The "Ruby Wedding" is getting closer
If you ask the musicians of the Rodgau Monotones about the status of their band, you will hear sentences like "We are an indestructible anachronism". There sounds a little self-irony, also sympathetic understatement, but above all a lot of self-confidence. After all, the band from the Hessian hinterland has been on the road since 1977. And basically with the same line-up. Singer Peter "Osti" Osterwold, guitarists Ali Neander and Raimund Salg, bassist Joky Becker and drummer Mob Böttcher are founding members of the Monotones. They make no secret of what they were originally about: "Our first rehearsal was cool and loud, we drank beer, stole ZZ Top ..." they later memorialised their beginnings in two song lines. Blues, boogie and distinctive rock riffs they have remained faithful in their own songs to this day. In the typical "Rodgau Style" with driving drums, a stoic bass, lots of fat guitars, ecstatic vocals and sharp horns as a bonus. Singer Kerstin Pfau as second voice and saxophonist Matthias Dörsam have long been partly responsible for this.
Whoever still considers the Rodgau Monotones a regional phenomenon due to all the hessicisms and unmistakable local color in the lyrics, take a look at the history of the Rodgau Monotones in fast motion here in the appendix. There it quickly becomes clear that the group is an indispensable part of German rock history. Only you have to grasp that for yourself, because marketing and self-promotion was never the Monotones' thing. They are a brand with a communication problem, they once said. But in the rare species of German-speaking rock'n'rollers, they are still way ahead and are still one of the best live acts in this country. Unpretentious with all their playing class. Unagitated and perhaps also a little comfortable. Because touring constantly between Garmisch and Flensburg is not their thing. But when they play at the Fabrik in Hamburg again, the hat is full. The desire to play always has priority with them. Many song titles on the new, meanwhile 14th studio album, winkingly and braggadociously christened "Genial", signal this: "Vollgas", "Mama Lauda" (meaning "Mach' mal lauter"), "Wie geil ist das denn", "Wenn's abht", "Das macht uns keiner nach" (with the credo: Lieber laut als tot .) and "Immer noch Spaß". This also went down well in neighbouring states. Thus one could read on the website of the SWR under the headline "Wuchtiger Boogie Rock": "On their first studio album in seven years, the Hessian fun rockers once again combine massive boogie rock à la ZZ Top with juicy brass sections, almost schlager-like catchy hooklines and of course witty lyrics. As always, there is room for thoughtful nuances, and the famous style parodies are not missing - this time the shanty-rockers of Santiano have their turn. Musically, musically and production-wise it all happens on a high level. Ingenious? At least captivating." And still the septet is confronted with clichés like "Klamaukband" or "Festzelt Rocker" every now and then. But Ali Neander has the right answer ready: "Especially in times when rock music seems to become more and more irony-free and humourless, proven forces like us have to provide a remedy. But between all this party mood there are also numerous little lyrical vulgarities hiding and, hear, hear, also something like a political claim."
Lyrics source and more information about this event: https://batschkapp.tickets.de/de/events/9918-RODGAU_MONOTONES
