Our preview of MONOLITH continues as we look at three more bands scheduled to perform in the approaching festival: The Montonix, The Mars Volta, and MSTRKRFT. Keep in mind: all three of these groups will be performing in Texas soon after their MONOLITH appearances!
The Montonix
Do not put hands near Ami Shalev
As we witnessed first hand at Sasquatch, The Monotonix are a hairy, sweaty punch to your musical solar plexus. Their latest U.S. release, Where Were You When It Happened, couldn’t be a more appropriate description of their music: heavy, droning rock chords and banging drums that verge on the simplistic, but that tap into the cave grunt dwelling within us all, manifested perfectly in their chaos-driven live shows. They don’t play venues – they are a venue unto themselves. Lead singer Ami Shalev uses anything around him as prop or launching pad as he rants incoherent Hebrew or English, with guitarist Yonatan Gat and drummer Haggai Fershtman constantly remaking what defines a stage. How they’ll transform the Red Rocks Amphitheater to their own circus is yet to be seen, but it will no doubt decide the age old battle of “Man v. Geology”.
I fear for the venue they’re playing on their Denton tour stop, Rubber Gloves. The thought of these wild men in an enclosed space both titillates and disturbs me. Dallas people, I implore you all – if you can’t catch them at Monolith, don’t miss them when they hit Denton!
Man sweat. Yelling. Fists. Mustaches. Tasty riffs. That is all.
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
I think no other band I’m aware of has been described as being “an acquired taste” more than these El Paso natives. The vast majority of first time experiences with the group result in confused stares or outright rejection, which (ashamedly) includes the reaction I first had upon hearing one of their more recognizable songs, “Inertiatic Esp”. I remember the feeling, “I like all of the influences here, but I’m not getting the sum of their parts”. Radio rock it ain’t: their thick, heady mixture of metal, psychedelic rock, punk, and Hispanic balladry takes time to dissect, but it’s well worth the wait. Once smitten, you’ll easily find yourself yearning for their renowned live performances, which naturally seem a better forum for their experimental sound and passionate lyrics. I imagine the crimson hues and cavernous setting of Red Rocks will add an especially dramatic edge to this set.
MSTRKRFT
MSTRKRFT
Next to my high anticipation for Chromeo, I’m eagerly awaiting the dance pit that MSTRKRFT is sure to generate. This bass laden electronic duo mashes other dance hits and hip hop into a mix that easily evokes Daft Punk’s “Robot Rock” or Justice’s anything. While Chromeo may have the upper hand in terms of lyricism and melody, I predict MSTRKRFT will be the show to turn MONOTLITH into a scene creepily reminiscent of Zion’s cave dance hall from The Matrix 2, with less suck.
