Presenting the greatest sock-puppet rock band in the universe!

I've been a fan of this small band from Brooklyn since last November, and they're quite unique. The band is called Uncle Monsterface, and they consider themselves to be sock-puppet rockers. In more conventional terms, their genres fall under new wave and experimental, with influences ranging from They Might Be Giants to The Aquabats to Danny Elfman's Oingo Boingo. It's really hard to describe them, but I'll give it a try: They're an eccentric, mischievous, high-energy band that uses theatrics, puppets, projectors, and inflatable goods to create a show unlike anything else. Just imagine They Might Be Giants on crack.

Just by glossing over some of their songs, you'll know what to expect from them: unabridged, uncensored, and completely insane awesomeness. With songs like "Lobster Building", "deROCKracy", and "(we wear) Capes", there will be a part inside of you waiting to squirm out and flip out like its year 2000. Read some of the lyrics from "Lionfist Journey": get on that horse, and then you get on that stool, and then you get in that tank, and you blow up your school. when you blow up your school, you're riding a pony, ponys, that's another great band! Blowing up schools doesn't sound like a good thing, but if you listen to it within the context of this song, you can hear that it's all being done in great, rebellious fun. Just take a listen to the song. Pretty crazy cool, right? If you want to get their full cd, letter green (i love you), you should buy it from their website, because I don't think you can get it anywhere else unless you attend one of their shows (I could be wrong).

Though they only have a full album and an EP (fully dedicated to Nintendo's new Wii system), they almost always have new material to offer on a weekly basis. On the band's Myspace, a weekly post is sent out to all Monsterface fans, and the post announces either a new song, video, or contest that the band has created. If it's a new song, the song is available to download right from their Myspace. Currently, "snack baskets" is available to download. In the past, downloadable songs included an Aquabats cover and some Monsterface rarities. There's no doubt that Uncle Monsterface is following the path of They Might Be Giants when it comes to communicating to and treating the fans on a regular basis. Uncle Monsterface also has an official Youtube channel where they offer original content including music videos and their own TV show, Monsterface TV.

Uncle Monsterface - Lobster Building

I had the pleasure of seeing Uncle Monsterface last December, and they were really great, on stage and off. It's very important to note that throughout their entire set, there is a small puppetshow happening the background with a puppet or two rocking out to the music. I barely knew any of the songs, and I was also extremely weirded out when I first saw them, but I could tell very easily that it was a band that I was going to get into a lot. After having talked to them before and after the show, I knew that they were keepers. I really hope to see them again and maybe hang out with them sometime in the next few months. You know you've created a bond of friendship when you and them share Wii friend codes. It's such a sweet thing, isn't it?

Now why did I choose to post about them now? Why haven't I posted my They Might Be Giants cd review yet? Well, that's because there is a very important and totally cool Uncle Monsterface event called Camp Monsterface and everyone is invited. Fear not, you don't have to pack anything or travel anywhere; Camp Monsterface is a virtual, online camp. All you need to do in order to sign up is email camp@unclemonsterface.com,and you'll get your special camping material on June 4th. You will receive a secret link, and in that secret link, you will meet other camp members, camp counselors, and learn about various camp activities. These activities include but are not limited to internet scavenger hunts, internet rock songs, internet macaroni art, and internet crocodile hunts. I'm not making those up; that's what they said (see for yourself). I hope to see some of you at camp! My alias will be, as it always be, Tom the First.

So like I said, Uncle Monsterface is a really unique band and so much more. They're a whole multimedia experience, and they're fun for the whole family (sometimes). If you'd like to see them live, you should email them or message them on Myspace and encourage them to come up to Portland sometime! Of course, they almost always do shows in the Boston area once in a while. Move down to Brooklyn if you want the real deal, and there's no doubt that Uncle Monsterface really is the real deal. Dylan Martin out!