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Pinmonkey
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==Musical career== Once all four musicians were in place, they began performing at [[nightclub]]s around Nashville. Through connections Schell had made at the attorney's office, they hired Rick Alter as their manager.<ref name="drives"/> Originally, the four did not consider pursuing music full-time, and only performed when their schedules allowed it. However, due to positive fan reception, they chose to become a band. They were booked to play at a Nashville club called the Sutler, whose manager asked them to pick a name so the venue could advertise them.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/70374668/ | title=Pinmonkey: remember the name | work=The Index-Journal | date=December 8, 2002 | accessdate=October 31, 2002 | author=Paulette Flowers | pages=3C}}</ref> Reynolds chose "Pinmonkey" after a slang term for a [[pinsetter]], a person who resets [[bowling pins|pins]] in the game of [[bowling]].<ref name="drives"/><ref name="beyond">{{cite web | url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/concertreview2.asp?f=pinmonkey | title=Pinmonkey goes well beyond its name | publisher=Country Standard Time | accessdate=October 29, 2024 | author=Jeffrey B. Remz}}</ref> He came up with the name after hearing the word on an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]''.<ref name="drives"/><ref name="pin">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/226072126/ | title=Pinmonkey bowls 'em over | work=The News-Star | date=November 8, 2002 | accessdate=October 29, 2024 | author=Fred Phillips | pages=1}}</ref> Record executive [[Joe Galante]] heard the band perform at 12th and Porter, another nightclub in Nashville,<ref name="shoots"/><ref name="boldly"/> and signed them to [[BNA Records]] in 2002.<ref name="shoots">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/113117166/ | title=Americana or not, Nashville's Pinmonkey shoots for the big time | work=The Tennessean | date=December 11, 2002 | accessdate=November 20, 2018 | author=Peter Cooper | pages=1D, 2D}}</ref> Just before their signing with BNA, Pinmonkey had recorded an album titled ''Speak No Evil'' on the independent Drifter's Church label; Galante allowed the band to release the album, so they could have a product to promote before signing tour dates.<ref name="pin"/><ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pinmonkey-mn0000291219/biography |title=Pinmonkey biography |accessdate=2008-03-01 |last=Hage |first=Erik |work=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref><ref name="drives"/> Among said tour dates were eight stops on [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]]'s "Most Wanted Live" tour.<ref name="candy"/> One of tracks on ''Speak No Evil'' was a cover of [[Gwil Owen]]'s "Augusta".<ref name="drives"/> The independent album received a positive review in ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', which compared the band favorably to [[Pure Prairie League]] and [[Poco (band)|Poco]], while also praising Reynolds's lead vocals and the musicianship.<ref name="billboard speak">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2002/BB-2002-03-02.pdf | title=Reviews |date=March 2, 2002 | magazine=Billboard | pages=25}}</ref> ===2002{{ndash}}2003: ''Pinmonkey''=== {{multiple image | width1 = 144 | image1 =Dolly Parton accepting Liseberg Applause Award 2010 portrait.jpg | alt2 = A waist-up picture of Dolly Parton. | width2 = 159 | image2 =CyndiLauperRAH260624 (51 of 51) (53819275674) (cropped).jpg | alt3 = A waist-up picture of Cyndi Lauper. | footer = Pinmonkey's self-titled album included covers of Dolly Parton (left) and Cyndi Lauper (right). }} In April 2002, BNA released the band's debut single "[[Barbed Wire and Roses]]".<ref name="drives"/><ref name="allmusic"/> Co-written by [[Tia Sillers]], [[Mark Selby (musician)|Mark Selby]], and Sean Locke, the song peaked at number 25 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Country Songs]] charts.{{sfn|Whitburn|2017|page=282}} It served as the lead-off single to their [[Pinmonkey (album)|self-titled album]], released in late 2002.