Mona

Overview

There's something alluring about the deep South of the United States. It seems a land trapped in the past, a land of swamps and evangelicals, of heat and history. Emerging from these factors is rock-revivalist band Mona. Three quarters of the band earned their musical strips in the pentecostal congregations, learning to work a crowd into a frenzy using their instruments.

Although their origin story may confuse them with Kings of Leon, their music sets them firmly apart. It's a lot more raw and passionate, and far less anthemic and populist. Their music injects a heavy dose of guitar and sweat, ramping up their secular tunes with a near religious fervour.

Their debut and self-titled album was recorded and mixed in a basement in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Rich Costey (who has previously worked with the Foo Fighters, the Arctic Monkeys and Muse). Heading to Australia for the first time for Splendour in the Grass, the boys are making the trip down the coast to play for Sydney audiences, and are a perfect example of the distinction between southern rock and rock from the south.