You know it’s a good night when people are not just dancing on top of the bar, but the band is totally rocking out on it.

Even after the weekend to recover, I’m still somewhat dumbfounded and at a loss to recount what happened on Friday night. However, I feel it’s my duty, and that I’m incredibly fortunate to have witnessed and to document not just an event, but an incredible experience and small piece of history.

Now, I don’t mean to be overly enthusiastic to justify my own perception of what occurred, but this one easily gets my vote for best Missoula show of the year (even upping one on anyone I saw at Total Fest VII), and may be the best rock show I’ve ever seen, or quite possibly ever will see. Now hold on, admittedly, I’ve missed out on a great deal of amazing performances, but I can’t imagine anyone putting more energy into a show, nor coming closer to what rock & roll stands for, and should be - though so rarely is.

Note the “Rock & Roll” banner.

Dissatisfied with the state of the music scene in their hometown of Tel Aviv, the Israeli trio Monotonix formed in November of 2005 with the mission of redefining the rock show.

- From Monotonix’s myspace

I’m not going to say Monotonix are the most talented musicians I’ve ever seen, but I’d absolutely agree with Portland’s Geoff Kleinman in his account, that Monotonix go “far beyond antics or showmanship” - though in that category, they’re definitely tops, bar-none.

It’s not just that it was a scene to behold. From the very first riffs, the place came alive – the high-energy music causing the moshing to ensue almost instantly. Most of us were simply unprepared, but I felt like us Montana folk did our part once we recognized what we were in for. It’s interesting to see YouTube videos from other Monotonix shows across the globe. Some people it seems aren’t even sure what to make of it (like this poser in LA who can’t part with his precious skateboard for 2 minutes - ironically “Raw Rock” is spray-painted on the grip tape), and after seeing some of the more spacious and less-intimate venues they’ve played, I think the Badlander was pretty ideal. The band seems to thrive in close-quarters, allowing them to really frolic with the crowd. I got the sense that they were having more fun than anybody.

In his article that appeared in the Missoula Entertainer before the event, Joe Nickell was simply incorrect to more or less say the music of Monotonix, in its live form, sucks. But he did get it right by conjecturing that the show “promises an experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen at a rock ‘n’ roll show.” I thought Nickell actually gave a well-conducted preview of what was to come, but the article is now somewhat infamous, as it may have helped clue in the fire department and city that Monotonix are, essentially, a fire-hazard. A strict maximum occupancy was placed on the Badlander, and rumors circulated that the plug would be pulled at even the slightest provocation.

KBGA staff worked hard planning this, their annual Birthday Bash. And on top of the bullying feeling of “we’re keeping our eye on you,” they had to deal with the fact that the venue had been double-booked that evening. During the presidential debate, Forward Montana occupied the part of the Badlander that connects the upstairs with the downstairs, but by the time the dual-floor show started, that area sat empty. 250 heads was the strict limit placed on the venue, but it could have easily supported many more. That is to say, KBGA’s 12th Birthday could have been astronomical, and maybe would have raised some money for the station, rather than simply being the success that it ultimately was anyway. Not to rub it in, but I give my deepest empathy to anyone who was turned away at the door.

We gladly said that they [Forward Montana] could host a debate watching party at the Badlander, however there was some confusion on their part about how long the debates would last/when they were going to be outta there. We thought they’d be out by 8PM, which… well you know. Looking back, it was hectic, but not a major problem for getting our party started.
[...] We made a little cash, and I mean a couple bucks. The Bash is usually billed as an awareness raising event, a FUNraiser if you will… hahaha.

- Niki Payton, KBGA Promotions

If you did miss the show, feel free to use the “their antics are probably just a gimmick to mask mediocre music” defense-mechanism, if it makes you feel better, but I still have a feeling this will be the most talked-about show of the year, and for good reason.

Here’s more of my favorites, along with some footage, and the play by play of the evening:

The drummer, Haggai Fershtman, gets a garbage can full of beer-soaked trash stuffed over him by the singer, Ami Shalev, and he doesn’t even flinch or miss a beat.

Shalev jumps off stage into the trash can, falls on his face, and never stops singing.

Hair everywhere:

Shalev dumps someone’s drink on the guitarist, Yonatan Gat, and flips it into the air.

Shalev, trying to sing out of his butt.

This might be a new one for them, not sure. Fershtman wearing the tom drum as a hat.

Shalev pulls his pants down, sticks the microphone in his ass, tries to sing out of his butt-hole, puts someone’s hat on his butt-head, pours a full tall-boy down his crack, and continues rocking out.

Shalev surfs the bass drum above the crowd, then dives in.

They finish their set on top of the bar.

Need to see more?

View the full set on Flickr

And have a listen to my DJ set, doing my part for the fifties theme of the party:
Vintage Vinyl Revival: Z!080926 - Tonight We’re Gonna Rock

Monotonix are continuing with an incredibly full-schedule tour across the country, playing almost every night. Just imagine how many other hundreds of people are having their minds blown - or as one fan put it, having every other band on earth ruined for them.

If you were at the show, or have witnessed Monotonix, please, please, add your comments here, and let us know what your experience was.

By the way, happy birthday KBGA. And thanks for the rockin’ party.