GroovyStylie!

MONO (Tokyo, Japan), Maserati (Athens, GA) @ Club Congress

MONO

As a kid I used to dream about having the ability to affect weather patterns. In the limitless, imaginative, temporary state called childhood, even the impossible seemed within reach. Despite the fact that I’ve grown into a control-freakish adult, I’ve let go of the weather fantasy. I honestly hadn’t thought about it for years until Mono, shoegaze rock phenoms from Japan, awakened the idea from its decades-old hibernating state.

To describe the sounds at a Mono concert, I continually rely on meteorological terms. The four-member silent tribe, three of which are seated, play a gentle bit of guitar with slow, savory taps on the snare and high-hat cymbal, reminiscent of a light rain. The bass is subtle, and the band members sway a bit, as if caught up in a breeze. There’s an inevitable build-up, a crescendo of guitars and rhythm, a brewing sonic storm, and the release knocks you on your knees, hurricane-style. The thunder makes its way towards the audience with the final roaring clap as the bolts draw eerily and uncomfortably close. They play a loud show like no one else, and not ostentatiously so. Congress, while not the ideal venue for Mono, managed to handle the wall of gorgeous noise in fine form. The ample crowd was in awe, and even though I was detached and stressed out and conversing with friends that particular evening, the force of their music drew me back countless times. This is a band I can’t ignore.

For ten years, Mono has endured a break-neck tour pace and managed to record 5 full-length albums, a singles collection, and various collaborative projects. They are a no-nonsense, bottomless well of beautifully crafted songs. Their latest release, Hymn To The Immortal Wind, incorporates stunning orchestral arrangements. They include the entirety of the human life cycle in their work. Much how storms develop and dissipate, their shows remind me of my youth, the present, and how one day death will come. They know how to manipulate my mind, and that’s how I know they are incredibly powerful. It seems they’ve found a way to control the weather. And even if that’s not true, it feels good to be thinking along those lines once again.      –Mel Mason

MONO – Silent Fight, Sleeping Dawn MP3

Maserati – Monoliths MP3