The Monads Touring in Europe in March

Matt Shivelbine of the Monads dropped me a line to say that the energetic twang-punk quartet is going to be heading to Europe next week for a series of shows in Belgium and the Netherlands. He says the trek was set up via a European booking agency called Surfing Airlines, which has brought over American talent (like the Blasters and Asylum Street Spankers) for overseas gigs.

"They actually contacted us about six months ago and asked if we'd ever considered touring in Europe," Shivelbine says. "We talked with several of the other bands that had booked with them and everyone was really happy with how they run things and with the crowds they had. Apparently, Europeans love Americana."

Now, the Monads isn't the only local band to cross the pond in recent years -- the Wormwood Scrubs and Rough Shop have as well -- but having Surfing Airlines in its court has certainly helped it procure some interesting venues.
In fact, I believe the band is the only one to have a gig at a Belgian jail (which Shivelbine says is for only the inmates) and the well-respected Paradiso in Amsterdam. So congrats to them! And wish them luck getting Jenna Schroeder's upright bass on the plane...

The band will also be updating its website, themonads.com, with photos, videos and updates from the road (with extra multimedia stuff also appearing here on A to Z). All tour dates and new logo (courtesy of Kadie from stl-style) below.