Results tagged “monotonix”

Having changed its name from Volume to Mixx earlier this year, the spot that is 612 E. Sixth Street is now aiming to make the switch from dance club to live music venue. (Information for bands looking to play there can be found on the TwoGroove blog.) This Friday, the club takes a step in right direction by bringing in Rob Dickinson from Catherine Wheel for a solo set. The list of opening acts -- STEREO IS A LIE, Buttercup, and Lost Werks -- is not too shabby either. We fondly remember and still enjoy Catherine Wheel’s brilliant first two albums Ferment (1992) and Chrome (1993). The former contained gems like “Black Metallic,” “She’s My Friend,” and “I Want To Touch You” (which was included in The Brit Box, a Rhino collection from 2007) while “Crank,” “The Nude,” and “I Confess,” were some of our favorites on the latter. Three more full-lengths followed before Catherine Wheel hung up their boots after 2000’s Wishville, although there is no clear record of them officially calling it quits.

They brought all their usual tricks to Waterloo Park for Mess With Texas 3 on Saturday the 21st, disrobing and parting the crowd in half right off the bat. Singer Ami Shalev then jumped into the open space in the middle of the audience, rolling around on the grass with his fellow band mates much to everyone’s amusement (or was it bemusement).

The last time you were in town was just this October, and the verdict was whoa. To quote hardworking Austinist photographer Nash Cook: "It was a blur. Not just a blur of moments and drinks ordered between songs, but a blur of who was holding you up against the mass of dancing, shouting, screaming bodies who threw beer as if dollars had lost no cents, as if we weren’t in a financial crisis."

What can you say about Tel Aviv's Monotonix playing at Mohawk last night? It was a blur. Not just a blur of moments and drinks ordered between songs, but a blur of who was holding you up against the mass of dancing, shouting, screaming bodies who threw beer as if dollars had lost no cents, as if we weren’t in a financial crisis

Monotonix, the Israeli garage rock three-piece, have a reputation for craziness that precedes them. We’re talking drenching themselves in alcohol, pyrotechnics, extreme audience interaction, all that. It’s no surprise they’ve palled up with Athens mega-band Dark Meat, who tried to brain us with stage monitors during SXSW and who more conservatively enchanted us with glitter and a marching band months later. Monotonix have recently signed to Drag City, who released their debut EP Body Language this April. If you’ve any taste for punky, high-energy rock and roll stripped from its embellishments (and even bass!) a la The Black Lips, Monotonix have your number.

Tel Aviv's Monotonix have been touring since early February. If you missed them during SXSW (they played 9 times, so you really have no excuse), you missed one of the world's most thrilling live sets and one of the loudest bands you'll ever see, but we're sure you'll get another opportunity.