It’s not often that you see a Japanese band touring the UK and EU, much less a band like MONO. They didn’t have many words for the audience, simply introducing themselves as “MONO from Tokyo, Japan”. They let their music speak for themselves.
The tiny stage at Concorde 2 was transformed into landscapes of winter storms and spring tides, as guitarists Takaakira “Taka” Goto and Hideki “Yoda” Suematsu acted as the narrators in the journey the band are trying to take the audience on. MONO’s rejections of labels such as post-rock are justified, as they used conventional techniques, arpeggios and constant tempo changes, and less conventional techniques to create an emotional experience for everyone present, as Goto used one of Dahm Majuri Cipolla’s drum sticks as a bow for his guitar, helping to create a wind effect during ‘Hear the Wind Sing’.
The lighting at Concorde 2 served to amplify MONO’s instrumentation, serving as another conduit for MONO’s storytelling and the themes they aim to tackle with their music. ‘Ashes in the Snow’ had bassist Tamaki Kunishi playing the glockenspiel, accompanied by blue lighting and disco balls to create the feeling that winter had descended in a nightclub in Brighton. The stage at their show in Leeds the night before couldn’t fit the gong they had prepared for ‘Ashes in the Snow’, making it a truly cathartic moment when Cipolla hit the gong to close the song off. A good mix of old and new, most of the songs played were from their 2024 album ‘Oath’, with the rest being from the albums they had released over the past 24 years.
Closing off with one of their earlier and beloved songs, ‘Com(?)’, the audience erupted with applause and cheers as MONO bowed, showing in full force the dedication people have for emotional instrumental rock. It’s no wonder that MONO has managed to play in venues across Asia, Europe and the Americas for almost 30 years now, and hopefully for many more years.
Let’s take a moment to touch on the opening duo, Cahill Costello. Comprised of Glaswegians Kevin Cahill on guitar and Graham Costello on drums, they expressed their gratitude for being able to open for MONO on the UK leg of their UK and EU tour, as they told the audience of MONO fans that they are fans of the band. The simple guitar riffs and instrumentals of Cahill were nicely contrasted with the chaotic rhythms of Costello’s drumming. At times, it felt like they were both in a trance as their playing patterns continued to shift and carry through for half an hour. Who better to open for a band that have been together for almost 30 years than a duo whose music reflects their longstanding friendship and the creative development that they have gone through together? Music and the power of creative collaboration are truly beautiful to behold.
MONO continues to tour through Europe in November. Please follow their socials for more information.