Monumental

Image Credit: Indie Cult Club

Monumental embarked on a joint venture with Indie Cult Club in February. Teenage Kicks is their indie night at Southend’s Fickle Pickle, which they headline bi-monthly. This, their third instalment, was supported by Lois Leon and No Rest For the Spacemen

Every generation should have a mod revival. It’s a glorious right of passage that The Molotovs kicked off in fine style with their debut album back in January. Southend’s Monumental are now on hot their tales carving out a space between Mod and Rock ‘n’ roll.

No finer exponent of this than on ‘Eyes Wide Open’ as the guitars tap into Ocean Colour Scene's ‘Mosely Shoals’ splendour whilst Frontman Finn Sexton serves up soulful anthemic vocals a new generation can bellow into the ether as life depended on it.

The cover song, so long overlooked in a new band's arsenal, got two airings. First up was a riotous version of Fontaines DC’s ‘Liberty Belle’. Second up was The Specials’ ‘Little Bitch’, which conjured more images of The Ordinary Boys bursting onto the scene in 2004 than their ska predecessors. Together, they knitted their brand of Mod and rock ‘n’ roll through protest and rebellion. Furthermore, it highlighted how they’ve merged those styles on ‘Reasons’ to create an enthralling joyride single. Sexton’s vocal straying from volent to soulful amid the colossal drums created a vitality that very few can match.  

It might have been their third appearance, but there were no signs of band or audience fatigue. Monumental were compelling, and it is set to catapult itself to big stages this year.