Monophonics were formed in 2005; originally a instrumental ensemble comprised of guitarist Ian McDonald, bassist Myles O’Mahony, saxophonist Alex Baky, trumpeter Ryan Scott, and drummer Austin Bohlman, the band has recently added the dynamic soul vocals of keyboardist Kelly Finnigan. The result is a psychedelic soul & heavy funk sound, which harks back to the stylings of the late 60’s and early 70’s, all while keeping its feet planted in the present. The Bay Area’s Monophonics contemporize the heavier and more psychedelic sounds of late-’60s and early-’70s soul and rock while also drawing from other facets of R&B and jazz from the same era. Active since the mid-2000s, they debuted with Playin & Simple (2007) and cut a follow-up before they were joined by Kelly Finnigan. The singer/songwriter, arranger/producer, and keyboardist has guided the band through four studio albums into the 2020s. The LPs range from In Your Brain (2012), one of their toughest and funkiest recordings, to Sage Motel (2022), a loosely conceptual set evoking a sincere Blaxploitation soundtrack.