A family band like no other, Secret Monkey Weekend returned with a sparkling sophomore album Lemon Drop Hammer on June 6. Comprising seasoned guitarist/vocalist Jefferson Hart and his stepdaughters Ella (bass/vocals) and Lila Brown-Hart (drums/vocals), the North Carolina trio’s harmony-heavy Beatles/Squeeze songwriting, charming lyricism, and familial chemistry is channeled into 10 tracks helmed by revered REM/Smithereens producer Don Dixon.
“I wasn’t prepared for Jefferson’s tremendous talent as a writer, player and singer,” said Dixon. “These three individuals have combined to make something I love [and] grown, literally and figuratively, in front of my eyes.”
Secret Monkey Weekend (a name derived from a vintage Tiger Beat magazine headline) began as purely organic family therapy, with no plans for anything more. Yet by 2016 they were playing casual shows and soon graduated to a busy calendar of club and festival dates. Debut album All The Time In The World, also produced by Dixon, followed in 2022. It’s a tale so remarkable that the trio is the subject of Emmy-winning 2023 PBS documentary, Secret Monkey Weekend.
Jphono1 and friends explore new elements in sounds and arrangements with his fuzz-frayed folk-pop. Fragments ofelectronics, acoustic guitars, and keys join what at first resemble straight-forward compositions, only to break apart into unassuming lo-fi with casual psychedelia, finding a comfortable station at the intersection of Meat Puppets whimsy and Steve Gunn introspection.
“Jphono1’s ‘Rectify Mercy’ Extends Psych-Rock Vignettes Into Joyful Meditations. Some of its atmospheric, dream-pop guitar runs and Byrds-esque harmonies might sound at home on the soundtrack to a modern-day remake of Easy Rider.” – Indyweek
Brothers Nick, Mike and Mark are an indie rock trio based in Durham, NC. They were previously the core of 90s local favorites Gravity’s Pull. Their music is a combo of post-punk late 70s power pop mixed with early 90s pop-rock alternative. Think The Cars X Pixies X Eve 6 X Toad plus a dash of Nirvana for good measure. That combo of sounds (and more) melds seamlessly into pure Mad Starlings Magic!
