Back in 1994, the local band Tripmaster Monkey toured the UK to support their debut EP, “Faster Than Dwight,” playing at various locations in support of the disc, released overseas on Che Records. The footage below captures the band in performance at TJ’s, Newport, UK, and includes tracks from “Dwight” as well as the group’s then-upcoming record, “Goodbye Race.” Footage of the show can be seen on YouTube, where you can check it out here:  Read More

Back in 1994, the local band Tripmaster Monkey filmed the video for their first single, “Shutters Closed,” off their album “Goodbye Race” here in the Quad-Cities, featuring a variety of area folks as extras, including this reporter. The video was shown on MTV and other national video shows, and lives on in the recesses of YouTube, where you can check it out here:  Read More

A look back at Quad-Cities indie rock band Tripmaster Monkey, from their start in the late ’80s through their heyday in the mid-late ’90s signed to the Sire and Elektra Records labels, to the recording of their current album, “My East Is Your West.” (Photos are taken from the Tripmaster Monkey Facebook gallery.)  Read More

It was always stunning to me that Tripmaster Monkey never hit it bigger than they did. Back in the mid-late ‘90s, the band – singer Chris Bernat, guitarist and singer Jamie Toal, drummer Marty Reyhons and bassist Wes Haas – had everything going for them. They were of and in the zeitgeist, with a perfectly tuned sound aligned with the times, and had a brilliant string of killer tunes, from the dreamy “Shutters Closed,” to the Nirvana-pop of “Liquid Sky” to the heartbreaking alt-rock beauty of “Colts.” The songs were there, as good as anything else soaring through the stratosphere... Read More

Tripmaster Monkey, one of the most commercially and creatively successful bands in Quad-Cities music history, will release its first album in more than two decades, “My East Is Your West,” in record stores and online stores and sites on August 6. The group — guitarist and singer Jamie Toal, singer Chris Bernat, drummer Marty Reyhons, and bassist Wes Haas — is not signed to a label and has released the record independently. The disc is already available for streaming on Spotify. “It’s been great, the album has been a lot of fun to put together, and it’s just been... Read More

Tripmaster Monkey released its first album in over 20 years, “My East Is Your West,” this week, and like the veering navigation implied by the title, it’s been a strange trek of various directions for the members over the past few decades back to their current reunion. At their mid-’90s peak, Tripmaster were signed to Sire and Elektra Records, had a video, “Shutters Closed,” on MTV, were part of a soundtrack to a major motion picture, “Naked In New York,” and played everywhere from London clubs to New York and Los Angeles. The band parted amicably... Read More

Looking for a great soccer team for fall? EMSSC SPARTANS are having tryouts THIS WEEK! Spartans are the TOP-RATED team in the Quad-Cities, ranked in the top 15 in Illinois at the U11 and U13 levels this year and have excellent coaches and programs for all ages for boys and girls! Looking for a great family environment and the chance to play some awesome soccer? Become a Spartan! Details are in the flyer attached with this story. For more information see http://emssc.org/?fbclid=IwAR2a-zkVbqZVcJHNmMxcLwWlEdbgXVFeYYU3rW9w-npjDBEwywNzpQW6ulI  Read More

Will it be a Victory Royale for Barcelona or Manchester United in getting brilliant attacker, French World Cup winner and Fortnite fan Antoine Griezman? Or will another surprise team like Real Madrid end up dancing the L to Barca and Man U? Ever since Griezmann announced last month on his Twitter that he would be leaving Atletico Madrid after five years playing in the Wanda, there’s been rampant speculation on where the perennial contender for the Ballon D’Or would end up next season. The early money was on Barcelona, which had been courting the Frenchman last summer, and first reports jumping... Read More

So, what are some of the cool and positive things happening in and around the area? Glad you sorta asked! There’s always plenty of good news happening around the Quad-Cities, and here in What’s The Good News?, our cooperative effort with the good folks at KWQC-TV6’s “Paula Sands Live,” we highlight some of the awesome things happening around our area! Have something you want included next time around? Email Sean Leary at Sean@QuadCities.com. We’re happy to help! Now let’s get started in taking a look around the local spots for some positive and upbeat news…   Tripmaster Monkey... Read More

Tripmaster Monkey, one of the most commercially and creatively successful bands in Quad-Cities music history, has reunited to begin recording a new album, and has begun a kickstarter campaign to get fans involved in the process and raise money for the project. The group — guitarist and singer Jamie Toal, singer Chris Bernat, drummer Marty Reyhons, and bassist Wes Haas — is not signed to a label and is recording the disc locally with producer Patrick Stolley, who also co-produced the album “Practice Changes” with the band. The album is tentatively slated for release in the fall,... Read More