Lotus/Rogue Chimp/Trippin’ On Nothing, Sunday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m., Sherman Theater (524 Main St., Stroudsburg). Tickets: $20 general admission via www.shermantheater.com, www.roguechimpmusic.com and GreenBeing (334 Adams Ave., Scranton). Info: www.roguechimpmusic.com, myspace.com/roguechimp
by Michael LelloWeekender Editor
Having established itself after forming just a few years ago, Rogue Chimp is now looking to expand, both musically and geographically. To accomplish the former, the band has added new bassist Shawn Caden and violinist Mark Woodyatt. For the latter, it has reached out to venues and bands beyond its immediate Clarks Summit-area base, leading to the biggest gig yet in Rogue Chimp’s short career: a Valentine’s Day opening slot for Lotus at the Sherman Theater, a Stroudsburg venue which holds 1,000 fans.
“We kind of play in Scranton a lot,” says Rogue Chimp drummer Jacob Cole. “The Bog, Blues Street before it closed. Now, it’s kind of like it’s time to get outside of Scranton.”
The band — which also features Jacob’s brother Zach Cole on keyboards — started spreading its sound beyond NEPA with a January show at The Fire in Philadelphia supporting Igor’s Egg and Codename.
Jacob describes his band’s sound as a fusion of techno and funk and cites Canadian electronica/rock outfit The New Deal as a major influence.
Rogue Chimp has more than 40 songs in its catalog but hasn’t yet released a studio album. Last fall, it appeared on WVIA FM’s “Homegrown Music” and gives the recordings from that performance away at its shows.
The band has a knack for adapting to different venues and audiences, playing in bars and clubs as well as quieter performances in places like art galleries. Rogue Chimp also sometimes performs as an Indian-flavored trio it calls Raag Chimp, with the musicians playing traditional Indian instruments like tabla, harmonium and sitar.
Jacob became interested in exotic percussion while attending the Berklee College of Music, where he studied under Zakir Hussain, who is known for his work with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and is a master of the tabla, a percussion instrument. Jacob also studies the instrument with a teacher based in the Clarks Summit area.
Jacob says he’s seen Lotus previously, both at the River Street Jazz Caf� in Plains Twp. as well as at festivals, and “I definitely dig them.” As for festivals, Rogue Chimp is endeavoring to land some stage time at the summer events.
Getting to plat at The Fire and at the Sherman, Jacob says, is thanks in part to Cristin Powers. Powers, who owns the downtown Scranton clothing shop GreenBeing, serves as Rogue Chimp’s manager. She is also Jacob’s girlfriend.
“Cristin is just a real go-getter,” says Jacob. “Her motto is ‘Ask and you shall receive.’ She just wrote the manager of Lotus; she said, ‘I believe in this band, and check this out.’”
This would be a good point to say something like “Rogue Chimp is up to more than just monkey business,” but it is true that the band is committed to bringing its sound to as many listeners as possible.
But what about that name?
“Zach was watching a National Geographic show about rogue chimps,” Jacob explains. “They steal babies and stuff like that.”
He pauses, then laughs.
“But,” he says, “we’re not going to steal your baby.”
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