Ian Wilson-Lead Vocals
Myles Vlachos-Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Sean Morrissey-Guitar
James Pierce- Bass, Guitar
Evan Owens-Drums, Guitar, Vocals
Influences
Radiohead, Wilco, Muse, Pink Floyd, The Strokes
Sounds Like
"You and the City Light" review from Tomatrax
This is the debut release from this promising new 5 piece from Maryland. Rock Monahan have put a lot of different sounds into the mix when compiling this record. There are elements of hazy shoegazing music that Ride used to produce, some early distorted grunge sounds reminiscent of what Sonic Youth have done and some dirty punk-rock elements similar to what the Clash used to do. Above all though the band is trying all sorts of sounds and effects to come up with their own sound and they pull it off well. The album moves around a fair bit from being fast paced and loud to being slow, laid back and subdued however it all fits together with the vibe easing its way around. In addition to this Ian Wilsons vocals are able to adapt to complement the style of each song.
The album opens with The Spark, which shows a mix of grunge and shoegazing elements toped with a high yelp from vocalist Ian Wilson. 'Turn the lights off when you leave', is a quiet slow paced piece led by an acoustic guitar and soft vocals. Remember me is in parts a melodic and laid back instrumental, consisting of slow guitar and bass lines. Underpaid Hands is a sweet, slow paced and atmospheric piece. Breakdown mixes a dark and deep piano with some psychedelic sound effects coming in and out of the sound. 'Something to look forward to' is a beautiful and infectious pop tune led with an acoustic guitar that would stand up strongly as a radio single. Mr Wilson is a 5 minute instrumental led with a surfy style guitar reminiscent of the Shadows and backed with an airy background. The title track is a 6 and a half-minute epic in which the band travel around musically trying out all sorts of sounds, speeds, and textures. The album closes with the heavy and layered piece; The Gardener which is reminiscent of the work Ride did in the early nineties.
This is a very solid and promising debut album from Rock Monahan that shows they are willing to experiment with their sound to come up with something new and interesting. This album is very much worth checking out if you like the shoegazing or grunge sounds that bands such as Ride, Sonic Youth or Dinosaur Jr have put out in the past. It will also be especially interesting to see where they take their sound from here on.
Rating: 4.5 Tomatoes
Rock Monahan is an Alternative, Experimental rock band from Frederick Maryland, located about 45 minutes from DC and Baltimore. The band formed in 2004 and has since released their first full length LP entitled You and the City Light. Their major influences include such artists as Radiohead, Muse, Pink Floyd, Wilco, and The Strokes. To further understand the depth of the bands musical integrity one must delve further into their sonic past.
Myles, Ian, and Brian formed the band Incyndric in 2000. Incyndric wrote a handful of songs and played a smattering of gigs in the subsequent years. In 2004, after a series of line-up changes that included the exile of long time drummer and exodus of their lead guitarist, the three looked for new direction.
In the fall of 2004, Myles was introduced to guitarist and novice drummer, Evan Owens. Evan sat in on drums playing their first new original composition, The Spark, a complicated, furious rock arrangement, which moves between 5/4, 4/4, and 9/4 time signatures. After collapsing from the drum-set in agony upon completion of jamming the song, the band decided that Owens would be the missing piece to their puzzle. Three months later, after countless hours in Myless basement studio, the band emerged with their first EP entitled Cornered Corners. The EP features four demo versions of songs that would later appear on their full-length album, as well as the experimental, haunting b-side Fade Away in the Light. Throughout the winter, spring, and summer of 2005 the band remained in the studio with the intent to polish their old songs, and craft a few new masterpieces.
Rock Monahan emerged from their basement world to play a battle of the bands, a few school functions, and a fourth of July festival. After these well-received gigs, the band knew they had found the right formula, and henceforth returned to the studio to put the finishing touches on their LP. By late August the band emerged with the breathtaking, psychedelic ten-song work-of-art known as You and the City Light. Throughout the course of the album the band delves deep into the dynamics of rock and roll. The album highlights a psychedelic, piano rock, freak-out on the track Breakdown, as well as a simple acoustic composition called Something to Look Forward to. The LP is also latent with hit potential on the upbeat rock track Where Everyone Can Breathe, and on the infectious, ambient, and reflective track Underpaid Hands. The album climaxes with a six-minute and thirty-second long epic title track You and the City Light. In spite of the bands complexity, they retain pop sensibilities and achieve a cohesive record.
Over the ensuing school year the members of Rock Monahan went to varying universities. Where as most bands might have called it quits at this point, the four viewed it as a time for personal, and musical growth. They released You and the City Light in January after completing the album art composed by good friend Brandon Weiss at Myles consultation. They then released the album at The Mudd Puddle in Frederick where the played to a literally packed house. They followed this up with some additional well-received gigs and a radio appearance at George Mason University.
Difficulty struck however later in the year when Brian abruptly announced that he would be leaving the band. This shook the band members, but in true rock fashion they moved forward. They immediately enlisted the help of long time friend, and supremely talented guitarist/ bassist James Pierce, to fill in the low end, and also enrolled Sean Morrissey as a full time member instead of just a live guitarist as he was previously. Both members have greatly enhanced the sound and personal dynamic of the band.
Currently the band is revamping press materials, practicing, and booking and promoting shows. They already have a handful of gigs lined up for the Summer of 06 including a date at the acclaimed club, The Brass Monkey, in Baltimore, and The Park Rock Fest in September. The band has also been on high demand from other artist with invitations hailing from NY, PA, and NC. Their album is available on CD Baby, and is already getting industry attention. The band is truly running on a new level of maturity, strength, and optimism, as the band prepares for their long awaited sophomore summer.
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So, it looks like we'll be playing your neck of the weeds this week and would love to see you while we're out. The show is at Goucher College this Friday (Sept. 15th) @ 7pm - All ages and FREE, so digging through the sofa isn't required.
though is you find something sexy in your sofa, we'd love to hear about it. I mean, thats just good entertainment.
Hope to see ya this week. It'll be a while before we're able to swing back through, so we'd hate to miss ya. ;-)
whats going on guys? im looking forward to hearing more from you. come on by and check out a few of my songs off of my album "Looking Forward". you can pick the cd up through Paypal on my homepage.
