Shitake Monkey, the New York City trio consisting of DJ and keyboardist Electric Pete is Peter Wade, a noted engineer and remixer for acts ranging from Wyclef Jean and LL Cool J to Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez. Bassist Johnny Rodeo is the Texas-born John Hill, who has recorded and toured with contemporary dub reggae/drum'n'bass star Dr. Israel and new wave revivalists Stiffed. And singer, guitarist, and conceptual leader Chuck Brody is Caleb Shreve, who has engineered and mixed albums for a variety of gangsta rappers and R&B stars while also producing the gimmicky hip-hop novelty Northern State. Those hip-hop and R&B influences are prominent in Shitake Monkey's music, but in the way that they're prominent on albums by Beck and Gnarls Barkley: though partially rooted in hip-hop, Shitake Monkey is a quirky, experimentally minded pop band at heart.
United States