Colin Brown
*Hammond B3
*Fender Rhodes
*Honer Clavinet
Ryan Scott
*Trumpet
Marcus Scott
*Vocals
Influences
Bernard Purdie
Blue Mitchell
Booker T & The MG's
Bootsy Collins
Fela Kuti
Grahm Central Station
Grant Green
Herbie Hancock
Idris Muhammad
Isley Brothers
Isaac Hayes
James Brown
Jimmy Smith
Les McCann
Lonnie Smith
Maceo Parker
Mandrill
The Meters
The Neville Bros.
Ohio Players
Otis Redding
Parliament/Funkadelic
Ramsey Lewis
Sly & The Family Stone
The Crusaders
The Wild Magnolias
The Headhunters
The Nite Liters
The Gaturs
Tower Of Power
And of course...
VINYL
BIO:
The Bay Area music scene has been setting standards for many decades. The Monophonics are another prime example of the talent spewing forth from the streets of San Francisco and surrounding areas. Since forming in 2005, The Monophonics have evolved into SF Weekly's "Best of the Bay" winners for their retro sound, style, and approach. They have become one of the hottest upcoming live instrumental funk bands with inspirations stemming from the late 1960s and 1970s. Their popularity has continued to grow since their first album "Playin and Simple" was released in September 2007. Their goal – to spread the funk and maintain the classic Bay Area funk sound – has gained them recognition as young heavy-hitters in the soul, jazz, and funk community. Their musical intelligence and funky sound has landed them guest appearances by saxophonist Karl Denson, vocalist Marcus Scott, and Tower of Power's own Mic Gillette on their second album, due to release this year.
AWARDS & PRESS:
Voted "Best Funk/Soul/R&B Band" in SF Weekly's Best Of The Bay Awards 2007
"Since forming in 2005, Monophonics quickly made a name for themselves, keeping the big horn-driven instrumental funk sound of the '60s and '70s alive with countless gigs around the Bay Area and beyond."
- SF Weekly, SFWeekly.com
"The power and the freshness of the sound knocked me out. Always great to hear horns over a funky groove, these boys are bad."
- Narada Michael Walden, nardamichaelwalden.com
"Monophonics has been stirring quite the buzz throughout the bay area over the last few years with their organic seven piece funk outfit that sends the dance floor into a fury with their horn section that never disappoints."
- Falcore & Friends, Jambase.com
"Solid"
- Sterling James, Alice 97.3, Radioalice.com
"The acclaimed Horn Driven funk unit, *MONOPHONICS* is an electrifying band with unforgettable music. A Funky Bay Area sensation that will burn it down..."
- Sunset Promotions, sunsetpromotions.com
"The hottest horn-driven Funk this year"
- Alex Andreas, The Boom Boom Room
"It's no secret I'm fond of Vinyl, the Greyboy Allstars, and Herbie Hancock's fusion era, and the Monophonics, to my ears, are sonically reminiscent of each while creating something fresh and funky."
-Matt Kramer, Marin Scope, Marinscope.com
"One of the best bands to come out of Marin in 10 years."
- 19 Broadway Nite Club
"Marin County's "band of the year," the fabulous Monophonics, featuring their powerfull trademark horn section - and rhythm section. This band knows how to get a party started. The ecstatic fans were jumping all over the place until the show ended and since nobody was ready to go home, they begged for more."
- Mike Ghiringhelli, Ross Valley Reporter
"This up-and-coming young band takes influence from the classic funk era of the 1960s and 1970s, and the dance floor is sure to fill up fast."
- Pacific Sun, Pacificsun.com
"This band is a band on the rise. These young players are cooking up a hearty stew of funky rhythms. Catch them now and you will be able to say you were there when the party was just getting hot -- of course they have had more of a year of being hot and show no signs of cooling down. Its a bold beat and a fun time."
- Guy Myers, Bandlands.com
"Never one to offer audiences a breather, Monophonics, looking like they'd raided the Art Ensemble of Chicago's closet and make-up drawer, funneled nasty strangeness into funky frames after the Hips. Monophonics have clearly studied up on their James Brown but don't genuflect to any orthodoxy. Like the best funk units, they go by feel, and in Tuolumne Hall theirs was a sweaty, grabby sort of Braille read. One felt them, shining out from a central chakra, limbs illuminated with youth and raw gusto. In their eyes shined a single message: "I'm gonna get some." How you define "some" may vary wildly but the sheer lust of their playing was undeniable and intensely palpable."
- Dennis Cook, Jambase.com
Hello! Hope you can join us September 17th at the Wild Buffalo... Snug Harbor will be releasing their debut funk album, "Sounds from the York" !
Snug Harbor w/very special guests Three on a Tree Thursday, September 17, 2009 @ the Wild Buffalo Downtown Bellingham, WA 9pm $5 or $13 w/ a CD 21+
love, funk, and groove.
have a wonderful week and please spread the word about the show! We'd love to see your smilling face there... New music from the album is up now for your listening pleasure on our myspace media player page.
Hey Monophonics! We saw you play with The Grease Traps once at a show in Berkeley and really liked it. We're coming to San Francisco for Labor Day weekend and would like to hear some great funky music on Sat 9/6. Do you have any tips on shows or clubs to go to for that night? Thanks, Nikki Nikki O'Neill Band
Hey Monophobics, I wanted to let you know we've got a special right now - 1,000 retail-ready CDs in jewel cases for only $750! Hit me up for more details, hope to work with you soon. All the best...
Hope you guys can make it out to my CD Release at Yoshi's on Tuesday, 8/25. Click flier for $11 presale ticket that includes a free copy of "Blue and Moonlit."
Founding member and former front man of John Brown’s Body Kevin Kinsella returns to Southern Cali August 1 to perform with Elijah Emmanuel and the Revelations. Come out and show some love!
A typical Kevin Kinsella set includes his new original reggae, 10 Ft. Ganja Plant music and classic JBB songs.
Are you coming? W2O is every thursday at WET nightclub.
- W2O - (every thursday night @ wet nightclub)
Looking for a thursday night HOT SPOT? WET Nightclub is the place to be! It's luxurious place is perfect for a great night downtown. With three levels of excitement & four fully stocked bars, this place is marvelous. Come check it out and party with us!
AT WET "W2O" EVERY THURSDAY, YOUR WEEKEND STARTS HERE!
Pretty cool to get to dance to you at the ballpark yesterday! Glad I made it out to jelly's too...great time dancing my ass off, as always! can't wait to get the new album. you guys just keep getting better, and better...