Live Review

Mona – Concrete, Shoreditch London

• 20th Jan 2011

If you’ve picked up any music magazine, watched any music channel or visited any music website over the past couple of weeks you will undoubtedly have noticed that everyone and anyone is predicting 2011’s ‘Ones to Watch’ ‘Next Big Thing’ ‘Top Tips’ etc etc. The other thing you may have noticed is that their lists will all contain the name ‘Mona’…. and if they don’t – They should.

The buzz surrounding Mona is gathering pace by the day and on the evidence of tonight’s performance at ‘Concrete’ -a small basement in Shoreditch, London, – it is all too easy to see why.

The four piece, based in Nashville, look every inch your Rock n Roll band. Think Marlon Brando, think James Dean, think Leather Jackets, Denim and plain whites T’s. Style is one thing, but Substance is what ultimately matters and luckily Mona have song after song to back up the hype. In this day and age where you turn on a radio and every second song is auto tuned to within an inch of its life; it’s a breath of fresh air to hear Rock n Roll being played this brilliantly, and almost apologetically easily.

Lead singer Nick Brown and Drummer Vince Gard grew up in Ohio. Bass player Zach Lindsey and Guitarist Jordan Young hail from Kentucky. They consider themselves to be a gang, a tight knit group with their sights well and truly set on the big time, doing what they’re good and what they evidently enjoy.

They kick off with ‘Trouble on the Way’, a recently released Ltd edition 7”. Raucous guitars and crashing drums set the tone as to what the crowd will be treated to tonight. Nick Brown’s vocals are belted out to the point where, at times, they are almost screamed and yet still manage to sound melodic, something very few manage to pull off. Next up is soon to be released single ‘Teenager’ (which sports a music video you would be well advised to keep an eye out for). “It’s the song that sums up being a chump, dealing with love and hate and very basic human emotions” Says Nick. It’s also a belter of a tune with a chorus that will be sung back at them at every gig and festival they will play in the near future.

“Listen to Your Love” is a highlight of this, and I dare say any, Mona gig. Its big, its ballsy, its emotive and its one hell of a statement. Another early 7” release on their own ‘ZionNoiz’ label, expect to see this floating about on ebay at majorly inflated prices.

‘Cloak & Dagger’ is breathtaking; its Kings of Leon meets U2. These references are obvious and have been used before and will be again, but its wholly appropriate at times, none more so than on this slow burning climactic track.

They finish with ‘Lean Into The Fall’, another song with unbelievable potential. It’s another teasingly slow builder which contains the playful admission, “Oh I like the way she looks, hope she cleans, hope she cooks” Expect this to be a single once finely tuned and polished in the studio.

Mona now move on to a 4-date UK support slot with The Walkmen., they’re then back in London for an ‘MTV Brand New’ show and a gig ‘In Association with C4 drama Skins’ These boys are Hot property. Those of you who haven’t had the pleasure yet can also catch them at a handful of UK gigs in February and March. Their eagerly awaited debut album is due to drop around May time which will no doubt elevate them to the mainstream and all that goes with it so expect to see them at a muddy field near you come the summertime.

Many bands get labelled as ‘The Next big Thing’ but few live up to the moniker and fulfil that early promise; however with Mona you have a band that has all the attributes to become just that. You have been warned, Mona can and WILL be ‘The Next Big Thing’