popwreckoning

I know that I have said it time and again, but Seattle has some seriously amazing local music, probably some of the best in the country. One of the newest and most prolific groups, Moneta, has been rocking the local scene since 2007 and has been both raising the bar and challenging most musical stereotypes since day one. With the release of their first album, The Hope EP in 2007, followed by their sophomore album Heroes in 2009, fans have been waiting for the newest installment of epic post-punk from the quintet. Villains was release Saturday and has five full tracks and two instrumental pieces to make the newest EP even better than before. I got to take an early listen to the album, and somehow, I think they just managed to raise the bar even higher than before.

Villains starts out with the hit single “The Last Transmission,” which the band has been playing at local shows for the past few months, as well as releasing for free download through their Myspace to promote the CD release. Featuring a Seattle neighbor, vocalist Matt MacDonald of The Classic Crime, the single harkens back to their older harder sound with an edge of their newer more mellow, yet still punk sound than before. Combined with lead singer Jerry Kansky’s addictively edgy vocals, MacDonald’s voice adds just a little extra touch that completes the sound perfectly and I would almost venture to bet that it would almost sound unfinished without.

The second track on the album is “Hey California,” also the second single off the album, and sets the stage for the band’s new sound after their recent change in members. They are definitely a little bit more pop sounding, but have managed to keep that edge of old school rock in both their lyrics and playing style. Reminding me of driving down the highway in California with the windows down in the summer, it definitely has the upbeat summer vibe to it. The song has all the makings of another good single, with more addictive lyrics, rousing guitar riffs and some seriously incredible drumming.

This trend of fantastic music continues into the slightly darker “Now and Forever” with a seriously harder sound. This is definitely one to mosh out to when you are having a bad day or just need to sing something at the top of your lungs to let off a little bit of steam. “I Wish I Had a Voice” has the same rock tones and continues to be harder than even a lot of their older material, showing not only the versatility of the band, but a possible peek into their new sound and how it may flesh out over time. The final lyrical track harnesses a little bit of their older sound with additional synth and even holds more of a Heroes vibe to it, although it is titled “Villains (Masterplan)” and would be my next candidate for a single. “And I will be the last alive, to stand beneath a ruined sky. And finally I’ll understand, that I want them back,” graces the bridge of the song, and personally is one of my favorite quotes from the album, and will possibly make this song a fan favorite at many shows to come.

The two instrumental tracks are by far some of the best I have come across in awhile. Once again, the band outdoes themselves with “The Sound of Your Own Breathing” and “Big Lights, Big City,” bringing around a great dose of all out musical talent to the table in these hair-raising segue ways. Clocking in at about a minute and a half each, both tracks are chock full of talented guitar work, masterful drums, and raw powerful emotion, capturing the very essence of the album itself. Some may see these tracks as a drawback, wanting more lyrical tracks and less instrumental, but they fit into the album and enhance the other tracks, bringing out the brilliant instrumentals in the other tracks as well. I vote to keep them in the mix, with possibly adding a little bit of length to them.

On gut instinct, I have a feeling that this album is flat out going to be one of the best albums to come out of Seattle-based musicians all year. Chances are that we will see them playing a US tour here shortly, maybe even in the next year or so. Even though their fanbase is still growing rapidly, the band is still trying to maintain that small town feel and really connecting with their fans, even going out of their way to deliver tickets to their fans home or work.

They even were nice enough to squeeze in time for a quick exclusive interview for us!

PopWreckoning, Anastasia: How is Villains different then your previous albums?
Moneta: It’s a bit darker and edgier, while still maintaining the pop sensibility that is at the core of Moneta. We wanted it to sound a little less polished than Heroes. It’s the most organic record we’ve done to date.

PW: How did the band member shakeup affect the new album and your sound as a whole?
Moneta: It didn’t really affect the record so much because a lot of it was written with the previous members, but in a way, we kind of feel like it helped the record take shape. At some points, the rawness of the songs almost captured some of the emotion that we were all dealing with when we were at each others’ throats. I think people can not only appreciate that honesty, but relate it to feeling that way in situations in their own lives. We’ve been pretty lucky to always have had multiple people that can write great songs in the mix and now is definitely no different. It’s funny because one of the previous members always used to say “Moneta is bigger than the individual.” Well, it turns out he was right about that.