<ref name="allmusic"/> The album included covers of [[Sugar Ray]]'s "[[Fly (Sugar Ray song)|Fly]]", [[Cyndi Lauper]]'s "[[I Drove All Night]]",<ref name="pin"/> [[the Staple Singers]]'s "Stay with Us", [[Dolly Parton]]'s "Falling Out of Love with Me", and a re-recording of the "Augusta" cover.<ref name="boldly"/><ref name="candy"/> The Parton cover also featured her on backing vocals.<ref name="candy">{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/pinmonkey-makes-rock-meets-bluegrass-ear-candy-73900/ | title=Pinmonkey Makes Rock-Meets-Bluegrass ‘Ear Candy’ | publisher=Billboard | date=October 10, 2002 | accessdate=October 29, 2024}}</ref><ref name="leaver"/> Reynolds wrote the tracks "Jar of Clay" and "The Longest Road".<ref name="boldly"/> Contributing musicians on the album included [[Ricky Skaggs]], [[Al Perkins]], and former Poco member [[Rusty Young (musician)|Rusty Young]]. [[Paul Worley]] and Mike Poole served as producers.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Pinmonkey |others=Pinmonkey |year=2002 |type=CD booklet |publisher=BNA Records |id=07863}}</ref> Jack Leaver of ''[[The Grand Rapids Press]]'' rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of four, praising the cover songs in particular, as well as the use of [[Dobro]] and vocal harmony.<ref name="leaver">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1123363018/ | title=Maturing Urban paves 'Golden Road'; India.Arie cuts voyage short | work=[[The Grand Rapids Press]] | date=October 9, 2002 | accessdate=October 29, 2024 | author=Jack Leaver | pages=B7}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] writer Erik Hage praised the "tight musicianship" and Reynolds's lead vocals.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/pinmonkey-mw0000661418 | title=''Pinmonkey'' review | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=October 29, 2024 | author=Erik Hage}}</ref> By year's end, Pinmonkey began to tour with [[Tim McGraw]], [[Lee Ann Womack]], and [[Brad Paisley]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/pinmonkey-plans-road-push-73938/ | title=Pinmonkey Plans Road Push | publisher=Billboard | date=October 4, 2002 | accessdate=October 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2002/RR-2002-10-25.pdf | title=Father and Daughter |author=Mike Trias |date=October 25, 2002 | journal=[[Radio & Records]] | pages=27}}</ref> Additionally, the band was nominated by the [[Academy of Country Music]] for Top New Vocal Duo or Group.<ref name="acm">{{cite web | url=https://www.acmcountry.com/winners?awardTitle=pinmonkey&awardCategory=&awardYear=&actionButton=Submit | title=Search results for Pinmonkey | publisher=[[Academy of Country Music]] | accessdate=October 29, 2024}}</ref> The only other single from the project was the cover of "I Drove All Night",<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2002/BB-2002-11-16.pdf | title=Reviews | magazine=Billboard |date=November 16, 2002 | pages=26}}</ref> which the band took to number 36 on the country chart in early 2003.{{sfn|Whitburn|2017|page=282}} ===2004{{ndash}}06: Membership changes, ''Big Shiny Cars'', and disbanding=== A third single for BNA, a cover of [[Robbie Fulks]]'s "Let's Kill Saturday Night", peaked at number 44 on Hot Country Songs in 2004.{{sfn|Whitburn|2017|page=282}} However, BNA dropped the band for undisclosed reasons weeks after the single's release, and Schell quit soon after.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2004/BB-2004-07-17.pdf | title=So Long, Boones Mill; Hello, Nashville | author=Phyllis Stark |date=July 17, 2004 | magazine=Billboard | pages=29}}</ref> In 2005, Schell released a solo album titled ''Salt of the Earth''.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/275923965/ | title=More live music | work=The Tennessean | date=July 6, 2005 | accessdate=October 31, 2024 | pages=D3}}</ref> Mike Crouch took over as drummer, while Chad Jeffers left to join [[Keith Urban]]'s road band. The three remaining members — Crouch, Reynolds, and Michael Jeffers — were signed to a recording contract with [[Back Porch Records]], with the album ''[[Big Shiny Cars]]'' being released in 2006.<ref name="allmusic"/> This album produced one single in "That Train Don't Run".