About A Proud Monkey
Hey everyone! If you’re reading this, thank you. You found A Proud Monkey. We strive for the most accurate sonic and visual representation of the music and vibe of a Dave Matthews Band show.
We are available for events of any size, from solos to 5,6,7 or 8 piece full band. We dig deep into the band’s extensive catalogue, pulling out deep cuts mixed with their best-known hits, as well as offering our own version of covers they've done. We can recreate specific live shows, play albums through in sequence, and create dream setlists for you.
Our Members are all highly seasoned musicians who’ve performed internationally on a regular basis for the last 25 years. No other tribute band can compare to our credentials or passion. Contact us for whatever event you'd like, we work with anyone who'd like to have us and we can travel anywhere.
Band Bios
Electric Guitar
As a professional musician has played over three thousand gigs in every possible situation. He has performed in forty two states, touring in a jam band, a hip hop band, an indie rock band, and a national country act.
His career highlights include having written and released over 100 songs; sold over 50,000 CDs; had songs featured on national radio and TV including MTV and ESPN. performed and recorded with Grammy winning artists, and hundreds of thousands of stream plays.
Neil sings and play guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, bass, drums and percussion. Whether he’s playing in front of fifteen thousand people or fifteen, he approaches every gig with a grateful passion and love for his craft, music.
www.nnusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/neilnicastromusic/
https://www.instagram.com/neil_nicastro/
Drums/Percussion/Vocals
Philadelphia based live/recording session drummer and teacher of all styles, graduated from Temple University in 2002 with a degree in Jazz Performance. He has performed or recorded with Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Young Chris, tU pHAce, Mike Taylor, Ritz Reynolds, Nicole Tranquillo from American Idol, The Half Of It, Dice Raw, Peedi Peedi, Abstract with G. Lawrence Francis, Musiqology, Fuzilla, Package, The Tap Room Trio, Anil Veeraraj, and B.D. Lenz to name a few. He has done national and international tours, is a seasoned veteran in the recording studio and is very comfortable in the teaching studio. He is endorsed by Sabian Cymbals and Pearl Drums. He is currently teaching at The University of Pennsylvania in the Music Department. He uses a black Yamaha Recording Custom, which was ordered to Carter Specs directly from Yamaha, as well as the Jeff Ocheltree Dangerous snare used on the first big 3 studio DMB recordings.
Vocals, Guitar, piano
Scranton-area based professional musician of 23 years, Dustin Switzer has been performing Dave Matthews Band tribute shows since 2000, when he began teaching himself guitar by learning the entire DMB catalogue. He has performed nearly 4,200 gigs since he began playing live, in every live situation. He's been bassist/vocalist of multiple elite professional corporate bands, and recorded an album of original material produced by a Grammy winning producer. He's opened for Tim Reynolds as far back as 18 years ago. his painstaking obsession to detail recreating Dave's legacy guitar kit is the core of Proud Monkey's sound.
Martin DM3MD - Dave's signature Martin. Used on dozens of DMB recordings.
1995 Martin HD28VR - used on Live at Luther College
Gibson Chet Atkins SST main guitar '93-'00
1997 Taylor 714 Cedar - Raised B guitar 2001-13
1998 Taylor 914c - main guitar 2000-2012
1998 Taylor W65 12 string - main 12 string from 2000-2014
1993 Jerry Jones Baritone - dave's main baritone
1997 Jerry Jones 6 String - used for electric standard songs
2012 Veillette Gryphon Custom - Dave's tiny "shotgun" guitar
1999 Veillette Journeyman 12 string baritone - used for "can't stop", Dustin's was made from the exact same 10 guitar line as made for Dave, Stefan, Tim in 1999.
1983 Fender 2 knob stratocaster - closest to dave's custom strat
There's tons of DMB "cover" bands who perform the songs, but none of them have spent the time and effort to recreate this kit for the fans who are as OCD about it as he is. Come nerd out at a show sometime with him.
instagram.com/dustinswitz
facebook.com/proudmonkeydmb
www.dustinswitzer.com
Bass Guitar
Jon is an accomplished, Electric/Acoustic bassist out of the NE Pennsylvania region. In the last 15 years he has performed in almost every position available in the professional music world. From Showband’s and Symphony Orchestras to National Festivals and Night Clubs.
