Over the past five years, Monophonics have staked their claim as the San Francisco Bay Area's premier funk/soul band. Raised amid the city's rich musical culture, these young musicians proudly carry on the tradition of music native to their hometown.
Monophonics were formed in 2005; originally an instrumental ensemble comprised of guitarist Ian McDonald, bassist Myles O'Mahony, saxophonist Alex Baky, trumpeter Ryan Scott, and drummer Austin Bohlman, the band has recently added the dynamic soul vocals of keyboardist Kelly Finnigan. The result is psychedelic soul & heavy duty funk, which harks back to the stylings of the late 60's and early 70's, all while keeping its feet planted in the present.
As a mainstay of San Francisco venues such as the Boom Boom Room and the Independent, the Monophonics have created a national buzz and fervent local following, sharing the stage & bill with such names as Soulive, Macy Gray, Budos Band, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Orgone, The New Mastersounds, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dumpstafunk, Charles Walker & The Dynamites and many more. Their recording credits include tracks with the The New Mastersounds and Karl Denson (Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Grey Boy All-Stars) who's also featured on their latest release and second album, Into the Infrasounds. The album also includes musical guests Mic Gillete of Tower of Power & Jonathan Korty of Vinyl. Their touring schedule has brought their signature rowdy, hard-hitting live set to over 400 dates from California to Mississippi, as well as major music festivals including High Sierra, Joshua Tree and Las Tortugas. Additionally, the ensemble has established itself as yearly residents at the legendary New Orleans Jazz Festival. They have been featured in various magazines including Relix's "On the Rise" section, and in 2007, were awarded best Funk/Soul/R&B band in SF Weekly's "Best of the Bay Awards."
Already in 2011, the group has showcased their new sound with the release of a 7" entitled "Like Yesterday," for Colemine Records. The record feature's members of the Los Angeles based funk group Orgone, and will be distributed across the United States, Europe and Japan. Also in 2011, Monophonics will complete their third album to date, lacing the sounds of early 70's and late 60's soul with fuzzy guitars, freaky synthesizers, hard-driving horns and gritty vocals, a sonic testimony to the evolution of this six-piece unit.
