Band
From the muddy banks of the mighty Mississippi comes the sheer energy and wild acoustic abandon that is the Monads. By combining elements of Americana, bluegrass, outlaw country and rockabilly with the aggressive delivery of punk, the Monads craft a unique style of music that has been dubbed “Black and Bluegrass.” Roy Kasten (88.1 KDHX FM, Riverfront Times) describes their sound as nothing less than a “stomp all over that infinitesimally thin line between deconstruction and dementia, using banjo, fiddle, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass the way rabid hounds might use a burrow full of bunnies.”
The Monads are known for their wildly energetic stage work in which they all but attack their instruments as well as their eclectic lyrics that tell stories covering the gamut from the apocalypse to evil farm animals. Riverfront Times music editor Annie Zaleski referred to the group’s live show as “mesmerizing and completely punk rock; it was like a bluegrass version of gypsy-punks Gogol Bordello.”
The group has performed across the United States from New York City to Texas. Highlights include recently being named St. Louis’ “Best Bluegrass Band” (2008), winning the 2006 St. Louis Music Award for “Best Country Band” as well as several nominations for other local music awards. The band has made contributions to numerous compilations and has been appearing with nationally recognized talent including Bob Log III, The Hackensaw Boys, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and alt-country icons Split Lip Rayfield. The Monads appeared at the Bevington Bluegrass Festival (Iowa) in June 2008 and are heading to Europe in March of 2009 for a tour of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The group stretched its limits in September 2008 to perform an all-electric, costumed tribute set to synth-pop icons DEVO as part of the Undercover Weekend festival in St. Louis.
The Monads are…
Pat Eagan – vocals, acoustic guitar
Jason Matthews – vocals, banjo, washboard
Matt Shivelbine – fiddle, accordion
Jenna Schroeder – acoustic bass, vocals
