Monodyssey

Growing up with music I did not have a sense of taste nor did I have a genre of music I preferred listening to. I was a blank canvas that my father began to paint with his favorite artists such as The Beatles, The Eagles, Bee Gees, Queen, and ABBA to name a few. Listening to this music did form a few of my tastes as the years went on until I found a Snoop Dog cd in my father's new truck which he bought from someone. Embarrassing enough more of my music tastes formed from Dragonball Z animated music videos such as Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, and so on. Tony the lead singer of Monodyssey showed me new artists to listen to as well during such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Mastodon while we were in high school. I've been shown so many artists and genres that I'm willing to give anything a try and listen. There's plenty of musicians in the valley and they have sent me songs to listen to that I would love just to add to my music stream. We are a mixing pot of musical talent and here is my first of many band features: Monodyssey

I met Monodyssey when I worked for UTRGV Radio as a Program Director. I knew the lead singer/bassist due to going to school together. I needed local music for the station and they were one of the first bands I contacted along with more down the road. Before I had them come to the station they invited me to their home to see them perform. It was like mini-concert and it was my first time listening to their music. They're really friendly dudes and quite humorous as well. This wouldn't be the first time we would be working together after having them at our radio booth at The University Of Rio Grande Valley. UTRGV Radio hosted College Radio day which I invited Tv Flesh and Monodyssey to come perform for a battle of the band's type performance. Honey flowers were also invited by another member of UTRGV Radio and Nora Lee which was unable to perform due to the weather. Each band that performed did amazing and it was great meeting each one of them! The different types of genres and energies all in one place was just great. Monodyssey played inside due to the weather pouring down on our stage outside. Of course, there was a mosh pit that I tried joining, but I was too late. The reason behind this mosh pit was due to Monodyssey covering La Bamba which was performed in their own unique way. I couldn't believe that they actually caused a mosh pit at UTRGV. It was a good time working with them and seeing them grow from performing with other artists and hosting their own show which was on Halloween last year. Now we continue onto the band itself!

Here's a little something about the band itself,

Tony Carbajal lead vocals and bass.

His fav food is tacos, but not just any ordinary tacos from what he said they are "Baja Shrimp Tacos." I've never had seafood tacos, but I'd sure have to order some through curbside.

His favorite band being Mastodon which is an American heavy metal band which I have listened to and have a favorite song by them called Blood and Thunder.

He mentions his favorite local band being Nautilus vs Pangolin which all the local artists mentioned will have to be added to our music stream or possibly an upcoming Spotify playlist.

Eddie Cantu on guitar.

Eddie sure loves his hot food, but when I asked what kind of hot food? Chiles rellenos, Hot Cheetos, and pollo en crema as examples, but he stated "anything hot food, Ram! I love it!" As long as he enjoys what he eats its all good.

His favorite bands consist of High on Fire and Neurosis which both come from Oakland what a coincidence especially since they both fall under the category of metal.

Eddie mentions that his favorite local musicians are Ray Perez which is a nice individual who I've had the pleasure of meeting who would host at a cantina in mission for local artists to perform. He names Pillowsnake who we have on our music playlist if you want to check him out. Onto the local business which is Stokelys Cigar Bar in Edinburg which I have not been to and should most likely check out.

Zeke Cantu on drums.

When asked Zeke what his favorite food was he said "I love food. Never really had an exact favorite." I love food too, but my favorites always change, but in the end, they just pile up to the list.

His favorite bands are Trivium with the original line up stating "Travis was the reason I leaned into playing drums." We all have our influences such as when I wanted to learn to play guitar due to the Foo Fighters but never did.

When asked about his favorite business Zeke said "Stokely's Cigar bar" because "they've taken care of since day one that we started playing there. They truly treat you like family." A local business that supports local artists is just great! Hopefully, once it's safe again they'll be able to put on a show.

Along with the help of a volunteering member by the name of Damian Brian Mata playing along with Monodyssey.

Damian shares that his favorite combo is a pizza alongside a refreshing vanilla coke. I've heard so many people give vanilla coke hate and praise cherry coke but to each their own. I personally also enjoy vanilla coke since I was younger, but I haven't had it in years.

Onto his favorite band, he says "Oh man, there's tons of great music out there," but states "the band I'm on kick right now is Periphery."

When it comes to supporting local Damian mentions "The Concession Stand in Santa Rosa, it's run by my old teacher and he's nothing but supportive to my music and really cares about starting a local scene." Well, that's good to know what your town has to offer and the individuals who inhabit it bringing life to it. He also mentions a friend by the name of Jonathan Cruz who is videographer here in the valley.