PW: Where did the inspiration for Villains come from?
Moneta: Before we ever laid down a single note for Heroes, we knew we wanted to do a 2-part set of EP’s. The heart of the message is that we all as humans walk a thin line between being good and evil beings. If you really think about it, it’s a pretty heavy concept to swallow. We just wanted to try and capture a bit of that fragility that keeps us from going bat sh*t crazy.

PW: How did being from Seattle influence the album, if at all?
Moneta: Seattle is one of the best music cities in the world and we’re very proud to be from here. If anything, it makes us want to try harder to put out great songs because people here see great bands all the time.

PW: What are you guys the most proud of for Villains?
Moneta: More than anything, that people want to hear it and are excited about it. We had a few snags along the way of getting it finished, but it’s such a relief to know that it’s done and will be out soon.

PW: How has the album influenced you guys personally?
Moneta: It’s weird because the record was such a gnarly beast that it drove out some members that just didn’t want to be there anymore, but really brought together five people that all want to achieve the same goals.

PW: What can we look for from Moneta in the future?
Moneta: We’re shooting a video for “Hey California,” with Ryan Kam (Aiden, All That Remains, Me Vs. Myself) in April and then we’ll probably do some regional touring on Villains. We’ve actually been busy writing this whole time and are hoping to get another record out by the end of the year. We definitely want to give Villains its fair share of face time, but it also signals the close of a chapter in Moneta. We’re all ready to open the next one.

…

With that said, I don’t think that this is the end for Moneta, but merely the end of another chapter. Definitely the beginning of a new, and quite possibly better, chapter in which they keep rocking not only the Seattle area, but the entire US as well, we wish them well. Be sure to check out the new album, available on March 27th.

Track Listing:
1. Last Transmission (feat. Matt MacDonald of The Classic Crime)
2. Hey California
3. Now And Forever
4. The Sound Of Your Own Breathing
5. I Wish I Had A Voice
6. Villains (Masterplan)
7. Bright Lights, Big City

Many thanks to Chris Holbrook for coordinating efforts!

Written by Annastasia Gallaher

When I heard that The Classic Crime was playing their annual holiday show at the Showbox @ the Market, I was ecstatic that they were continuing this local tradition. With a great lineup at a legendary venue, the show promised to be just the thing to start off my holiday week the right way- a good dose of local talent mixed with just the right amount of fun and excitement.

Having been to the Showbox @ the Market enough times to find good parking during rush hour traffic, I got there early enough to stand in line and wait for doors. At seven o’clock sharp, the doors opened to a crowd of slightly damp but thoroughly excited Seattlites waiting to start the evening’s festivities. The venue had been decorated with Christmas trees and holiday lights to set the mood and the hum of an almost sold out show continued to mount as fans continued to pour in for the next half hour. At 7:30, the energy in the room was almost palpable as the first act took the stage.

First up was local band Katie Lavoie and the Verdict. I have to admit, I was a little hesitant about them being on the line up since it was their first show, but I was immediately proved wrong. The sultry sound of Katie’s voice mixed with a strong background of brass, sweet guitar riffs, and a talented drummer brought back memories of big band holiday music and old school jazz. It became quickly apparent that they were full of good old fashioned local talent and would definitely be a band to keep an eye out for on future line-ups. With a quick twenty minute set, they didn’t have much time to interact with the audience but set the stage for the next local opener.

Moneta is a long time local favorite with a history of rocking the Showbox pretty well. Having opened for The Classic Crime many times before, this was only their second show since the recent member shake up. Opening with “No Surrender” off their second album Heroes, they rocked the crowd from the very beginning, showing off their new, edgier sound. Front man Jeremiah Kansky (Jerry to his fans) was his usual self, finding the diehard fans in the crowd and grabbing hands, singing in their faces, and generally working the stage and showing what the band is really about: the fans. The crowd started moshing along during other favorites like “A Better Defense,” “The Getaway” and “Letters,” showing their obvious pleasure at the band’s addictive lyrics and insatiable guitar riffs. Promoting their upcoming album release of Villians, the free downloadable single “Last Transmission” helped steal the crowd when Classic Crime front man Matt McDonald came out to help with belting the last half of the song. Finishing this amazing set was “We Fall As One” with the crowd singing at the top of their lungs and the entire band playing to their full potential- making the floor of the venue shake as fans pumped their fists in the air along with Jerry.

