In today’s popular music world, assumptions are often made about a band’s image and the type of music played. Most “punk” bands are pictured in Dickies pants, studded belts and checkerboard Vans. “Emo” groups are usually envisioned in jeans, tight black t-shirts and Converse All-Stars.
Members of Cherry Monroe, a Rust Records band newly signed to the Universal Records Group, are trying to break the stereotypical mold of the music scene by combining elements of pop, punk and emo and packaging them in what lead vocalist Matt Tonka describes as “glam-alternative” style.
Despite not fitting neatly into the predisposed expectations of what a pop-punk band should look like, Cherry Monroe, named after the character Cherry Valence from the 1983 movie “The Outsiders” and sex icon Marilyn Monroe, draws musical influence from an eclectic group.
Cherry Monroe’s sound echoes that of currently popular pop-punk bands. Full of vocal energy, talented guitar work and lovelorn lyrics, each song on the band’s October debut is catchy and easy to sing along to.
Tonka compares the band’s sound to the likes of the Cure and Switchfoot, with lyrics influenced by the expertise of Bob Dylan and Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional. While the caliber of Cherry Monroe’s typical and almost run-of-the-mill “you’re gone, I miss you, oh baby, oh baby, oh baby please come back” lyrics can be disputed, there is no denying that the band’s songs are catchy as hell and that listeners will find themselves singing the lyrics to themselves as they walk around campus.
Citing Guns ‘N Roses and Aerosmith as stylistic influences, Cherry Monroe draws on the basic “rock n’ roll” image and works to bring back the glam rock style of the ’70s. Lenny Kravitz also plays an influential role in the band’s style. Tonka stated in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last October, “[Lenny Kravitz is] a total rock star, he walks in a room and just lights it up. We try to dress over the top, act over the top.”
Cherry Monroe’s emphasis on the “glam” style and its role in the band’s mystique displays another important factor of the group’s mindset and mode of operation. The members of Cherry Monroe recognize the importance of image and marketing in the rock n’ roll world, appropriately capitalizing on the band’s good looks, fun-loving style and appealing songs to reel in the target audience of 16- to 25-year-old girls and the males that come with them.
The band takes advantage of being extremely marketable and has spent a considerable amount of time and money getting word of Cherry Monroe out among the public. Promotion is key for this band, which is persistent in its marketing efforts and in publicizing its amazing live events.
Rust Records representative Ken Cooper has asserted, “If you really enjoy music, seeing [Cherry Monroe] live is better than reading an article on them, or listening to the CD. It’s over the top.”
The band members try to make each live performance unique and exciting. While their sound could be considered relatively average and similar to that of many of the other bands out there, Cherry Monroe’s originality and potential are displayed when the band performs at a live venue, with what Tonka says are larger-than-life antics and unsurpassed energy.
The band’s increasing fame has led Cherry Monroe to spots on the Top 10 and Top 100 Nielsen SoundScan sales charts in Youngstown, Ohio; Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The band’s songs can be heard on more than 130 radio stations nationwide, and a Cherry Monroe song will grace the soundtrack of Lindsay Lohan’s next Universal film, “Lady Luck.”
Sponsored by a plethora of companies, Cherry Monroe is also scheduled to appear on a 32-city fashion/music tour at several of the nation’s malls this spring.
Those interested in experiencing Cherry Monroe live in the near future will have multiple chances, as the band will be playing twice in Madison in the next few weeks. The group will be performing a 21+ show at The Klinic on Park Street Friday, Feb. 18 at 10 p.m., with doors opening at 8. Tickets are $5. A second date has been added for Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Luther’s Blues. The doors open at 9 p.m., with the band playing at 9:30. Tickets for the Luther’s Blues show are $4.