MONK TAMONY
Monk Tamony's TJ Rosenthal (vocals, guitar) and Joe Zdaa (drums, vocals), was born out of a happy accident. After realizing he'd been writing songs for a band that didn't exist, Rosenthal showed the material to his long time friend Zdaa in late 2014. Soon after, rehearsals were officially underway.
The group's material points both socially forward and back in time. Dirty guitars can be heard in the gritty two minute track "Back of the Building." Strings, keys and other slick under tones are on display in "Smoking in the Shadows," a story that takes place in late 1970's Little Italy. This sonic combination is the core of the Monk Tamony sound. Quite fitting for guys who for years have shared a mutual interest in and appreciation of sounds from the British Invasion, classic soul, and the many pioneers of punk.
The bands' name is an ode to the various colorful characters who roamed the seedy streets downtown around the turn of the twentieth century. The duo released their self titled debut EP in the summer of 2016. Mixed and mastered by Justin Shturtz at Sterling Sound, their single "Leaders" was voted Q Magazine track of the day. The song's video was shot at Bleecker street boxing club Overthrow, once a meeting ground for the Yippie Party.
In addition to live stints throughout various regions of the US in 2017, the band enjoyed festival stops in 2017 at both SXSW in Austin and the Desert Stars Festival in Pioneertown, Ca. The end of the year focus will now consist of finishing the mixes of material with producer Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes. The official date for the group's pending follow up release in 2017 is slated for early 2018 with tour dates to follow.