<ref name="train">{{cite journal | url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2006/RR-2006-03-24.pdf | title=Going for Adds | journal=Radio & Records |date=March 24, 2006 | pages=21}}</ref> [[Matraca Berg]] co-wrote the song, and previously reached the Hot Country Songs charts in 1997 with her rendition.{{sfn|Whitburn|2017|page=42}}<ref name="slant"/> Reynolds wrote three tracks on the album, while other contributing writers included [[Kieran Kane]], Joy Lynn White, and [[Billy Montana]]. The track "Coldest Fire in Town" included Rusty Young and Elizabeth Cook on backing vocals.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/big-shiny-cars-mw0000364503 | title=''Big Shiny Cars'' | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=October 29, 2024}}</ref> Also included was a cover of [[Kelly Willis]]'s "[[Wrapped (Bruce Robison song)|Wrapped]]" (written by her then-husband, [[Bruce Robison]]);<ref name="slant"/> a year later, [[George Strait]] would have a number two hit on the country charts with his own version.{{sfn|Whitburn|2017|pages=348-350}} Jeffrey B. Remz of [[Country Standard Time]] reviewed the album positively, praising the [[country rock]] sound and Reynolds's singing voice.<ref name="shiny">{{cite web | url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=3026 | title=''Big Shiny Cars'' review | work=Country Standard Time | accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> Giving the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, Jonathan Keefe of ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' wrote, "the album is too stylistically scattershot to stand as a coherent statement of artistic identity, but the elements of greatness—the technical skill, the recognition of good material, the charisma—are all present to varying degrees, making Pinmonkey one of the few honest-to-God bands on [[Music Row]] worth following."<ref name="slant">{{cite web | url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/pinmonkey-big-shiny-cars/ | title=Review: Pinmonkey, Big Shiny Cars | publisher=Slant Magazine | date=March 4, 2006 | accessdate=October 29, 2024 | author=Jonathan Keefe}}</ref> After ''Big Shiny Cars'', the members of Pinmonkey went on to other projects. Michael Jeffers became a touring musician for [[Joe Nichols]], and Chad Jeffers joined [[Carrie Underwood]]'s touring band.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://roanoke.com/archive/jeffers-one-of-the-good-guys/article_b15191b6-34b1-5ec0-b71c-cb288aa94054.html | title=Jeffers: one of the good guys | publisher=The Roanoke Times | date=November 8, 2010 | accessdate=August 18, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2016/05/carrie_underwood_belts_it_out.html | title=Carrie Underwood turns 'Storyteller' at Quicken Loans Arena | work=Cleveland.com | date=May 19, 2016 | accessdate=October 27, 2024 | author=Chuck Yarborough}}</ref> Schell joined Pure Prairie League as a vocalist and drummer in 2007,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.syracuse.com/listenup/2007/12/schell_returns_home_for_luckys.html | title=Schell returns home for Lucky's show | publisher=Syracuse.com | date=December 12, 2007 | accessdate=August 18, 2024}}</ref> but exited the band by 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pure-prairie-league-mn0000371879#biography | title=Pure Prairie League biography | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=October 27, 2024 | author=William Ruhlmann}}</ref> In 2024, Michael Reynolds released a solo album titled ''Tarnished Nickel Sky''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gratefulweb.com/articles/michael-reynolds-returns-after-ten-years-tarnished-nickel-sky | title=Michael Reynolds Returns After Ten Years with the 'Tarnished Nickel Sky' }}</ref> Writing for the blog Country Universe, Keefe called it "an album of thoughtfully composed songs that are accessible without sounding beholden to country...trends."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.countryuniverse.net/2024/08/18/bluesky-bullet-points-august-18-2024/ | title=Bluesky Bullet Points: August 18, 2024 | publisher=Country Universe | date=August 18, 2024 | accessdate=October 27, 2024 | author=Jonathan Keefe}}</ref>
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