Monarchs

With a name like Monarchs, you might expect something stoically, forbiddenly regal.

Not a chance.

This is the current, Austin version, of Monarchs (photo by Cory Ryan of Eye Candy Photography): On the left is bassist Phil Aijarpu, standing in back is drummer Josh Halpern. On the right is guitarist Van Hollingsworth, who also rates credit "for his central role in the development of Monarchs and its unique sound". Last, but by no means least, is singer/songwriter Celeste Griffin - The founding mother, as it were.

Griffin started the group in her sweet home in Alabama, where their first 2 EPs were birthed in Birmingham. But 2008 came and she moved the act here, eventually picking up Aijarpu and Halpern, then recording their latest, "The Rise and Fall", with producer Mike McCarthy on duty (and Yep, that's the Mike McCarthy who performed the same majick for Patty Griffin, Spoon, and Heartless Bastards).

As you're already guessing, Griffin's vox are front and center in the mix. And this is as it should be - Give a listen to this home-styled number for a good sampling of Monarchs' inclinations:

Hear that amalgamation? The formula runs likeuntoso: Soul + folk + pop + blues + 1 healthy dose of clever lyricism; shaken; then poured out with Griffin's excellent voice. Instantly accessible, easy on the ears, easy to like.

Their latest release, "The Rise and Fall", moves a bit further down the maturity timeline, with the excellent production values adding that final polish on an already-shiny gem:

On hearing Griffin, our knee-jerk comparison was with Elvis Costello - Both cross genre boundaries easily, do pop-structured numbers that feature keyboards, and belt out clever lyrics with unique voices. But the comparison ends there - Monarchs' sentiments put the group squarely into Americana, with their own folklore to tell; with Griffin's wide-ranging vox the crowning jewel (if we may stretch an pun beyond recognition).

They've played all over town, but now, we're sorry to say, they're packing up and moving to New York City, of all places. Before they go, though, you should go catch their Au Revoir show at Mohawk, 9/15/11:

We'll help gear you up for that show by leaving you with the aforementioned "The Rise and Fall". Give it a studied listen; it's well worth your allegiance:

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Find out more about The Monarchs on FaceBook, BandCamp, and Home Base.

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