A Proud Monkey Kicks Out the DMB Jams

As the old saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But when you can take the original work and make it your own, that is indeed a gift. This is what A Proud Monkey does with Dave Matthews – it is the next best thing as seeing the band live.

Who is A Proud Monkey?

Known as “the most passionate and dedicated tribute to the Dave Matthews Band on Earth,” A Proud Monkey is made up of seven of the most seasoned musicians on the East Coast today. Each musician has toured the country, sold thousands of CDs and have performed 50,000 gigs over the last 20 years.

Band members include:

Neil Nicastro has written and released over 100 songs throughout his career. His songs have been played on national radio and TV including MTV and ESPN. He has performed and recorded with Grammy-winning artists.

Josh Orlando has performed or recorded with several famous musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, and American Idol’s Nicole Tranquillo. A seasoned musician in the recording studio, he’s endorsed by Sabian Cymbals and Pearl Drums.

Dustin Switzer has performed more than 2,500 shows with a half dozen bands, including a dozen DMB tribute shows every year. He’s now focusing his efforts into putting on the best performance as Dave Matthews during a show.

Jon Ventre is an accomplished bassist who has performed in almost every position available in the professional music world. He’s studied under internationally known solo bassist Dr. Sandor Ostlund and has worked with Broadway vocalist Debbie Gravitte and blues artist Clarence Spady.

Mark Woodyatt is a professional violinist, studio artist, composer, and educator. Born with perfect pitch, he had his solo concert debut at the age of 14 with the NEPA Philharmonic. He is a Howard Hanson Scholar and the 2014 recipient of the F. Lammot Belin Award for Artistic Excellence.

Saxophonist Carl Krupa has performed with such notable names as George Wesley, Mike Miz, the Subnotics, Robb Brown, and several others. He brings a unique vibe to DMB’s music like no one else can.

Newest member Dave Mattock is a professional piano, organ and keyboard player. He divides his time between playing in several groups, freelancing, and teaching. Dave is a member of the faculty at Camden County College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches piano, ensembles, theory, jazz history, the business of music, and introductory music classes. He is the founder and owner of the Mattock School of Music in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

Proud Monkey Gives Back

A Proud Monkey is much more than a band – the band has grand plans for its future. The members plan to establish a charitable trust this spring to support primate protection in Africa, specifically in the Rwanda region. This trust is the band’s way to pay it forward to the world!

If you’re a Dave Matthews fan and you want to jam out, then you’re going to want to stop by the River Street Jazz Café on Friday, April 19 to see A Proud Monkey perform for Northeast PA audiences! Doors open at 7 pm with the show starting at 9. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here.