show review: MONOTONIX at the Mel

The Date: Monday, Sept. 22nd, 2008

What started as a mild mannered Monday evening - just kicking it, you know, watching some bands, drinking PBR - ended with a shirtless mob taking to the streets following three half naked Israeli's with music equipment.

But let's take it back a step...

We rolled up to Indianapolis' Historic Melody Inn around 8:30 or so, to a sparse and fairly timid crowd, for a show featuring three gritty Rock n Roll Bands (Local up-and-comers Thunders; Call Me Lightning, from Milwaukee, WI; and Tel Aviv's beloved sons Monotonix). We sat in preparation, had some brews, and bullshitted with friends as they arrived. Over time more and more people began to arrive, so the music started.

First up: CALL ME LIGHTNING
(http://www.myspace.com/callmelightning)
It was unfortunate that the crowd was as docile as they were for these guys, because the power trio from the Badger State packed a wallop of a punch. Playing Indie Rock that is equally melodic and gritty, it was clear to me these guys cut their teeth in Punk or some derivative. It was a solid set, but the subdued crowd wouldn't dissipate.

Some beers later: THUNDERS
(http://www.myspace.com/thunderstheband)
Alas, my first chance to see the mighty Thunders, the new band from Ryan Reidy the guitar master-freak behind Ari Ari, and an all-around good dude. The hype for this band around town has been slightly beyond ridiculous, and while it may be deserved - they are excellent musicians, and offer a good product - I just don't know if the Psyched-Out Fuzz Rock they deployed was going to wake the mellow Monday crowd up. I was underwhelmed, but I definitely hope to catch them again.

More beer and cigarette's later: MONOTONIX
(http://www.myspace.com/monotonix)
The crowd was still a little quiet when Monotonix began to set up - strategically placing the drum set in the middle of the bar, unwinding feet upon feet of microphone and guitar chords - but the three short-short laden, mustachioed Israeli men would soon wake everyone up. The split second they began, and singer Levi "Ha Haziz" (Yomtov) Elvis leaped onto the bar top, the energy in the room was amplified ten-fold. Monotonix play Rock n Roll akin to the MC5 or similar Hard Rock/Garage acts of the 70's. Their set was pure, unadulterated chaos, and I loved it. They were all over the place: crowd surfing; slamming trashcans onto drummer Mordecei's head; and at one point, the Guitarist, Moshe Vegas, was standing on the bar top playing guitar and bass drum simultaneously. It was amazing. All of the ensuing action culminated in Yomtov asking the crowd to take off their shirts ("It's okay, I know you Americans do not have chests as hairy as we do.") and follow the entire band down the street, while they continued to play. It was raucous, it was anarchaic, it was great. If you ever, ever get a chance to see these guys in a live setting, for God's sake, do it!

aren't convinced: