Monotonix

Monotonix
Monotonix in Barzilay Club, Tel Aviv, 15.2.2008
Background information
Origin	Tel Aviv, Israel
Genres	Garage rock, indie rock, noise rock
Years active	2005–2011
Labels	Drag City
Website	Official website
Members	Ami Shalev Yonatan Gat Haggai Fershtman
Past members	Ran Shimoni

Monotonix were a garage rock band from Tel Aviv, Israel. The band — singer Ami Shalev, guitarist Yonatan Gat, and drummer Ran Shimoni (later replaced by Haggai Fershtman) — released their debut EP in 2008 and toured mostly in the United States and Europe, including notable appearances at SXSW. Monotonix subsequently released two full-length records: Where Were You When It Happened? and Not Yet. Over the span of five years (ending in 2011 with the breakup of the band), Monotonix played 1000 shows.

Dissatisfied with the state of the music scene in their hometown of Tel Aviv, the Israeli trio Monotonix formed in November 2005. They began by playing shows at local venues. They frequently set up on the floor among the crowd, playing shows raucous enough to result in the power being shut off or the police called in.

Eventually, finding themselves banned from most of the venues in Tel Aviv, the band decided to leave Israel and tour the United States and Europe. In 2006 and 2007, Monotonix played over 400 shows around the world, including appearances at festivals in the US and Europe, and a few tours with Silver Jews, for whom they opened in Israel and befriended. Monotonix were known for setting themselves and their equipment on fire, stealing drinks from audience members to pour on themselves, turning their shows into frenzied dance parties, and, later, for their unique take on raw garage rock.

In 2008, the band signed to Drag City and released Body Language. The track was recorded by Tim Green of the Fucking Champs. They never let up on their nonstop touring though, playing over 250 shows that year alone.

On September 1, 2009, with the release of their first full length (Where Were You When It Happened), they opened (along with Dinosaur Jr.) for the reunited Faith No More at a sold-out concert at the Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, and followed that show with tours in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. "Set Me Free" from Where Were You When It Happened was used in the opening scene of an episode of cult TV show House.