NEW SOUNDS: MONTE NEGRO

Last night I rolled out to a venue I normally avoid, The Knitting Factory, to see a number of acts for the first time and was absolutely blindsided by the headlining band, MONTE NEGRO. When the curtain opened and this LA four-piece popped out wearing Kato masks and launched into their first track in spanish, I had a rush of emotion that I haven't felt in years. I felt like I was witnessing a band in Felini's 'La Dolce Vita', or the international-ness (I know, not a word) of Duran Duran's 'Rio', yet this was rock and roll, not an 80's revival (although in their encore they did rip up A-Ha's "Take On Me"). Guitarist Jason Li Shing looks like the lost SMASHING PUMPKIN and his sound is like LINK WRAY or THE VENTURES meet JANES ADDICTION.

Frontman Kinski though is the life force that really drives this experience, with on stage confidence I haven't witnessed in some time, which didn't feel like a put on, but a natural reaction to the music that has his back. Kinski is Brandon Flowers on his best day, but has the tat's and road wear to back up his life stories, having come to the US from Mexico on his own at 10 years old. His brother is on drums and he had a shout out to another brother in the audience that have followed his adventure.

Look, I took a couple of years of Spanish in college and most of it has faded, y mi espanol is muy mal, but this didn't matter at all, it was the music and the energy behind it that erased the need to know each word. They are bi-lingual so the set does shift from Spanish to English often, and does so without a breakage of flow, it just feels natural. Their cover of THE DOORS' "Break On Through (To The Other Side)" by any other band would have been a lame cover choice, where MONTE NEGRO's latin touch, the surf guitar sound, the reaction from the throng of kids upfront, made the old cynic in me shift back and forth and uncross my arms.

Epic Records apparently saw the light as well, and have signed the band, but NOT to the Latin division, but to the rock side. This is a band I could see on the Coachella stage by next year, replacing the contrived mania around THE HIVES, with something authentico and fresh.

I know, quite a gush session, but well deserved.

MONTE NEGRO
MYSPACE
WEB SITE