Third on the bill was Endeverance, hailing from neighboring town Tacoma and bringing a more mellow popish sound to the stage. Opening with “City Lights” off of their sophomore album Avenues, front man Seth brought a new kind of energy that kept the crowd going through “Masquerade” and into an acoustic ballad that had the crowd swaying back and forth. The band kept the holiday spirit alive with an acoustic rendition of “O Holy Night” before rocking the stage with the crowd favorite “Time and Time Again” complete with tambourine and Seth walking the barrier to rock out with the front of the pit. Included in this fantastic set was a slightly random show of talent with Moneta drummer Leo Martin hoping up on stage with a few floor toms and rocking out with the members of Endeverance. The crowd loved the almost Drum Corps worthy performance and Endeverance took it in stride and continued on. Polishing off this fantastic set was a long time favorite of mine, “Searching for a Call,” bringing to light the tremendous range of talent the entire band has, from ballads to rockesque hits. Since their CD release show for Avenues, it looks like they have formed a more cohesive group and have tightened up their sound a little, working out all of the kinks and putting on one heck of a good show before calling it a night and handing the stage over.

Continuing the night’s mellow tone was Kent’s very own Daphne Loves Derby, another local favorite of mine and a definite crowd favorite. This was the first show since the end of their recent headlining tour and they played a disappointingly short set of a handful of songs. After opening with “Cue the Sun” they switched it up by playing “Nouveau” and “Bedroom.” Next up was their smash single “Cute As Ever” in which front man Stu Clay invited brother Steven Clay onstage to add a touch of harmonica, making the crowd sway. During the set, it became apparent that Stu was going to switch guitars between EVERY song, but even though they were close at hand and it was a quick switch each time, it was also a little distracting and detracted overall from their set. With no mention of another album, the set was slightly bland and not up to their usual standards. Even so, D<3D played a cover of Third Eye Blind’s smash hit “Jumper” that had every person in the place singing at the top of their lungs- including the lighting tech and bartenders- and closed their set on a high note and just in time for the headlining band.

After an annoying, but necessary interlude from 104.9 The Funky Monkey’s promoters, a goosebump inducing recording of “Carol of the Bells” announced the arrival of our favorite Christmas act, The Classic Crime. Now avid fans will tell you that there is nothing like a hometown Classic Crime show and their holiday shows are even better. Busting out with the ever popular “The Way That You Are,” you could tell that Matt McDonald wasn’t quite warmed up yet, but by the time they started “Just a Man” off of their second full length album The Silver Cord, the floor was shaking and the crowd was almost as loud as the band themselves. The fun continued as “Say The Word” and a new single from their upcoming CD release (April 6th, 2010) blew everyone away. In hometown style, McDonald flirted with the crowd, saying hello to both new and old fans, and joked about Santa saying that he wouldn’t have time to deliver everyone’s presents this year. When McDonald asked Santa why he wouldn’t be able to, they launched into their addictive “Abracadavers” saying “It’s like I never have time…” Even though everyone was having a blast, it was time to tune it down a bit with mellow singles such as “Who Needs Air,” “Seattle” and “Headlights,” singles that span their first two albums Albatross and Seattle Sessions. After playing the ground shaking “The Coldest Heart” off of their debut album, they debuted a new single called “Solar Powered Life” that has been taking local radio stations by storm, and concluded with a winteresque song entitled “Salt in the Snow.” After the band waltzed off the stage to return with some holiday spirit- Santa hats for all, an acoustic version of “Silent Night” rocked the house before my all time favorite “The Fight” had everyone- even in the bar- singing at the top of their lungs. Finishing the set with a Merry Christmas, they left the stage and were done for the night.

I have to admit that being a huge Classic Crime fan, I knew the set was going to be great. But Friday night’s show was phenomenal, better than they have ever been. With two CD releases under my belt, more shows than I can count on my fingers and toes, and a few acoustic shows, that is saying a lot. Nothing but good things were said by the crowd as the venue emptied. Everyone is completely excited for the new album in April and the accompanying CD release show. Will it be any better than Friday? I think we will have to wait and see, but frankly, I can’t wait.

Photos and writing by Annastasia Gallaher