Mona's stadium-sized sound, which takes its cues from bands like
U2 and
Kings of Leon, made waves in the U.K. after their 2010 appearance on Later...with Jools Holland, resulting in the Dayton, Ohio-born indie/alt-rockers' first taste of success. Named in honor of frontman Nick Brown's grandmother, the band's rise from D.I.Y. indie upstarts to arena and festival faves began with the release of their acclaimed 2011 eponymous debut. Subsequent efforts like
Torches & Pitchforks and Soldier On continued to target the nosebleed seats.
Mona had formed several years earlier in Dayton, Ohio, where they played out for three years before moving to Nashville in 2007. Despite receiving attention from several record executives -- including
Rick Rubin, who flew the band to L.A. two months into its Nashville residency to play a show at the Roxie --
Mona remained independent. The group eventually partnered with former
Suede manager Saul Galpern and began releasing a slow trickle of melodic, anthemic rock songs, relying on the Internet to spread the music while maintaining a relatively low profile.
Mona began to gain traction in the U.K. after their Later...with Jools Holland gig, and with their stock on the rise, they went into the studio the following year with
Muse and
Foo Fighters producer
Rich Costey. Their full-length debut arrived later that year, and included the hits "Listen to Your Love" and "Teenager." In 2013, the band returned with its sophomore effort,
Torches & Pitchforks, and made their national television debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. A series of line-up changes preceded the release of 2016's
In the Middle EP. In June 2018, the band issued their third studio long-player, Soldier On. ~ Andrew Leahey