Metamono

Although they've been going a while this is my first time seeing my mate Jono's band Metamono. I've seen him DJing years ago at eclectic nights at The End and suchlike and he also formed a third of the turntable crew for my 50th in March. His other big contribution to my major life events was to ply me with martini (gin and vermouth not the bottled fortified wine) on my wedding eve til the early hours. So my plan to stay soberish by avoiding the pub backfired somewhat but at least it kept the nerves at bay. A bonus is no headache with pure alcohol with no sugary mixers. But I digress...

Metamono are a trio (Jono, Mark who I sort of know and a behatted guy I don't) who play synths and other electronic instruments packed together in what is the Instrumentarium complete with odd metal stick which Jono plays by waving his hand near it. Apparently all analogue old school synths and nothing digital. The Metamono web site will tell you more (see their manifesto and instrumentarium pages) and will no doubt excite Korg and Roland enthusiasts The only thing I recognise is the Stylophone. Everything in the Instrumentarium looks very complicated with hundreds of knobs to twiddle. I'm not a fan of much electronic music and got bored of Kraftwerk the two times I've seen them but not sure that is significant. I've already paid up to crowd fund their new album (successful funding now in test pressing) and listened to a fair bit of their stuff on-line and liked it so how could I pass up the opportunity to see them live and get a taster of what I'll receive hot off the wax press in October.

So Saturday night sees me cycle off to nearby West Norwood to the converted Gypsy Queen pub which has it's grand opening today as the Book and Record Bar. I say Hi to Jono but he's caught up with merchandising and preparation and as I'm on my tod I browse the book shelves along with a few other lonely souls. No matter as pretty soon the band start up and Jono points out that they have in fact started to quieten down the loud conversations. The place is so packed with punters that the doorman doesn't seem to be letting anyone else in but then relents. My mate Simon claimed that when he saw Metamono at a festival the only folk dancing was him (and he's a dance tart) and a dog. So what with that and the average age of the audience which was higher than mine (bar a few late teen kids which sort of shows the age of the crowd) I wasn't expecting a lot of funky dancing due to either the music genre or arthritic knees. But the music put paid to that misconception and the great sounds got just about the whole room jigging about with a great uplifting set that went down a storm and surprised me at how accessible they are live, and how much I loved it.

Jono forgot his baseball cap so robbed Blakey on the 249

In action. I didn't realise my camera could do this will have to find out how. Cool hey?

Jono playing weird metal stick

The only half decent shot with Mark (in background) in it.

So a probably vain attempt to describe the music in any way that others (i.e. you dear reader) will help place them, as I've said I'm not an expert in the electronica genre. The sound was very large with big pumping beats underpinning various electronic riffs and bleeping and a fair bit of ear crushing white noise of the acid rock variety, which is a very good thing and not employed enough by musicians. To my untrained ears it took in the BBC sound production of 70s sci fi through big funky beats verging on uplifting disco keyboards moving forward in time to acid daze era banging bassy beats and up to the present to the type of dance beats of a type that I wouldn't search out normally but will lure me into obscure festival dance tents and have me emulating young dub steppers skanking. A brilliant mix of danceable synth punctured by mind bending bleeps and screeches with the psychedelic and manifestoid visual projections turning my mind back to Hawkwindesque performances of yesteryear. Half way through the music cuts out completely and requires a full rewiring of an amp or something which I'm not sure is a risk of analogue or not. Anyway it seems like an intermission so no harm done and soon we're back under way for even more energetic dancing including a few eyes closed blissed out hands in the air moments at least that's what I was doing. Not sure about others as my eyes were closed. In between I have chats with Sandra and Kate who've not seen for quite a few years but with the volume and deteriorating hearing dancing is the safest option. As the gig ends there is tumultuous and well deserved applause and after a few random chats with strangers I congratulate two thirds of the band (don't know the other guy) and say my goodbyes to the few there I know and mount the trusty steed freshly groomed and oiled and complete with new tyres and brake pads (that was my morning) and it's up and over the rolling hills of Streatham back home. A thoroughly enjoyable night with a great sound and really looking forward to the album launch night in October. Thanks Kumo and congrats on today's result.