Show date 3/15/09 -- As I drove by Hailey's club in Denton this morning on my way to work, I said a short little prayer in thanksgiving that the building was still standing and is in one piece. Sunday night, a band from Tel Aviv, Israel called the Monotonix nearly tore the place down with a ferocity that I have never witnessed before. I could not name you a single song they performed, or even identify a single lyric for that matter, but the Monotonix put on a performance that no one who was present will ever forget. There is no way any words will be able to do justice to the events that transpired on Sunday, but maybe the pictures will give you an idea of the madness.
The band started off on the floor in front of the stage surrounded by adoring fans. This was the trend for the evening, as for the entire night the void between artist and audience was non-existent. The band migrated across the room the entire night, taking with them to every corner their drums, guitar, sweat, hairy bodies and exquisite moustaches. Lead singer Levi Yomtov, who has a reputation for climbing onto things he is not supposed to, made his way to every nook and cranny in the place. I can only imagine what was going through the heads of the staff at Hailey's when he climbed up onto the sound board, dripping in perspiration and wearing only what appeared to be a pair of boxer shorts, then leaped into the hands of the awaiting crowd. However the climax of the evening, was when the band decided to forgo the usual confinements and take the party outside to the streets. With drums set up on an electric transformer, and an audiace that had poured out into the street in front of the club, Yomtov dove from atop a handrail into the audience. At least three cars who happened to drive by at the right moment slowed down, and the confussed drivers witnessed a small taste of what the concert goers at Hailey's were caught up in.
The Monotonix are a whirlwind of energy and excitement with no regard for any rules what so ever. Thank you Monotonix, thank you a million times for reminding us that true and pure punk rock bands exist.
And with that, the 2009 Nx35 comes to a close. It was four days of fantastic music at the best venues in town. I cant imagine anyone thinking of the festival as anything but a success. The bands were great, the crowds were large and lively and the music was superb. Thanks to all who was involved in putting this together, we can not wait till next year!
by MDM Writer Josh Hogan