How did the band players meet? Well, Tony and Zeke gravitated to each other as Zeke mentioned they lived "3 to 5 years" in the same neighborhood. In addition to that Zeke was in a previous hardcore band which then split leading up to Tony telling him about a project he wanted to put together. They've been jamming ever since as Zeke states "we fit like 2 peas in a pod and been going for about 10yrs” now thas chemistry. That leaves us with Eddie who was brought in afterward. Eddie was invited to do gig which involved covering tracks after that night Tony said "we should jam out again," but it would be until January that Eddie mentions "I was hit up on Facebook by a Tone Carbajal saying 'we should jam out again.'" They're together now and that's all that matters. Tony mentions he met Damian through Rgv guitarist which is a local Facebook group for musicians. That's pretty cool being able to just easily meet musicians and just jam.

We all started somewhere before entering our passion. My father gave me an acoustic guitar during my fifteenth birthday along with booklets on how to play. He knew how to play and he wanted to teach me, but I never really picked it up. A lot of people I met receive the same gift in due time or it may be another instrument than just a guitar. It seems to fall around our culture to pick up and instrument, but these members surely had to start somewhere. Tony started off with an electric guitar as he states that his grandfather showed him Johnny Cash and Kiss. Zeke started off with bass in middle school branching off into electric guitar, but as he stated due to Trivium "Travis was the reason I leaned into playing drums." From bass to electric guitar to drums he says "I've been drumming for 10 years" and still going. Eddie says "I had an interest in 4th grade in elementary due to MTV when they used to play music videos" which I do recall them playing music videos heavily ranging from multiple genres if I'm not mistaken along with Vh1. He got a guitar in freshmen year of high school and states "I never took it for granted." Damian mentions his family was very music orientated following "the thing that actually inspired me to pick up a guitar was guitar hero 3" I can see guitar hero or rock band being an influence for others as well that it spark up a dream or even a passion.

From what influenced us to play to what artists influenced the genre the band speaks out about their personal influences. Tony says he started off "rebellious, but as I got older I got a little more soul, but my influence is Mastodon." Zeke brings up Travis being his influence to his drumming. Eddie brings up Neurosis as his influences and encourages me to listen to them which I just might after this. Damian says "a good is a good song" seems to me that his taste is all over, but that's a good thing. Following the genres of rock and what comes to follow he says "I'll jam anything from Alesana to Linkin Park to 311" adding on to his influences. these influences coming from each one of them to create music really sticks with you and follows you throughout your journey in the path of being a musician.

Of course, having many influences and creative ideas there will be a time where the bands will have to sit down and see what's best for their songs. Coming up with ideas and deciding as a group Zeke says "we need to agree on basslines, riffs, and its a lot give and take" all in terms of having to agree on something together. Being creative either has you loving or hating your work, but Eddie says "when you are creative you always feel like ur right since it's your creation," but goes on to add "that sometimes it hurts" because you all have to agree on a collective idea which they all agree on. They may be bumping heads in the creative process, but they can agree on that's in the favor of the band and its growth.

Being musicians they each have experience with their instruments, but what have they done? Well, Eddie Cantu has an acoustic project which we have on your music stream along with a song by Monodyssey. Tony has been playing for a long time and so has Zeke. Along with Zeke's past experience with a hardcore band. It all becomes part of Monodyssey. It all becomes part of the talents they bring to the table as Zeke states "your influences stay with u as a musician and the influences grow with u as a musician." After picking up Guitar Hero Damian says "I started to dabble in piano, bass, singing, screaming" and continues by adding "I can neither confirm or deny if I do a little of rapping in my bedroom." Relating to how I may not have been able to fully learn the guitar there was a small-time where I dabbled in making some beats using an application. Influences that influenced their first pieces of work which leads them to create what they have now.

Being a band comes from playing together to scoring your first gig. Whether it being a backyard show or playing at an event and so on, but Tony says "Yerberia Cultura" was their first gig and states "we had a good crowd along with a mosh pit" now that's what I would call a good show for a metal band or just a band wanting the crowd to have fun and express themselves by any means necessary. You could even call it a gift due to Eddie mentioning "it was the day after Christmas" Zeke adds into it by saying they "humble themselves with shows" doing what they can along with "we just want to put their sound out there for anyone to listen to." Even though they did play at Yerberia Cultura they did also play at South by Southwest which is a big accomplishment giving themselves more exposure which is good!

A band just like many leaving their mark in the valley and expanding alongside every other artist all we can do is support them along with every other local musician. We have a song by Monodyssey on our music stream along with music by Eddie Cantu.

Don't forget in the end paying that $5 to $10 entry fee for a show may lead you to your next favorite band!