An Intimate Night With MONO

“What is the first thing that crossed your mind when you hear the word ‘Post-rock’?”

I’ve asked that question to most of the attendees of Japanese Post-Rockers, MONO concert in Bandung, Indonesia last week, and most of them said…

“Ambience”

Mono’s gig in Bandung, Indonesia was their third gig in Indonesia. After their first gig here at Jakarta Rock Parade in 2008 and their second Jakarta gig at Nusa Indah Theatre in 2011, StarDProtainment brought them for the first time in Bandung (and their third in Indonesia). Mono was formed in 1999 and consists of 4 members, Takaakira Goto. Hideki Suematsu on Guitar, Tamaki Kunishi on Bass and Yasunori Takada on Drums. They have just released their first album in 3 years, “For My Parents” in 2012.

Even though a heavy rain occurred at the day of the gig, the crowd didn’t seem to care. A lot of post-rockers came and sat in front of the stage. While common people may think a rain on an outdoor venue would be a major disappointment, most of the post-rockers thought a rain would be a perfect companion for Mono’s soothing, instrumental music.

Mono came on stage at 9 PM; they came with “Legend”, an eleven-minute track from their newest album. The crowd responded with a slow, intimate head-banging gesture from their head. The rain showered most of the crowd but still, they doesn’t seem to care. “Burial at Sea”, “Dream Odyssey” and “Pure as Snow” followed afterwards.

Taka, the lead guitarist showed us what it takes to be a post-rock guitarist. He lifted his Fender Jaguar up and down and he twisted the delay effect knob to the maximum. A weird thing also happened during the gig, as the smoke came out from Taka’s body made the crowd gasping. “Follow the Map”, “Unseen Harbor” and “Ashes in the Snow” came at the middle of the set. “Halcyon (Beautiful Days)” from “Walking Cloud and Deep Red Sky, Flag Fluttered and the Sun Shined” played afterwards. This song hasn’t appeared in their set lists for a pretty long time and it was a surprise to hear this song live. Mono closed their approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes set with “Everlasting Light”, followed with a long-standing applause from the crowd.

Promoter’s decision to choose Dago Tea House as the venue of the gig was a brilliant move. The venue, which was located on one of Bandung’s hills, is a perfect place for Mono’s noise and ambient music. The rain, took part as a perfect icing for the gig. The combination of the venue, the weather, and Mono’s music resulted as one perfect post-rock factor, ambience.