Pushmonkey delivers a punchy, groove-oriented brand of hard rock that sits right at the intersection of 90s alternative and early 2000s metal. Their sound is defined by thick, crunchy guitar riffs and a rhythm section that favors syncopation over straight-ahead pounding. It is music that feels physically heavy but remains anchored by strong, radio-ready vocal hooks that you can actually sing along to.
What truly sets them apart from the post-grunge pack is their Austin, Texas heritage, which injects a subtle funkiness and occasional unexpected instrumentation, like the use of a trumpet. This prevents the music from feeling like a generic wall of noise, giving the tracks a distinct bounce and a more sophisticated sense of space than many of their Ozzfest-era contemporaries.
New listeners should start with their 1998 self-titled Arista debut. It captures the band at their commercial peak with tracks like 'Handslide' and 'Caught My Mind,' showcasing their ability to balance aggressive energy with the kind of melodic sensibility that dominated late-90s rock radio.
Pushmonkey is an American hard rock band from Austin, Texas, United States. Originally known as Billy Pilgrim, they first changed their name to Mad Hatter and later to just Hatter. The band experienced minor radio success with the song "Handslide" from their self-titled album. They were featured in season 7 of Melrose Place. They appeared on Ozzfest in 1999 in support of the album, as well as Woodstock '99. In 2007, the band won the first FameCast.com Battle of the Bands contest. Music video “Caught My Mind” featured in season 2 episode 7 of Sopranos, “D-girl.”
Shares alternative metal, hard rock, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, compressed loud, layered dense (production style)
Shares alternative metal, hard rock, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, compressed loud, layered dense (production style)
Shares studio polished, compressed loud, layered dense (production style); belting, raspy, harmonized (vocal style)
Shares alternative metal, hard rock, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, compressed loud, layered dense (production style)
Shares studio polished, compressed loud, layered dense (production style); hard rock, alternative rock, funk (subgenres)
Shares alternative metal, hard rock, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, compressed loud, layered dense (production style)
Shares alternative metal, hard rock, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, compressed loud, layered dense (production style)
Shares basement show, festival, dive bar (atmosphere); belting, raspy, harmonized (vocal style)
Shares studio polished, compressed loud, layered dense (production style); alternative metal, hard rock, alternative rock (subgenres)
Shares alternative metal, hard rock, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, compressed loud, layered dense (production style)
Shares alternative metal, hard rock, alternative rock, raspy (signature)
Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →