really love and feel their music. I was able to take some very good pics at that show, but the photos posted on the website do not do justice in showing the energy and intensity PTM creates on stage.

A Poptart Monkeys show is a party you have to experience. They perform a medley that will take you on an 80's flashback, and their original material will be stuck in your head for days with crunching anthems such as "No Way Out". PTM has two previous releases; "Dancing With My Lunatic", and "Just Like Me", which can be heard on www.garageband.com. They are also expecting to release their 3rd CD by the end of the summer, and are currently playing some of the new material on tour.

PTM is currently one of the fastest rising bands from PA, and have recently been voted "Band of the week" and "Band of the month" on Rollingstone.com, in affiliation with the Jim Beam Rock Band Search. So make sure you see them live, and drink up!!!! Till next time,

VIN