Ben Haysom - Keys, Auxiliary Percussion, & Mallets
John Smithson - Vocals and Guitars
Jason Davis - Guitars and Glockenspiel
Daniel Walker - Bass and BGVS
Chris Thielen - Drums
Influences
The Cure, Hank Williams Sr., Rachmaninoff, American Football, Bruce Springsteen, Elliott Smith, Joy Division, Five O'Clock People, Johnny Cash, The Promise Ring, The Arcade Fire, Sappo, Bloc Party, Radiohead, Chopin, and The Velvet Underground
After two years in the making, Mon Marie the project has finally become Mon Marie the band. Initially conceptualized in Jackson, Michigan by song-writing partners John Smithson and Jason Davis, the band went through severe changes including, but not limited to, a move from Michigan to Washington state where the line-up was completed with the addition of bassist Daniel Walker and drummer Chris Thielen.
-PRESS-
"Mon Marie migrated from Michigan to Washington, bringing with them swooning, melodramatic love songs whose wussiness is undermined by the off-kilter elements in their symphonic lo-fi production. Fuzz bass, mysterious whispery vocals, and generous dollops of echo make their swinging-for-the-fences emo melodicism sound invitingly weird rather than embarrassingly cheesy. Let’s hope they continue to write tunes that would make Brian Wilson jealous, and let’s hope they never see the inside of a real studio." -Portland Mercury (Ned Lannamann)
"...not just another "indie rock" outfit, Seattle's Mon Marie has stumbled upon the formula for catchy northwest pop..." - L.A. Weekly
"As such, I cannot stop listening to this song (Transient Night). It has one of the catchiest intros/verses I’ve heard in some time. I can’t tell whether it’s the lack of polish or the pleasant, wandering jangle of the guitars, but its allure is immeasurable...You know how some people love Yo La Tengo because some people consider them the band they could have always been in? I think, had I been in a band this previous week, this is the song we would have written. Not because the song is simple (though it is), but because it’s naked and honest to a painful degree, a song that let itself get sunburned for the sake of integrity." -The Pop Filter (Rahawa)
"Drawing on influences from The Cure, to Rachmaninoff, to Hank Williams Sr., their style incorporates aspects from a variety of musical tastes and interests while maintaining a consistency all their own." -Hype Magazine
"f you step into a wind tunnel with your favorite music wafting in the surrounding gusts, it’s quite possible that you might think, Hey, that sounds a lot like Mon Marie...the band enlists a multitude of musical styles, reworks them with unconventional time signatures and odd percussive diversions, and sets them loose amid a barrage of string instruments and emo-tinged, echo-heavy vocalization that puts more emphasis on emotional and creative substance than the rote reproduction of any particular musical genre or style. Mon Marie is cutting its own path..." - Santa Fe Pasatiemp
"Happy, Groovy, Indie times... It’s about time an indie band released a recording that turns one’s mind to whisper tubes." - The Missoula Independent
"Amongst a strong drumbeat and accompanying vocals in the mesmerizing sound of alternative folk rock..."- The Eugene Weekly
"Fiddling and plucking out niches along the folk/pop spectrum, Mon Marie uses old-timey instruments to create new sounds. . The results, especially on Transient Night, are pop rock songs you wouldn't be embarrassed playing for your jug band." - The Inlander
"pleasantly orchestral indie pop.." - The Denver Westword
very much appreciated! we're focusing on new material for recording in october. but thanks for the support! it was a pleasure to play with you, and we hope to be visiting the north west this winter.
Im already putting my stuff in boxes so if I come to a show and you see a girl who looks like a crazy bag lady that will be me...oh and Ive had a big music crush on Dont tell sophie for a long time...even more reasons to move...see you on your doorstep soon
Yeah for sure, you definitely should come back soon! :D That'd be lovely. I'd really like to see you play, oh and again, thanks for the CD. I have been listening to it a lot lately. You guys are superrr good:D
