In West Chicago, there exists a band named after a man; a man with one of the most rock-worthy last names on the planet.
J. Munger, the lead singer and guitarist, has one of those “no one else sounds like this guy” voices. I shouldn’t try to compare him to anyone, but I’m going to anyway. If you mixed David Drayman, Brad Roberts, Billy Idol, Chad Gray, and Matthew Charles Sanders; you would end up with a really ugly freak of a man, but he would probably sound a bit like J. Munger. His unique voice gives the band an amazing edge. Along with it, he also brings head-bangingly powerful rock riffs, and some pretty solid solos to the table.
Their bassist, Adam Flores, is active. That may sound like a somewhat neutral statement, but I mean it in the most complimentary way possible. Too often, bassists in rock bands will fall into a “play this note a bunch because it’s
the key we’re in” rut. I am always impressed with bassists who run active bass lines, and Adam does not disappoint.
Of course, you can not have a rock band without a drummer. Munger does not just have “a drummer”. They have a good rummer. In an industry where far too many percussionists get away with playing punk drums at different speeds, or relying on double pedals to do all their work, Dave Cogozzo breaks the mold beautifully. He provides a great foundation for Munger, adding the beats needed to keep your head bobbing.
Bottom line? If you like rock music, you need to give Munger a listen; especially “Beneath”, as I can’t seem to STOP listening to that song.
-Justin