Aside from being self-taught, Jon has studied under internationally known solo bassist Dr. Sandor Ostlund. Most of all Jon attributes most of his musical accomplishments to the many wonderful musicians he’s had the pleasure of working with throughout his career.
Most gig’s include much work as a sideman throughout the Northeastern PA region as well as the City of Atlanta, GA. One particular artist to name would be nationally known Blues guitarist and WC Handy Award nominee Clarence Spady. Jon has also backed up internationally known Broadway vocalist Debbie Gravitte with the NEPA Philharmonic Orchestra, and spent 5 years traveling the world playing music aboard Carnival Cruise Lines.
Tyrone Fredericks, Jr. (SaxmanTy) has been playing saxophone for more than 30 years. After beginning his formal jazz saxophone studies at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA, he earned both his bachelor (BM, 2004) and master of music (MM, 2017) degrees in jazz studies from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Tyrone has been playing professionally since 1999, studying and working with musicians such as Ben Schachter, Tim Warfield, Dave Liebman, Neil Wetzel, Terell Stafford, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, Donny McCaslin, Tom Lawton, Nelson Hill and many more. With musical genres spanning from jazz, funk, hip-hop and rock & roll, Tyrone arranges for and plays in over 150 shows a year in the New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey areas. He currently resides in Philadelphia area.
www.saxmanty.com
A professional piano, organ and keyboard player living in Chadds Ford PA, Dave Mattock divides his time between running the Mattock School of Music, performing, and teaching. Dave is a member of the faculty at Camden County College, University of Pennsylvania, and Lafayette College, where he teaches piano, theory, music history, music busines, jazz, ensembles and introductory music classes, and has a full studio of private students in the Philadelphia area. Interested in and capable of playing many styles of music, Dave currently works with The Tap Room Trio, the JW Caldwell Band, Soul Purpose, Charlie Apicella and Iron City, Browntown, Jeanette Berry and the Soul Nerds, and Apparatus. Dave can also be found freelancing around Philadelphia in various jazz ensembles, cover bands, wedding bands and studio appearances. He started teaching privately in 2002 and has maintained a studio of students of all ages and backgrounds ever since. Dave received his Bachelors degree in Jazz Performance from Temple University, and his Masters degree in Jazz History and Research at Rutgers University.
https://mattockschoolofmusic.com/
Nyke Van Wyk has been entertaining audiences in the Northeast and abroad for more than two and a half decades. Nyke is widely known for his signature blend of Traditional and Modern styles along with an abundance of infectious energy that clearly reflects his passion for music and performance. With a broad range of musical backgrounds, spanning from an extensive Classical and Celtic beginning, to more modern genres including Rock, R&B, Country and Electronic, Nyke delivers an exceptional performance in virtually any genre or venue.
Experiencing his first tours before entering High School, Nyke toured the United States and Europe with the Allegro Chamber Youth Orchestra based in New York State. By the the age of 18, his resumé already included performing at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston, recording in Disney’s Epcot Center, opening performances for the Boston Pops at Eisenhower Hall West Point, and performing in the White House under two different presidents.
With no signs of slowing down, Nyke has extensively toured and performed throughout the world with a variety of artists including The Badlees, The Spill Canvas, and The Craig Thatcher Band.
Just as he is no stranger to the stage, Nyke is omnipresent in several studios in addition to his own. He is credited on hundred of albums spanning from local artists, to Grammy Nominated artist Joe (Joe Thomas) on his albums “Signature” and “Ain’t Nothin’ Like Me” and recorded strings for Faith Evans 2016 Grammy nominated “He Is.”
With his passion to promote funding and education for the Music and Arts in schools and communities, Nyke continues to appear as a guest Keynote speaker for many school districts and conferences around the United States.
Regardless of how you encounter Nyke Van Wyk’s work, you can be assured that you will be left with a unique experience.
https://www.nykevanwyk.com/
We sincerely hope that if you are a fan of the Dave Matthews Band, that you come check us out and see how much passion we impart to recreating the true experience of seeing the real band.