HotPress
March 23, 2005

Monky Business: Irish-American eyes are smiling as Saucy Monky snare a major deal

As exclusively predicted by HotPress, Irish-LA hopefuls Saucy Monky have signed a deal for the United States with 429 Records. 429 is a recently established rock-focussed division of the powerful Savoy Label Group (SLG), whose catalogue includes jazz greats of the calibre of John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, amongst numerous others.

The deal will see the release of the band’s acclaimed Turbulence album, which received a comprehensive thumbs-up from HotPress on its Irish release in 2004. The title track ‘Turbulence’ has been slotted in as the first US single. Other acts signed to the new label include the Warren Brothers and the Scottish outfit Cosmic Rough Riders, whose Too Close to See Far album has sold over 150,000 copies in the UK.

Saucy Monky, who are fronted by songwriters Annmarie Cullen from Dublin and Cynthia Catania from New Jersey, have also confirmed their ties with new manager Keith Cunningham, whose background as a radio programmer may well prove vital in assisting the band to garner the radio play essential to establishing a beach-head in the hugely competitive US market. SM are currently in the throes of an intensive stint of gigging that takes them through three western states, culminating in a date at San Francisco’s Hotel Utah.

In a note to HotPress, Annmarie and Cynthia said (in harmony no doubt): “429 represents the perfect opportunity for Saucy Monky. It’s an indie label at heart, with major label brains and significant resources to draw upon once the ball gets rolling. They’re focused on artist development and not just a one single, make-or-break style of doing business. We’re not only optimistic about this new opportunity, but we’re extremely thankful for all the support HotPress and our Irish Fans have given Saucy Monky, which certainly played a role in our ability to land a US deal with 429 Records. We’ll get back to Ireland to thank everyone in person as soon as possible!”

“We couldn’t be more excited about launching Saucy Monky in the US, “ Sheila Volpe, Senior Director of Marketing and A&R at 429 Records enthused. “Their talent is so blaringly obvious, there was just no way we could pass on this gorgeous release.”

There is no word yet on Irish dates in 2005, with the band likely to concentrate their energies on the US market for the coming months – though appearances at selected summer festivals here has not yet been ruled out.