Monarchs Album Release and Soul Party Saturday Night at the Swan Dive
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So, technically you could say that Celeste Griffin founded her band Monarchs in two cities.
First, there’s her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Her first song, “Notes of Disease,” was an inspired, accidental sort of moment for Griffin in 2007 while fumbling along the keys of her mother’s old piano. But let us not dismiss the inspiration she’s found right here in Austin, where she currently resides, and where her band is set to release their debut full-length album, The Rise & Fall, this weekend.
Produced by Mike McCarthy (Patty Griffin, Spoon, The Heartless Bastards), The Rise & Fall took over a year of hard work and overcoming challenges to complete, but it’s an illuminating testament to Griffin’s spirit and storytelling. Throughout this collaborative effort featuring the talents of musicians Phil Ajjarapu, Josh Halpern, and Van Hollingsworth, Griffin’s voice shines through with a lot of soul.
Speaking of soul, Monarchs is paring an album release show with a soul party Saturday night at the Swan Dive, 615 Red River. DJ Second Line Social of Soul Happening will spin vinyl before and after the live music. Get there around 9 p.m. Recommended.
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