Hey, are you in an unsigned band, looking for an awesome way to promote your music by designing your own energy drink can and plastering your band's name on the label?

Or maybe you own a pub, bar, club, café or convenience store and want to support local business and music - but still want a fair price.

Then Rock My Monkey Energy Drink is for you.

Mark Carras and his wife, Sherri, have been running Rock My Monkey Energy Drink out of their home for a little more than a year now. Sold at Invictus Café and 4th Ave Food Mart in Olympia, the energy drink's flavor is "somewhere between Mountain Dew and Red Bull," Sherri said. (I tasted it mixed with Jameson whiskey - delicious!)

Music and caffeine have been a way of life for Carras. What began as a hobby in high school, making fan zines and getting into music like Fitz of Depression, Black Flag and Circle Jerks, became late nights and music journalism. For nearly 10 years, he has been head honcho at Rockmymonkey.com, a - you guessed it - music website.

Carras considers the energy drink a natural progression. The idea began after he started managing the self-proclaimed "foot to the throat" rock and metal band Tatarus. An alumnus of North Thurston High School in Lacey, where most of the Tatarus members go to school, Carras now does custodial work there. Knowing his music background, the band looked to him for support.

"I thought, hey, what can I do to help these kids?" he said.

After trying to get sponsorship for Tatarus from energy drink companies, and after numerous rejections, Carras decided to start his own brand.

Now after a year of learning curves, Rock My Monkey Energy Drink is ready to take things to the next level. The can used to boast the surly, but cute, Rock My Monkey mascot as well as the saying "We support Olympia music."

Now the can has broadened to say, "We support Northwest Music," and features unsigned rock bands from across the region and across the board.

"We like everything, from Paul McCartney to Cannibal Corpse," Carras said.

To get featured, bands simply sign up at Rockmymonkey.com/unsigned. Fans then vote on which band should grace the can.

June's featured band is Seattle's Arakus, and July's band is Olympia's Bone Shaker.

Check out Rock My Monkey this Saturday at Invictus Café in Olympia, during a benefit show for the family of Amanda Winters, the 17-year-old who was killed when her car struck a tree while she was driving to school in April.

For more information about getting your band or business involved with Rock My Monkey, visit Rockmymonkey.com or call 360.519.ROCK.

TATARUS, w/Reverend Bear, Fallen Angels, Curse the North, 5 p.m., Saturday, June 15, Invictus Café, 716 ½ Plum St., Olympia, $3, 360.489.0191