You say you've grown into a man, well prove it the only way you can

Fill in the blank.

"________ 's volatile mix of post-new wave dance-punk and electro '70s-infused power pop falls somewhere between Green Day, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and the Scissor Sister, with a healthy love of the Damned."

The band that brought such amazing comparisons from Billboard is Mountainlake Terrace band Mon Frere. The group consists of Nouela Johnston (vocals/keyboard), Kyle Swisher (guitar), and Dustin McGhie (drums). Kyle picked up the band's moniker from the Kevin Smith cult classic, Mallrats. In the movie, Broadie answers the door saying, "If it isn't mon frere?"

It's always interesting when you see a trio that lacks an instrument that most people think is vital to a band. Like Mon Frere not having a bassist. It's even more interesting when the music is so good, you don't even notice until someone points it out to you.



Mon Frere's sound is described as powerhouse electro dance rock. The band came together in 2003 after the bands they were in broke up. They had only played 4 shows before entering Paul Allen's Experience Music Project's Sound Off!, a battle of the bands competition for 21s and unders. Not only did Mon Frere make it to the finals (much to their surprise!) but they ended up winning the whole thing. The grand prize included a two day recording session at Electrokitty Studios with producer Black Wescott. During those two days, Mon Frere recorded their EP, Real Vampires.

Since then, the band has released its debut full length, Blood, Sweat, & Swords. They're currently on tour, and will probably stop by a town near you.

Mon Frere definitely have a powerful lead singer in Nouela, who wails just as well as she sings, and with influences that range from The Smashing Pumpkins to Pretty Girls Make Graves, we can expect even more greatness from this band.


Check out these songs from Mon Frere and be sure to check them out on the road.

Mon Frere - R.V.D.G.S.F (from Real Vampires)
Mon Frere- Drain (from Blood, Sweat, & Swords)

Mon Frere's official site
Mon Frere on Myspace

Mon Frere on Tour

July 5- Chop Suey (Seattle, WA)
July 8- The Lime Spider (Akron, OH)
July 9- Garfield Artworks (Pittsburgh, PA)
July 11- Nectar's Live (Burlington, VT)
July 13- Great Scott (Allston (Boston), MA)
July 14- The Space (Hamden, CT)
July 15- Club Deep (Asbury Park, NJ) *
July 16- The Knitting Factory (New York, NY) *
July 18- Relative Theory Records (Norfolk, VA) *
July 19- Ground Zero (Spartanburg, SC) *
July 20- Swayze's (Marietta, GA) *
July 21- The Cell Block (Mobile, AL) *
July 22- The Bengal Room (Levelland, TX)
July 23- Engine Room Live (Houston, TX) *
July 24- Burt's Tiki Lounge (Albuquerque, NM) *
July 28- Off the Hook (Moses Lake, WA) *
August 2- El Corazon (Seattle, WA) +
August 12- South Lake Union Block Party (Seattle, WA)
August 12- Live on KEXP- Audio Oasis (Seattle, WA)
August 30- The Elbo Room (San Francisco, CA)
September 3- Bumbershoot Festival (Seattle, WA)

*w/ The Pharmacy
+w/ Knives in the Attic