Based out of Norman, Oklahoma, MONTU is an up-and-coming jamtronica act that’s been slowly building a name for itself in the Midwest and beyond. Seamlessly fusing funk, jazz, rock, and R&B, underpinning the project is a relentless electronica influence, helping the group continue to forge its totally unique and propulsive sound. With the group continuously on the rise, the four-piece has earned the stamp of approval from big names in the live music scene, having supported favorites such as Umphrey’s McGee, The Disco Biscuits, Lotus, EOTO, Papadosio, The Floozies, and others.
Recently, MONTU has released a brand-new album titled Phases. The album was recorded at Chicago’s IV Lab Studios and the group’s hometown studio of Breathing Rhythm Studios. Featuring six tracks, Phases is the next step in the band’s evolution, offering tastes of the band’s dialed-in originals in addition to capturing the magic of the group’s high-energy live performances. The majority of the tracks off Phases are new studio tracks—”Skull Shaker 2.0″, “Nightfall”, “The Implication”, and “Liaisons”—in addition to a remastered rendition of title track “Phases”, which was mixed and mastered by Papadosio‘s Anthony Thogmartin. The new album also features on live recording, “Drift”, which was recorded on November 11th, 2017, at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver and features Nick Gerlach on sax and Snarky Puppy‘s Shaun Martin on synth.
To support the band’s new album, MONTU is currently in the midst of a late-summer/early-fall tour. After a standout performance at the inaugural Waterloo Music Festival last week, the band is currently gearing up to perform at Thornville, Ohio’s highly anticipated Resonance Music Festival this weekend. From there, the group has plans to tour across the south, with stops in Charlotte, NC; Athens, GA; Chattanooga, TN; Tuscaloosa, AL; and Jackson, MS, across the rest of September. For the band’s full fall tour dates and for ticketing information, head to the band’s website here.
Last but not least, in celebration of their brand-new album, MONTU recently released a video of them collaborating with famed Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Jake Cinninger. Shot during a performance at Dallas’ House Of Blues on September 1st, 2018, the video captures the group’s next-level, funk-infused, dramatic improvisations while also showcasing Cinninger’s shred-heavy guitar stylings. You can check it out for yourself below.
MONTU with Umphrey’s McGee’s Jake Cinninger – House Of Blues – Dallas, TX – 9/1/2018
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[Video:Â montumusic]
