Birdmonster - No Midnight (Independent)
Birdmonster is not your typical quartet. They will not stand still are stare at their feet. They will not whine about their girl troubles. They will not devolve into aimless instrumentals or rehash tired '80s fads. Birdmonster plays rock and roll. They play it with enough energy that when you find them after the show, they usually smell like barnyard animals and can barely breath. Someone is probably bleeding. And everyone is very happy.
Here's how Birdmonster began: Guitarist David Klein and bassist Justin Tenuto spent their youth in suburban San Diego playing bad instrumental metal in their parent's living rooms. The tapes have been destroyed. They then moved up to Santa Barbara for college, where they met drummer Zach Winter, moved in together and began making clamorous instrumental rock and roll in a garage in the student ghetto of Isla Vista. Meanwhile, singer/guitarist Peter Arcuni was making jangly country music in Rhode Island, recording it all on a broken 4-track. It so happened that all four ended up in a three-block radius in San Francisco. Justin met Peter while serving him an undercooked crepe in a third-rate diner and they made plans to play a little guitar a few days later. When they realized that things meshed supernaturally well, Justin mentioned that he happened to live with another guitarist and drummer, and all four rented a studio, and suddenly: there was Birdmonster.
But that was two years ago. Since, Birdmonster has created their own unique brand of rock and roll, blending everything from Springsteen to Fugazi. They write each song differently and, not coincidentally, each song is its own. They use banjos, play bass with tambourines, and break cymbals onstage. And now, after finally releasing their debut full-length album No Midnight, they are once again taking to the road. With a reputation as phenomenal performers, great songwriters, and down-to-earth, easy-to-work-with people, Birdmonster blends punk, country, and good old-fashioned rock and roll. They've played with everyone from the White Stripes, Tapes 'n' Tapes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, Death Cab for Cutie and Jose Gonzales. Their live show is infectious: the fun they're having on stage quickly reaches the audience, who can't help but join in.
Preview Tracks @ Myspace