In an increasingly rare way, the reputation of a musician or band in concert rarely precedes their performance in any given city. Sure there are exceptions: everyone knows that Kiss puts on a great live show. So does Paul McCartney, for that matter.
And with a little research, the live juggernaut that is Israeli band Monotonix can also be added to the list. The group is scheduled to perform the first of only two shows in Atlantic Canada on Friday Jan. 15 at the Manhattan Bar and Grill in Moncton.
Formed in 2005, the trio immediately worked to set themselves apart from the contemporary Israeli music they were surrounded by.
Taking influence from garage-rock greats MC5 and the Sonics and mixing it with a dash of Led Zeppelin, the group’s live shows in their homeland quickly earned them the distinction of having to be seen to be believed.
Their initial live shows would often be prematurely shut down by authorities as the band performed on the floors of venues, surrounded by their audience who fed off the band’s frantic energy. Monotonix would ultimately be banned from playing in what they estimate to be half the venues in Israel and say that they had no choice but to look at touring Europe and the US if they were interested in continuing to play live.
Dubbed “the most exciting band in rock n roll”, the group released the Body Language EP in 2008 and followed that up with the more recently released full-length Where Were You When It Happened.
And while they sound damn fine on record, I have a feeling that seeing the band at their upcoming Moncton show is going to be the best way to turn you onto the group.
To give you some insight into what might be expected at a Monotonix show, take the following into consideration:
The crowd at a Monotonix show in Richmond, Virginia was so inspired by the band’s performance that they lifted the entire band into the air (instruments and all) to play the last song of their set. And while at a show in Knoxville, Tennessee, a show spectator took the liberty of taking vocalist Ami Shalev’s lighter fluid, dousing himself with it and setting himself ablaze.
The bottom line is to expect the unexpected at a Monotonix show from both the band as well as the audience. There is a very real chance that people will be talking about this show for years to come if some of the legends from past Monotonix shows hold true.
Local bands Pervert and Something Delicious will also be appearing at the Monotonix show in Moncton. Tickets to the show are $10.