MONO at Daniel Street

If you asked me 5 or 6 years ago what my favorite label was, I would tell you Temporary Residence Ltd without a moments hesitation. They had all the best bands and all the new releases I wanted but could never afford. I mean they had it all: Cerberus Shoal, Explosions in the Sky, Eluvium, and Tarentel, which was my favorite band for a long, long time. Still, one of the best bands on TR was absolutely MONO. Hailing from Japan, they exemplify everything I loved about the genre; the echoing guitar melodies, the long slow builds, and of course the noisy, aggressive, over-the-top choruses. Loud waves of distortion contrasted with sweet, reverb-laden guitar, blasting cymbals; but at the heart of it all, the driving force behind the music is always pure emotion. I guess there's a reason people are always crying at Mono concerts.

Recently, the post-rock thing hasn't quite lived up to what it meant to me back then, but I still listen to all those old classics and try to keep up with the new releases. Admittedly, I've been slacking a bit, but of course I still follow MONO. Last year they released a real masterpiece; for those of you who don't own 2009's amazing double LP Hymn to the Immortal Wind yet, you should really consider picking it up. In addition to that album, while they were touring around last year with a 24-piece orchestra, which was recorded and just released as their newest live album, a 3LP and DVD set titled Holy Ground: NYC Live With The Wordless Music Orchestra. I think that they're really coming back into the spotlight again, and the new songs are fantastic.

Next Saturday, they'll be coming to Daniel Street with The Twilight Sad, who I've also been listening to for years. The Twilight Sad are from Scotland, and have released two albums that are very different from one another, the early stuff being more gentle and their newer album Forget the Night Ahead being a much noisier affair. They're now heavier than ever, have very dark lyrics and draw a lot of late 80s shoegaze influence, while still maintaining a bit of a post-rock musical and emotional feel. Vocalist James Graham's meandering Scottish brogue is totally unique and layering this ontop of screaming distortion and krautrock beats makes these guys awesome in my book.

Manic Productions Presents:
MONO
The Twilight Sad

Saturday, May 29, 2010 @ Daniel Street
21 Daniel Street, Milford, CT
8:00PM, 21+

$14 ($12 adv) (tickets thru etix or @ Redscroll)





MONO North American Tour Dates 2010
w/ Balmorhea *
w/ The Twilight Sad**

Apr 30 Austin, TX @ Emos Outside *
May 01 Dallas, TX @ The Loft *
May 03 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad *
May 04 Tucson, AZ @ Plush *
May 05 Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse *
May 06 San Diego, CA @ Casbah *
May 07 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre **
May 08 San Francisco, CA @ Slim's **
May 10 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan **
May 11 Seattle, WA @ Neumo's **
May 12 Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret **
May 14 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge **
May 15 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater **
May 17 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room **
May 18 Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews **
May 19 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club **
May 20 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon **
May 21 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom **
May 22 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall **
May 23 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick **
May 24 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop **
May 25 Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox **
May 26 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace **
May 27 Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa **
May 28 Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs **
May 29 Milford, CT @ Daniel Street **
May 30 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom **
Jun 01 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church **
Jun 02 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club **
Jun 04 Durham, NC @ North State Sound **
Jun 05 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell Stage) **
Jun 06 Nashville, TN @ Exit In **
Jun 07 Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe **
Jun 08 Little Rock, AR @ Revolution Music Room **
Jun 09 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon **
Jun 10 Houston, TX @ Rudyards British Pub **