Courtesy Jumping Monks' new album, ‘Won't You?' has less rap, but isn't short on melodies to groove to.

THEY ARE: Jumping Monks

MEMBERS: Weston Ripps, lead vocals and drummer; Travis Ripps, bass guitar and backup vocals; Adam Jacobs, lead guitar

THE SOUND: Texas funk rock

THE WEB: jumpingmonks.com, myspace.com/jumpingmonks

ALBUMS: Green Apple Worms (2003); Won't You? (2007)

THE BACKGROUND: The Jumping Monks formed in 2002, a trio of guys from Castroville heavily influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their first album was largely funk, with a lot of rap mixed in. “Rock in the Revolution,” which could be a funk anthem, and a cover of Dion's 1961 hit “Runaround Sue” received some radio airplay in Texas. They played the Vans Warped Tour stop in San Antonio in 2003; they've also opened for Vanilla Ice and Tone Loc. The band changed guitarists in 2005.

WHY THEY'RE DIFFERENT: Weston, the lead singer, is also the drummer, which is rare for a rock band. “We've considered putting (Weston) up front and putting a rhythm guitar in his hands, but he's just so good on drums we just didn't want to do it,” Travis said. Another unusual aspect: The three members don't live in the same city. Travis lives in Houston, while his brother and Jacobs are in San Antonio. “We record and send stuff, and say, ‘Oh, check this out, and add your part to it,'.” Travis said. “That's actually pretty cool. It gives you some perspective on writing.”

THEIR WORDS: “We're older than we were. The songs are more mature,” Weston Ripps said of the new album. “We've gone through a lot, so the songs have gotten a little more serious than they were before, but they've still got the funk edge to them.”

WHERE TO SEE THEM: The Won't You release party is Saturday, Nov. 3, at Jack's Patio Bar & Grill, 2950 Thousand Oaks Drive.

THE 210 TAKE: The Jumping Monks' sophomore album is still heavy on the rhythm-driven rock, but Won't You has less rap and more melody than Green Apple Worms. That will probably make it more accessible to a wider audience, which is good because the Monks definitely offer up an infectious groove.

Jessica Belasco | 210SA Contributor