Monarques

MONARQUES IS A ROCK AND ROLL BAND FROM PORTLAND, OR. Formed by frontman Josh Spacek in 2009. The band released their sixties influenced jangle-pop debut album “Let’s Make Love Come True” in 2012 to much acclaim. It would be easy to dismiss Monarques as cheery doo-wop revivalists but once the listener gets past the wall of playful piano, Motown bass and the snazzy street-corner harmonizing, you begin to realize that Monarques are actually pursuing the modus operandi of one of Spacek’s influences: Brian Wilson a'la the exorcising of personal demons through melody and optimism. Spacek is ostensibly crooning about love and hope, but like the aforementioned work of the of cheerily complicated Beach Boy, it’s also about growing up and coming to terms with the darkness in one’s soul— and somehow transforming that journey into good vibrations. Monarques has been on an unofficial hiatus since 2013 though frontman Josh Spacek has continued writing and honing his skills as a producer, amassing a large library songs and demos in the subsequent years. 2016 marks Monarques return to the stage and studio with a series of shows scheduled throughout Portland. Spacek and the band are currently working on refining a new collection of original material which they plan to record by the years end. www.monarquesmusic.com