Like so many other musicians, the Monties have had to figure out how to keep the music going even as the coronavirus pandemic keeps the five band mates apart.
Jeremy Pholwattana, (Monties guitarist and lead vocals) is co-founder of the Grammy-winning Pop Rocks Records. He met drummer Deon Carter at a child’s birthday party. Both have children the same age. The pair later jammed together and came up with the idea to start a classic rock cover band. Now five members strong — with Joe Maguire (guitar, vocals), Will Kennedy (bass guitar) and Jake Harmon (keyboards) — The Monties have played a few shows around Montclair, including an MFEE Fundraiser party. They were set to perform Friday, May 22 at Tierneys Upstairs, but that gig has been postponed indefinitely.
The band has found a way to play through online streaming via video chat, practicing songs and social distancing at the same time.
The Monties released two cover songs on their social media sites for their fans and to raise their profile in our community. They share “Learning To Fly” by Tom Petty and “Stuck In The Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel.
Find The Monties on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @themontiesband.
Nice job by this band! Other local bands have been doing similar projects: “The Distance”, a group comprised of local studio pros, made a lovely recording of an original song, “I Still Love You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_Vuc9zMfz4, and my own band, The Reticents, virtually regrouped to record “Lean On Me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL19FuwOhAI.