The Monophonics perform at Elbo Room in September at their CD release party.
By Ailene Sankur
Last Saturday I saw the seven-piece, horn-heavy funk band Monophonics at the Boom Boom Room, and they were freaking awesome. But let’s back up. Two summers ago, I saw legendary Bay Area funk jam band Vinyl – if you haven’t yet, go immediately – at the Boom Boom. It was back in my drinking days with a hard-partying boy, and we were both dancing – and fighting – like crazy to their old-school funk meets Latin groove music. I’m a pretty simple girl to please concert-wise: I only ask to feel the music deep in my belly and for it to make me want to move. That night, Vinyl did both.
I’ve been meaning to catch them again, so when I heard that the Monophonics were practically sired by Vinyl – drummer Austin Bohlman of the Monos was asked to bring together the “funkiest guys he knew” to make an opening band for Vinyl – I knew it was time to head back to the ‘Mo.
And was in love by the first blows from the sax. The Monophonics channel Tower of Power, the Meters, and Booker T. and the MGs, and, they would like to remind us, Vinyl.