Nice Monster: melodic | odd meter | compelling | music

Prepping for New Recording

jmatthewgerken — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:11:39 +0000

Nice Monster continues to prepare a set of new songs that have yet to be recorded for recording and release. There are likely to be 6-8 cuts on a new CD. We are considering a variety of media for this new release, both those online and those that one can hold in one’s hand. The season is perfect for such preparations: with unseasonably warm and dry weather in northern California inspiring the band to consider that which had not been considered; to believe that executing is possible that was not previously possible; and to focus our appreciation in areas we had not expected would garner our attention. Drawing from the landscape and our friends and family, we together create music for sharing. Stay tuned for updates on the studio recordings, as well as additional live tracks and photos.

Live! This Friday @ Fox & Goose with Musical Charis

jmatthewgerken — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:02:50 +0000

Nice Monster presents an evening of melodic math folk this Friday, October 28th at the Fox & Goose (10th and R streets, downtown Sacramento) with:

Musical Charis;

The Secret Lives of Squirrels; and

Adam Del Rio.

Musical Charis is a very talented ensemble that performs beautifully orchestrated, catchy, enthusiastic music — it always sounds like the high point of the song! The Secret Lives of Squirrels provides the big backbeats, intoxicating riffs, and screaming guitar you require on a Friday night. Adam Del Rio joins us from San Francisco.

Don’t miss it!

Big End-of-October Sacramento Show Coming…

jmatthewgerken — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:51:25 +0000

Nice Monster presents an evening of melodic math folk with friends Musical Charis, The Secret Lives of Squirrels, and Adam Del Rio on Friday, October 28th at the Fox & Goose (10th and R streets, downtown Sacramento).

The Secret Lives of Squirrels provides the big backbeats, intoxicating riffs, and screaming guitar you require on a Friday night. Musical Charis is a very talented ensemble that performs beautifully orchestrated, catchy, enthusiastic music — it always sounds like the high point of the song! Adam Del Rio joins us from San Francisco.

Nice Monster Live at Naked Lounge

jmatthewgerken — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 23:25:06 +0000

Live Tracks!

What Would Huell Howser Do?

Sparkle In Ink

There

Nice Monster Live @ Luna’s and Marilyn’s – May

jmatthewgerken — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:51:08 +0000

Friday, May 7^th, 08:00 PM

Luna’s Cafe on 16th between N and O streets; downtown Sacramento

1414 16th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Sacramento, California 95814

Nice Monster live with the great Richard March and Carly DuHain! For more info: www.lunascafe.com (916) 441-3931

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Saturday, May 29^th, 08:00 PM

Marilyn’s – 9th & K, downtown Sacramento

908 K Street, Sacramento, Ca 95811

Sacramento, California 95811

Be Brave Bold Robot, Nice Monster, The Dirty Feet, and Straightjacket Striptease (from Humboldt County), and Devastating Karate

Nice Monster, Be Brave Bold Robot, and The Secret Lives of Squirrels LIVE AT Naked Lounge, Thursday, Feb 25th!!!!

jmatthewgerken — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:35:47 +0000

Don’t miss this intimate, “family” show of interconnected bands.

Thursday, February 25^th, 8:00pm

Naked Lounge Downtown — 11th and H streets, downtown Sacramento

www.nakedcoffee.net

Live Tracks: Nice Monster at Naked Lounge Downtown, 11/20/09

jmatthewgerken — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:04:44 +0000

Photo by Eric Bourne

Nice Monster’s “family” get together at Naked Lounge was a lesson in audience attentiveness and efficiency of space. With The Secret Lives of Squirrels (http://www.myspace.com/kjasonroberts), Be Brave Bold Robot (http://www.myspace.com/bebraveboldrobot), and Carly DuHain (http://www.myspace.com/carlyduhain), the web of musician-friend connections is woven thickly. Nice Monster’s guitarist, Jason Roberts, is the bandleader of The Secret Lives of Squirrels. Nice Monster’s singer/guitarist Matthew Gerken is the bassist for Be Brave Bold Robot, which also features Carly DuHain on backing vocals. Although the venue appeared at first small, with tiny tables and benches ringing the outside of the audience space, the efficiency of the venue meant that 30 or 35 people were able to comfortably enjoy the music that night.

Live Tracks are available:

What Would Huell Howser Do?

You

The Other is Better / The Landscape to Transform (James K Polk)

There

Give Me Some of That Poison

Nice Monster at New Naked Lounge with Be Brave Bold Robot, 11/20

jmatthewgerken — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:05:07 +0000

A relatively rare live performance by Nice Monster is upcoming at the new Naked Lounge location at 11th and H in downtown Sacramento.

For anyone that has visited the 15th and Q location, you know this is going to be a great place with friendly service, unparalleled quality coffee, and fun times. Details:

11/20/2009 8:00 PM at Naked Lounge (the new one!)
11th and H, downtown Sacramento, Sacramento, California 95814
Cost: Minimal
Nice Monster with Be Brave Bold Robot, Carly DuHain, and The Secret Lives of Squirrels!

Nice Monster’s EP Reviewed in the Sacramento Bee

jmatthewgerken — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:29:12 +0000

Nice Monster was recently featured in Sacramento’s premier newspaper, the Sacramento Bee. The first single from the new self-titled EP, “Down,” was reviewed. For more information, please read on: http://www.sacbee.com/music/story/1534015.html

Nice Monster/

Nice Monster consists of J. Matthew Gerken (guitar), Jason Roberts (guitar), Greg Aaron (drums), Chad Wilson (bass) and Heather Phillips (piano, vocals).

New Obama Song Debuts on NPR’s All Things Considered

jmatthewgerken — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:08:04 +0000

“Of Great and Mortal Men: 43 Songs for 43 U.S. Presidencies” was again featured on National Public Radio last week, as the new song “Someone to Wake” about Barack Obama (written by Christian Kiefer) was released. Nice Monster’s J. Matthew Gerken is one of the 3 songwriters that created “Of Great and Mortal Men,” and Nice Monster’s Jason Roberts, Greg Aaron, Chad Wilson, and Heather Phillips are among the more than 50 musicians featured on the project. For more details, please refer to:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99315266

‘Mortal Men’ Creators Craft A Song For Obama

By Joel Rose

by Rama Hughes

New artwork depicting Barack Obama was created as an addendum to the collection Of Great and Mortal Men.