On The Rise: Major and the Monbacks
Who doesn’t like a dance party? You know, those shows where the music has such an infectious swing, joyfully played by a band that’s having at least as much fun as you are? Well, that’s how I’d describe an evening with Major and the Monbacks. The band’s genesis can be traced back to 2008 when twin brothers Cole and Neal Friedman joined up with high school classmates Michael Adkins, Harry Slater and Tyler West to start making music and developing their own sound. Cultivated over the years, first as a garage band, then as a college band hitting the frat house tour, this eight-piece ensemble combines retro ’60s rock-and-roll, psychedelic twang, and horn-infused Southern soul to create their unique sound. Three-part harmonies abound, and the combination of drums and a dedicated percussionist fill out the layers of sound these guys create.
I’d heard a lot about them and finally had a chance to catch them headlining a local showcase at The Norva (Norfolk) in December of 2013. They came on stage in coats and ties, hair neatly trimmed, looking every bit the late-’50s to early-’60s college frat band. The music was definitely neo-throwback to that era, but with their own unique twists and turns blended in. And the energy level was incredible! I don’t know who danced harder, the band or the crowd, and nobody worked it harder than Tyler West on percussion. The band kept working hard, turning out a five-song EP titled Monback House Party and touring hard on weekends and college breaks.
They played locally a few times after that, but our schedules never aligned for a return engagement until I decided to attend the Rooster Walk festival in Axton, VA this past Memorial Day weekend. Even though some of the band members had changed since that 2013 show, it was still an eight-piece powerhouse built around the five core members from 2008. But there were some definite changes besides the new players. The boys had grown into young men, the coats and ties were gone, the hair was a little longer, and the music was more powerful and mature. They took the stage for a one-and-a-half hour set and totally owned it!
Their first full length CD, Major and the Monbacks, was released last month, and Live Music Daily named them “Artist To Watch in 2015.” And plenty of music fans will get the opportunity to watch them this summer as they embark on a five-month tour to promote the new album. Fans from Georgia to New York City will have a chance to party with the band at local venues and festivals, including Floyd Fest, Pasture Palooza and Camp Barefoot. On June 15, they opened for Huey Lewis and The News. They are definitely a band on the rise!
